the 2007 NEW YORK METS: Pedro is Gravy

Yeah right.

I'm wondering who of John Maine/Dave Williams/Oliver Perez will step up pitching wise this year.

E - E Alfonzo (3)

they are my son's like sixth-favorite team

The only thing preventing Wednesday from being a completely positive day was some late news on Jose Reyes, whose left hamstring cramped up during an eighth-inning at-bat. Reyes singled, and Randolph -- who was cautious about the situation after the game, classifying his shortstop as day-to-day -- immediately lifted him for a pinch-runner.

But no sooner had the game ended than Reyes was lobbying for his manager to stick him atop the lineup Thursday afternoon.

"No doubt," Reyes said of his odds of playing. "It's not a big deal. I told Willie I don't want to come out of the game."

Morbs,

How much more... how did you put it... oh yeah "regressing" do you foresee for Maine?

Shasta

not too much more, Herr Schadenfreude.

also he's still 10th in the league in VORP. Maybe regression will stop sooner than Bonds'.

You're right, they both have Walks and Homers in common.

you're not going to be like this when I get in town? (Mets-Giants begin 4pm local time on 31st btw)

I'm gonna be in NYC dude, we've been over this.

ah, you said on Thursday eve you'd be around.

you're right! i thought i was leaving on thursday night but it's friday morning.

Where are we meeting to watch the game?

Is Alex gonna be around?

I'll be here on Thursday. Morbs and I are seeing the Sox-A's on the Monday.

Alex where do you go to watch games?

I like Yancy's on Irving/9th. Is there somewhere more central?

I've still never been to Zeitgeist, but perhaps not a TV situation?

I don't think they have TVs there. Toronado has a couple small sets, and the beer selection is one of the best in the nation/world.

There's a place I went a couple weeks ago in North Beach/Chinatown that was on the smaller/mellower side for a sports bar and had 4 lcd plasmas, good specials and service. I can't remember the name of it though...

it's called (don't laugh) Woody Zips:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1609+Powell+Street,+San+Francisco,+CA,+94133&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.144864,63.984375&ie=UTF8&ll=37.799798,-122.410634&spn=0.009308,0.015621&z=16&om=1

http://tinyurl.com/2v3ezu

nice, but I'm staying on Henry St, and will likely need to stumble up from a nap after getting in around 2pm. Closer the better.

Haha, Alex would you know if Uncle Bert's Place still open?

That's a pretty funny dive. I'd love to check it out again.

Uncle Bert's is listed in my Rough Guide to SF. You could be my wingmen.

(unless u want to cede those duties to M White & Shakey Mo)

I checked with some of my coworkers in the hood, they say it closed a year or so ago.

or it seems to have turned into a bar called Mix:

http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/review/899099

Um I watch games at wherever I end up so Waziema, Hukilau, that place on Page & Divis, Mad Dog. . . Zeitgeist does have one TV at least, IIRC.

Yancy's is good too.

Elixir? 16/Guerrero?

or maybe it'll raiin in NY and we can just go to Zeitgeist.

that place on Page & Divis = The Page. I know for a fact this is M. White's local.
it's probably the closest for Morbs (15 min. walk, 10 for a NYer). If you've got a transit pass for the week just take the 24 over the hill. i would vote Yes on this (2 TVs, mellow, close).

zeitgeist is indeed a well-deserved SF institution, i just think it wouldn't be any fun to try to watch a game.

waziema is a cool, low-lit ethiopian cafe/club, i have never watched a game here! wtf!
mad dog and toronado are not far, just down the hill in lower haight. toronado has a blaring RnR jukebox but a super good beer selection.

yancy's is nice because it's got that great TV and it's pretty friendly. i'd push Yancy's but it might be a pain to get to for Le Morbs.

well, Page or Yancy's perhaps then. Make sure Michael & Shakey come to cluck their tongues at us! Afterwards I'll be going to Tubesteak Thursday in the Tenderloin.

Whatever you guys decide on, I am cool with. Yancy's is just one 30 minute underground ride away from Morbs need (Tubesteak is at 133 Turk, right?)

yeeeeees

Delgado dropped to sixth = MAGIC!

dear mets,

lol.

sincerely,
adrian

that was painful.

It was nice of 3/4 of the umpiring crew to give Smoltzie Asshole a gift.

squeeeeeeeeeeeeze

also, how many decades before those crackers give up the war chant?

<img src="http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/nocahoma2.jpg&quot;>

ahh forgot

http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/nocahoma2.jpg

in the first game of the bos-atl series last weekend, all of fenway broke into the chant while the sox were merrily raping the christ out of atlanta. it was pretty hilar. normally i am pretty embarassed by it (and the chop), but i will embrace anything that upsets morbz

we do it at Shea on the exit ramps when Mets beat Braves. it's empowering.

btw next Tuesday at Shea is Zito vs Perez, w/ $9 seats! I'll be packing for SF, but might manage it. Anyone else?

i might be up for that. does it really take you a long time to pack for trips?

yeah. you don't wanna to know. (also, there is film writing deadlines and shit)

Pedro in the dugout!

Looks like Delgado is finally heating up

tuesday's game is actually linceum-perez

lincecum, sorry

they said something on the telecast yesterday about bonds not playing tomorrow? is that true? might be up for going anyway tho.

looks like a 'help the aged' call. from ap

"Bonds is scheduled to get a break Tuesday night, when the Giants open a three-game series at Shea Stadium _ though manager Bruce Bochy left open the possibility that he'd change his mind and write No. 25 into the lineup. Bonds was looking forward to nearly three full days to let his body recover, though he feels good but is just a little tired."

yeah, Lincecum, I don't know why all the Prob Pitchers stuff had Zito last week... I actually think I would find the nonstop Bonds-baiting kinda depressing to witness.

I really should go home and write and launder and stuff, but I might be talked into going. Lets's see what I get done by 1.

Valentin a week or so away?

the Mets site does show back rows in loge available for $9, which uis my fave place to sit (around Sec 15-19).

my friend warren is talking about going tonight too. i have no money, though.

I (theoretically) have money, but I think I need to finish all my busywork and get the good sleep I won't get when rising at 5 a.m. on Thursday. We'll hit another cheap game soon, stenc.

BALKING BOB

CARLOS D

a heartstopper

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070530/capt.0c8d52499085487aab96dffec60bc571.giants_mets_baseball_nyjj115.jpg

was he this bad as a met or worse?

Armando Benitez top 10 meltdowns

By Mark Kelly
ESPN Research

1. World Series, 2000: Game 1 at Yankees
In a memorable Game 1 of the first Subway Series in 44 years, the Mets take a 3-2 lead into the ninth with Armando Benitez on the hill. After getting Jorge Posada to fly out to center, a half-crippled Paul O'Neill has the at-bat of the Series, fouling off multiple two-strike pitches before working out a walk. Benitez then allows back-to-back singles to Luis Polonia and Jose Vizcaino, before a Chuck Knoblauch sacrifice fly ties the game. Derek Jeter strikes out to end the inning, but the Mets lose 4-3 in 12 innings.

2. NLDS, 2000: Game 2 at San Francisco
After watching Al Leiter throw a masterful eight innings, Benitez is brought in to protect a 4-1 lead with Barry Bonds on second and none out in the ninth. After allowing a single to Jeff Kent and getting Ellis Burks to fly to right, J.T. Snow hits the first pinch-hit home run of his career, tying the game and sending Pac Bell park into a frenzy.

3. NLCS, 1999: Game 6 at Atlanta
After pitching a scoreless ninth and watching the Mets go-ahead in the top of the 10th, Benitez allows a game-tying single to Ozzie Guillen. The Braves go on to win the game and advance to the World Series the next inning, when Kenny Rogers walked in the winning run.

4. ALCS, 1996: Game 1 at Yankees
In a moment that made Jeffrey Maier a star, Benitez is summoned in the eighth inning to protect a 4-3 lead. Derek Jeter lofts a fly ball to right that appears to be playable. Just as right-fielder Tony Tarasco reaches up to make the catch, the 12-year-old boy from Old Tappan, N.J. reaches over the right-field wall, pulling the ball into the stands. Right-field umpire Rich Garcia immediately rules the ball a home run, tying the game. The Orioles eventually lose in the 11th inning on a Bernie Williams' homer.

5. ALCS, 1997: Game 2 vs. Cleveland
Coming on in the eighth inning with a 4-2 lead, the right-hander issues two walks, vigorously protesting the second one after it appears pinch-hitter Jim Thome went around on a 3-2 pitch with two outs. Marquis Grissom followed with a three-run shot over the center-field wall, handing Benitez just his second blown save of the season.

6. NLDS, 1999: Game 4 vs. Arizona
After arriving late to Shea Stadium minutes before the National Anthem, Benitez comes on with two out and two on in the eighth, trying to protect a 2-1 Mets' lead. Benitez allows a two-run go-ahead double by Jay Bell, and a single to Matt Williams, but is bailed out when Melvin Mora throws out Bell at the plate to end the inning.

7. Sept. 23, 2001 vs. Atlanta
After being 13½ games back on Aug. 18, the Mets go 22-5 over the next 27 games to move within 3½ games with a chance to inch a closer as Benitez enters in the ninth inning with a 4-1 lead over first-place Atlanta. After allowing a lead-off walk, Benitez settles down to retire the next two batters. Brian Jordan's two-run homer cuts the lead to one, and after allowing a walk to pinch-hitter Dave Martinez and a single to Andruw Jones, B.J. Surhoff ties the game with a single. The Braves go on to win the game in 11th inning on Jordan's second home run of the game.

8. Sept. 29, 2001 at Atlanta
After surviving the meltdown of a week earlier, the Mets rally to win three of the next four games and have a chance to pull within three games. New York takes a 5-1 lead into the ninth. After a lead-off walk and a strikeout, Javy Lopez singled in Andruw Jones to cut the lead to 5-2. Benitez then gets Dave Martinez to ground out and was again one out from victory. Benitez then allowed a walk and a two-run double to Marcus Giles before being replaced by John Franco, who after walking two, allowed a game-winning grand slam to Brian Jordan.

9. June 22, 2003 vs. Yankees
Suffering through a miserable season, the Mets hope to provide a bright spot by defeating their crosstown rivals. Jason Phillips' two-out RBI single gives the Mets a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth inning. After allowing a lead-off walk to Jason Giambi, Benitez gets Raul Mondesi and Todd Zeile to fly out sandwiched around a Hideki Matsui walk. Benitez then walks pinch-hitter Ruben Sierra on four pitches to load the bases. The Mets closer then goes to a full count on pinch-hitter Jorge Posada before walking him to tie the game. The Mets would lose the game in 11 innings.

10. June 14, 2002 vs. Yankees
The Mets take a 2-1 lead into the ninth in a series-opening game against the Yankees. After striking out Shane Spencer, Benitez allows a ground-rule double to Marcus Thames. Benitez then gets Alfonso Soriano on a deep fly to left and needed one more out to preserve the win. Derek Jeter steps to the plate 0-for-7 with six strikeouts lifetime against Benitez, but singles to center to tie the game. Adding insult to injury, former Met Robin Ventura's two-run homer in the 10th gives the Yankees the win.

i was at #2.

were you in a frenzy?

I cheered and then booed (the Giants ended up losing).

Just watched the balks. That's some pretty shitty umping. Not to say that Benitez doesn't suck to no end, but nothing like a little hometown double balk call (one was an very arguable balk, the other was total BS) to tie the game.

no arguing with this balk, amirite?
http://www.myclassiclyrics.com/artist_biographies/Fairuza_Balk_Biography_2.jpg

I was at #7 above.

Benitez (OUR SAVIOR!) had balked twice in 717 career games before the 12th inning last night.

(In fairness, ppl only recall the meltdowns. He was above avg as a Met.)

from Metsgeek:

Old friend Armando
Glad you balked at how we booed
Visit anytime

Did you see Reyes on that first balk? He is so very punchable. Good game tho.

haha, he is a DEEELIGHT

only a cardinals fan could find reyes "punchable"

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/aditi_kinkhabwala/10/18/better.half/p1_spiezio.jpg

right in the "scrotee"

http://images.mccoveychronicles.com/images/admin/thar_he_blows.gif

never forget

anyone interested in going to thursday's game (john maine vs. the phillies)?

yeah, definitely! how much are tickets?

haven't gotten them yet, but i was thinking $9 + fees because i'm po

i'd prolly go.

upper deck reserved works for me. lemme know.

should i order three? or can we do walk-up?

If you can do walk up, I might be able to join you. It's hard to predict the work schedule this week, though.

i did walk up for the giants game last week and it was fine.

yes, and we cd probably sneak down to Loge back rows.

i just remembered my pal lukas bought me a ticket to see the sea and cake at webster that night, so i can't go. anybody want to/able to go to tomorrow's game?

achhh, I hafta unpack and otherwise re-order my NY life.

ie, I am still up for Thursday. I think walkup is fine, fuck fees.

packing, unpacking - jesus christ, are you a woman?

i mean that in the nicest way, of course.

no, I just have class. Mainly, I have to go to the world's worst post office (Kensington) and see if they held all my mail.

So I totally missed Beltran's bruised knee?

(also, the JOYS of getting into JFK late and home at 12:30am, then gettin up and going to work -- I must be a strong woman)

Also, my original answer should have been: the sea and cake - jesus christ, are you a woman?

too late for zing.

I DONT ZING

fyi, Shawn Green will be helping broadcast the game on TV tomorrow.

well that was depressing

aw poor heeb.

so which non-Sea & Cake fans wanna go tonight? Hamels v Maine.

i'll be there--what time and where?

how early can you make it, mook? 6-6:15? (The 7 Express is fast.)

Not sure yet if a couple friends can join me. How about right at Gate E (the column with the "E" on it) next to the gameday tkt windows? I recommend getting the $9 uppers when we're all there then heading for the loge back rows.

sounds good!

I might still make it, but I probably can't get there before 7. How long a ride is the 7 express from Court Sq?

I would like to regale Morbs with stories about Aaron Rowand's contributions to my fantasy team.

a little over 10 mins, mattbot. Maybe you should look in the last 2 rows of loge sec 15. (I have a blue shirt w/ orange METS on it.)

REAL BASEBALL ONLY

is this 4 realz y/n?

y

HAY MAYBE I SHOULD JOIN YOU Y/N?

Should be a good series this weekend. Dr. Destroy vs. Glavine on Sunday...

Or

WHO IN THIS BITCH WANTS TO RUMBLE? YOU, ME, OUTSIDE BETTY'S BARGAINS, FRIDAY, 6 PM...

jmod Y

I AM GOING I HOPE TO BE THERE BY 6:15 is or so

PLS WAIT FOR ME? I AM WEARING DETROIT TIGRS HAT (my dodgers hat would go over like ton of brickes y/n?)

hurry, I wanna see BP :(

I will stop by loge section 15! I am wearing a white shirt with light blue stripes, it does not say Mets :(

Andy: It's ON.

anybody else worried?

ts: "severed tendon" vs "fatigued groin"

I'm more upset than worried. Can't blame the starting pitching, they've been top notch. I'm thinking Lo Duca should go back in the 2 hole with Reyes drawing more intentional walks lately. But Valentin is back and Green is back on Sunday, so that should be a boost. And they've been playing excellent on the road so far.

i meant worried about endy.

Endy! The idol!

Andy: It's ON.

OK, I'll have to make sure Betty's alright with it.

Well, I called that LoDuca HR on Hamels' first pitch after Manuel's ten-minute tirade. And one of our party WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS sez when Killer Burrell comes up in the 9th "Watch him clout one."

Let's just call that a rookie mistake.

Wagner's last blown save was Aug. 1 against Florida. ...

Darryl Strawberry, Kevin McReynolds and Keith Hernandez were the last Mets to hit back-to-back-to-back homers. They did it against Don Carman of the Phillies.

Ledee up from the minors, Newhan down.

This is just to say:

Jose Reyes, 2005:
696 ABs, 27 BB, 78 K

Jose Reyes, 2006:
647 ABs, 53 BB, 81 K

Jose Reyes, 2007:
247 ABs, 35 BB, 33 K

That is awesome! :D

maybe that Mets-Tigers World Series wouldn't have gone so well...

might've been a slugfest

I don't expect to see Alou before mid-July, if at all.

See, this is why I don't play fantasy; Mets have dropped 7 of 8, which puts em much more in line w/ my Predictatron's 90-win season.

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/magazine/cover/images/t1_cover0618.jpg

endy u_u

lol @ Randolph crying about how Kuo flipped his bat

dick move but c'mon
STYLE POINTS

actually, that was awesome. guy's a pitcher, it's his second career hit, and he launched that ball. he should have run the bases with one flap down.

if willie wants to cry, he should cry about carlos d's complete lack of effort on juan pierre's triple.

mercifully, my DirecTV has just been fixed, so I've missed the last 3 games.

Not worried, tho.

Maine buzzed Kuo in his next AB too.

John Maine... what is up dude?

Next up: baseball's hottest team vs. baseball's coldest. 1/3 of a $1billion/yr in salary with a combined 68-59 record (.535).

lol 4k delgado.

small ball & great outfield d-fence for the win in the opener!

"momentum," media, Shasta chumped!

lol what was that again

I'm trying to figure out how to deal w/ reyes...

cankles i know yr a Bravos parasite but try to grow some pubes.

Shawn Green: Not An Outfielder! The throw he just shat out after Damon's RBI single was almost closer to first than home plate and, uh, SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO SECOND.

U GOT WANGED

enough with the asians, Jimmy

THATS WAHT TEH METES SED AFTER TEH CHAN HO FAILURE

a-rod is going to surpass his 2006 hr total (35) by the all-star break.

no, he won't. i'll put $5 on it.

Gammons:

These streaks come and go. When the Mets went 3-11 going into Oliver Perez's brilliant mastery of the Yankees on Friday, their team on base percentage was .290, which obviously will not continue. Minaya has several regular players like Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran slumping or, like Moises Alou, injured. Minaya and his entire staff believes that Pedro Martinez is in the best shape of his career and will make it back for the stretch run, but has still looked around at pitching and has thrown Mark Buehrle's name around.

I'm assuming it was Max Kellerman on ESPN Radio this morning who said that the Yankees-Mets series just proved that the Mets are overrated and don't have the pitching. It was neither Mike nor Mike, probably after 10:00 and definitely before noon.

Or it was someone on during Max Kellerman. I really don't know. I think it was the same person who later talked to Jered Weaver about Weaver's new 2100' house, which is located two miles away from his parents in Something Beach, CA.

Minaya has several regular players like Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran slumping or, like Moises Alou, injured.

LOL at counting on Alou being healthy. Dude has missed 90 games over the past 2 seasons.

do you think P.G. (or me) were ever counting on it?

Why even mention it then?

Andy: if you're lucky, it could've been Colin Cowherd!

cuz Omar was counting on it? (gambling more likely)

Morbs should i start Maine against the Twinkies tonight!??!?!?!?!

7.1 ip, 4 h, 1 er, 2 bb, 4 k, 1 w, 1.23 era, .214 oba, 0.82 whip...

so in conclusion, yes you should've started him.

lol @ asking morbs fantasy advice!

Ade, did you start the Maine Man? I didn't. ;_;

Alright, this is getting grim.

It's called a slump! It happens!

all month?

2 weeks! and 2 days! Give or take!

well this is nice.

Lo Duca is FEISTY

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVER JINX

uh yeah that's why they're sweeping the a's.

pls get that Hothead Paisan w/ no power outta here this winter.

Ha - good luck w/ that, esp. if the Mets go anywhere this offseason. It'll be like the post-WS Varitek deal, but worse. Tho who'd take over for Dookie - Castro? FA signee? Some prospect?

One is real Met - who's the fake?

A wealthy Florida chiropractor thought she was dating Mets ace Pedro Martinez, but the lovelorn back cracker wound up being scammed out of almost $1 million.

Dr. Rhonda Schroeder says she was fleeced by Shirley Gordon, a career con woman who enlisted two male pals to pose as the superstar pitcher.

Schroeder, 34, is suing the imprisoned grifter to get back some of the cash she splurged in an effort to keep her bogus boyfriend happy, the St. Petersburg Times reported yesterday.

The phony romance started in January 2005 when Schroeder went on a date set up by Gordon with a man she believed to be Martinez, prosecutors said.

Much later, Schroeder identified a photo of the man - who turned out to be Kenneth Day, an ex-boyfriend of Gordon's, prosecutors said. Day, who has not been charged in the case, bears a resemblance to the eight-time All Star pitcher, although he has a scar above his left eye, the newspaper said. Martinez has no such mark.

uh yeah
http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/06/25/amd_kennethdaysr.jpg

xpost

Michael "Punchy" Barrett

You'd like to see them make the same (correct) call on Lo Duca that Cashen made on Ray Knight after '86 WS MVP, ie bye-bye. If Omar can, I dunno.

http://www.therosinbag.com/images/cards/saltalamacchia_jarod.jpg

intradivision deal? unlikely.

http://www.getreligion.org/wp-content/photos/a_greenconmets180x250.jpg

why does Carlos Delgado suck so bad?

Day would make a better Mike Lowell.

HAMMERIN' HEBREW

AMAZIN' descendant of ABRAHAM

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/baseball_cards/samples/1971_Kelloggs.jpg

Izzy blows another one against the Mets!

can someone please tell me the point of schoeneweis

he's the guy who loses games

yeah, countdown to this clown's release

the stache giveth, the stache taketh away

maybe the mets can trade schoenweiss for scott proctor lolz

the stache heeb giveth, the stache heeb taketh away

fix'd

BE AFRAID

"Randolph said he won't shy away from using struggling reliever Scott Schoeneweis, who gave up a tiebreaking homer to rookie Brendan Ryan in the 11th inning Tuesday night. 'I'm not afraid to use my people,' Randolph said. 'I think I'll keep him.' Randolph said Schoeneweis just needs to keep his pitches down consistently"

noooo

Omar needs a kick in the nuts for thinking that SCOTT FUCKING SCHOENEWEIS was worth millions of dollars. Some scrub on the team needs to take out SS (Luftwaffe!) so Willie won't be tempted to use him.

Minaya's bonehead auxiliary moves are obscured by the biggies that work.

It's not like he's attractive trade bait at the moment either. Maybe they should send SS down to the minors to re-focus, and bring back Burgos.

Mike (NY): Is Millege going to be dealt and what's your impressions of Carlos Gomez lately.

Jeff Ma: Yes I think Milledge will get dealt. Gomez looks like a five tool guy who is the darling in the Mets organization right now meaning he will get plenty of opportunity to succeed.

Is one of the tools "power", because I don't think he has that one.

not consistently, but he actually pretty well crushed that ball against maroth on monday--willie had to have a chat with him about his home run trot

I noticed today that David Wright has 17 stolen bases already. I wonder if Reyes, Gomez and Wright combined can nab 150 this year.

poly, hear of 'filling out'?

Wright is 17 for 17, yes?

wright got caught the other night against the cardinals (on a pickoff, actually, but it counts since the tag was at second)

poly, hear of 'filling out'?

I thought they made that stuff illegal!

Interesting fact: Schoenweiss has a 9+ ERA at Shea, but a 0.00 ERA on the road.

http://www.stomptokyo.com/scott/blog/C964161838/E959281125/Media/alone11.jpg

yeah man paul lo duca sucks.

AVG .284 | HR 5 | RBI 23 | OBP .331 | SLG .377

Yeah, that sounds about right.

what were pelfry's AAA stats this year - i've seen nothing good from this guy while he's been up. why were people big on him again?

2-2, 3.38 ERA, 31 strikeouts, .265 OBA over eight games (42.2 IP) in the minors

(that includes one game at st. lucie)

we don't even hafta parse Capt Red Ass' "They speak English" kerfuffle, huh?

Lo Duca's out this winter, oh yes pls yes.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/07/01/2007-07-01_lo_ducas_met_days_numbered-4.html

LHP Oliver Perez will be eligible to return to the Mets for their first game after the All-Star break. He was placed on the 15-day DL Monday retroactive to June 27 because of persistent lower back stiffness. The Mets recalled LHP Jason Vargas, who will start against the Rockies on Tuesday night.

why are the YOUNG pitchers hurt?

Lo Duca is hitting .217 at Shea this year.

i'm gonna hurt pelfry myself if he doesn't have the decency to pull a hamstring or some such

I think he came up too young, and he's under all this pressure to be great. I'd still give him another year or two. But right now, he needs to go back to the minors asap before he and Schoenweiss become good buddies.

Also, seeing the Houston announcers yesterday dressed in Sgt Pepper/Magical Mystery Tour garb for 60s night was a bit disturbing.

wow that catch by beltran

yeah, amazing catch. makes up for his 0-for-6 so far!

this game doesn't want to end.

that win was crucial with braves and phillies losing and oswalt coming up sunday. nice!

catch

thanks, i was just about to search for that

yowza

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BZsXVf6INc

i was thinking more Bowie's Up the Hill Backwards

haha, Sandy Alomar Jr catching?

Reyes said he believes Henderson's record of 130 stolen bases in a season will not be broken, at least by him.

"It's not that easy," said Reyes a free swinger whose biggest impediment would be reaching base as often as Henderson did. "First of all, you have to get on base, and you have to steal second, and you have to steal third. Stealing 130? That's too much.

"I've worked with Rickey (a part-time Mets instructor) and he told me one day, 'You can do it,' and I said, 'Rickey, the last two years, I had 124 stolen bases (combined). See the difference? That's way too many bases.' "

THOSE DUDES

Speaking of Rickey Henderson ...

RICKEY GOT PAID

Not only hitting coach Rickey, but the #7 postgame express has arrived!

Daver, why don't you come down for a game next month?

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/9066/metsguy2pe5.jpg

WTF IS THIS CRAP ON RICKEY'S HEAD?

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/1650.jpg

SAY IT AIN'T SO

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-keithhernandezphotos,0,3070168.photogallery?index=1

Morbs, you crotchety old so-and-so: contact me @ (firstname.lastname)@gmail, suggest something, and I'll see if I can fit thru my door to make it down!

butter the doorway!

I saw Rickey play w/ the Sox, an interleague game vs Atlanta at Fenway.

7 express = awesome

Rickey Ledee and Julio Franco have been sent for assignment.

Julio Franco (has) been sent for assignment

-5 charisma

Also Marlon Anderson might be back on board.

So he and Milledge are activated?

how bout the Rickey story dog told on the fan about him calling the red sox front office for '04 WS game six tickets the day after they won game 4?!?!

RICKEY BEING RICKEY

DA EDGE!

Rhoden writes in NYT Mets haven't decided if Rickey is hitting or 1b coach, wtf.

also get Green the fuck out of RF. at bat too:

June .182/.229/.318

July .265/.265/.353

Rhoden writes in NYT Mets haven't decided if Rickey is hitting or 1b coach, wtf.

"RICKEY DOES BOTH. PAY RICKEY TWICE."

adam sandler in the booth inviting keith hernandez to a screening of his new movie: "Bring Clyde".

Bah. I was watching Mike Mussina walk Delmon Young.

Adum Dunn just busted some scoreboard bulbs.

dude is so juicin'.

i had a dream about pedro last night.

and...? was he in that musical with you?

L MILLZ the damaja!

lol at Bob Feller and various old Mets walking onto field on Ralph Kiner Night to the theme from Jurassic Park

Good to see Ed Charles though

also, they put the opening bars of the "Kiner's Korner" theme (brassy '60s sports music) on an 8-second loop for Ralph's 5-minute entrance, which had to induce some seizures.

pedro already seems like he's from another baseball era from far in the past, it's weird.

Like the era when the Mets scored 4 runs per game.

seriously

Duque with the single, steal, and run. Must be the Rickey influence.

(did we really need any more aggression though? Mets lead MLB in steals!)

mets scored what, 7 runs tonight?

goddamn paul lo duca sucks.

yeah man the last thing i wanna see is a winning team be "aggressive."

Mets pitchers with >1 stolen base, career

Tom Seaver 4
Orlando Hernandez 2
Danny Frisella 2

Being aggressive on the base paths should be the last of their worries at the moment!

they did make Barrett look silly last night.

From what I've heard, Barrett's needed little help this year in that regard (even disregarding the pitcher fights).

Barrett has thrown out 6 of 22 batters for the Padres. Bard has thrown out 7 of 55. Rob Bowen has thrown out 4 of 27 for the Cubs/Padres (1 of 4 with the Cubs). Barrett has been a huge improvement in that area, and yet still is pretty bad, but the Padres pitchers are completely indifferent to steals, so the catchers can't really be blamed too much.

One area Barrett hasn't helped is passed balls, which is his biggest defensive weakness. But he has been hitting very well!

Marlon Anderson, star of the game!

whoever it is filling in for buck today is so bad he makes me miss him, a little.

ALOHA ADAM WTF?!?!????!?

Looks like Valentin's gone for the rest of the season. Hopefully there won't be a rush fill-in trade to compensate.

ouch.

Nice comeback today. Chip Ambres with the winning RBI? I'll take it!

goddamn lo duca's fault chip ambres hit that rbi.

OK, that was almost sorta funny.

it's supposed to be more "instructive" than "funny"

The crowd's (immediate) dramatic reaction to Maine's homerun was priceless.

in what way?

Just the way they all did a lower pitched "ohhh!" in disbelief at the crack of the bat.

that jerkface lo duca has four rbis

what an asshole

Hello Grudzielanek?

I wouldn't doubt it. Mets and Royals seem to be trade-happy with each other the past few years. (Coincidentally they are my two favorite teams)

That said, I don't know if he's the right fit. Definitely a great defensive guy though.

Joe Girardi's G-Nek speculation was wrong.

So I notice there's now a PA address in Spanish at Shea right after the English one. Fun.

"El Sosa es tostada."

I hope it's not just for merengue night.

it's not, nor is it new.

Well I haven't been to Shea this year.

nor last year apparently.

I don't live in NY!

i didn't know that. i don't have an ilxor.xls.

No prob. I did grow up in Queens though.

word. let's go mets!

ps it was lo duca's fault i didn't know you lived elsewhere.

he is the small cat

with the big red ass

pedro throws a simulated game today

first game he'll pitch that counts: about 5 weeks from now

that is, if you consider games against the marlins, pirates, padres or nationals "major league" games

sez the guy who follows a team in the same division as the devil rays!

Pretty sure the Padres were in the playoffs for the last two years, and maybe this year as well.

stence i know whereof i speak

right. also i wouldn't fuck with the nats, they broke chase utley's hand!

I wouldn't fuck w/ the Nats for fear of what I might catch!

(tho it's worth noting they've been playing .500 ball over the past 70ish games, I believe)

it's lo duca's fault da meethook is having such a great year.

CARLOS D!

a. at least pelfrey didn't get the loss
b. uh oh if feliciano falls apart

free ruben gotay!

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York man has been charged with beating his mother to death with a barbell after losing his temper while watching a baseball game on television.

Michael Anthony, 25, was watching the New York Mets lose a game on Saturday from his home in the borough of Queens when he began furiously banging on the walls, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement on Monday.

His father Fred Fischman shouted at him to stop, but Anthony punched him in the face and threw him to the ground, according to the criminal charges.

When Anthony's mother, Maria Fischman, 61, tried to intervene, prosecutors said he stabbed her once in the head with a knife before chasing her into a bedroom where he struck her several times with the 20 pound (9 kilogram) barbell.

"It is difficult to imagine a crime more heinous than that of a son viciously attacking his parents and, in the process, fatally beating his mother to death," Brown said.

Anthony has been remanded in custody and faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted.

http://www.vhnd.com/archive/pics/ma-jd.jpg

Very disturbing story there.

The Luis Castillo deal looks pretty good on paper.

i'm not sure..... low OBP, doesn't steal much anymore.... how's his glove???

Very good glove. His batting average seems high/consistent, but yeah, no power.

hay so what do u guyz think abt the future of the mets outfield w/alou cummin back and milledge killin it and green suckin hell of dicks? do u think next year gomez and martinez gonna get pushed into the mix?

Martinez would probably benefit from being eased into the big leagues. With Gomez, Beltran, Milledge, and Chavez, you can afford to wait until Martinez is ready, I think. Maybe keep Alou around as a fifth guy, and let Martinez spot for whoever gets hurt. Getting rid of Green is the important part, though.

no 300 for tommy tonight. ;_;

So close too! I guess his family/guest list of 30 will be making the trip to Chicago.

drama!

he has a hot wife
she looked sad

The last time a NY pitcher went for 300 in Wrigley, a Korean first baseman ended up in the hospital. Expect much of the same this Sunday.

If he doesn't do it in Wrigley I wd go to the following Shea game.

BRIAN LAWRENCE?!

the POWER of WRIGHT!

Castillo has a .368 career OBP, btw -- more than decent

easley just hit an inside-the-park hr!

He got a really good bounce in centerfield. Hall had no chance to get him.

Lawrence was ok for a spot start.

4 hits, 8 TB for Wright

Zero hits, zero total bases for Castillo.

Oh nice strikeout Castro, haha, another oh-fer for you.

GROK WHAT I AM DOING HERE

okay it is out of my system, I'm out of here

Sosa with a nice double there.

why isn't Castro the #1 catcher?

Because if became the starting catcher, and had one day where he went 0 for 4, he would be lynched in no time by the fans.

Dempster blows it again!

11 walks by the Cubs, it's surprising this game is even close.

well, zambrano had a no-no through 5IP (5BBs).

i must have missed a meeting, been meaning to ask -- what's up with the arm cast Willie has been sporting? how did he break it?

he had rotator cuff surgery over the all-star break.

Nice to see that the NY baseball media can find such a positive spin on Glavine's 300th win. Criminy I think some of these guys would write a negative column the day the Mets win the World Series.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-sbwally065322490aug06,0,6128268.column

I also don't get the whole spin that no one will ever win 300 again. They were saying the same thing around the time the guys from the 70s were hitting 300 wins like Carlton, Sutton, Seaver etc. It is a pretty rare feat, especially if you consider there was quite a few from guys that played from the mid 60s to mid 80s.

Carlton -1983
Seaver -1985
Sutton -1986
Niekro -1985
Ryan -1990
Perry -1982

That is about 1/4 of the people who have won 300. The fact that there have been 3 from this generation of players is pretty good. Ryan was the only one of these guys to win his 300th game in the 90s.

Glavine - 2007
Maddux - 2004
Clemens - 2003

So if you look things, it was thirteen years between Clemens and Ryan.

Wynn - 1963
Spahn - 1961

So it was twenty years between Wynn and Carlton.

It might be a few years, but it will probably happen again.

someone like Mussina might do it if he pitches til he's 44.

I will be braving the Shea steambath for Duque-Smoltz tnite. Maybe Willie will notice Milledge is afire and not hit him motherfucking 8th.

I don't know, I really like him in the 8 spot. It's like a second leadoff hitter down there.

What a game, Wagner with the bases loaded/no out escape, Castillo and Alou with the heroics. I bet Morbs is happy.

i almost had a coronary at approximately 9:57 p.m. ET

Seriously! Wagner started throwing the right pitches in a hurry though.

yes, Wags' Johnny Franco act has passed its fresh date.

Also, some drunken Braves-rooting bimbo was trying to take a pic of her friends in rows behind me while Alou was batting, so I was distracted when he hit the HR. She then yowled "Let's Go Mets" and left. I see myself going to the new park maybe twice a year because of ambulatory shit like that, plus The Wave in the middle of visitor rallies, etc. Fuck people.

did pedro look big (too much gravy?) to anyone else?

if it was a johnny franco act, he would've blown it.

also reason enough to go to the new mets park (courtesy maura):

http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/08/hark_new_shake_shack_to_open_at_shea_stadium.html

WILLIE HARRIS ROBS THE TYING HOMER LOL

i can't be mad, i'm amazed harris is having such a good year.

yeah same. he is a local guy too!

also, francoeur is turning out a lot better than i expected.

Harris robbed two homers? I saw the first one (but maybe that one wasn't quite over the wall).

yeah, two. the alou one and the delgado one in the 9th.

harris has to be a top contender for comeback player of the year, right?

anyway NO MORE BRAVES TALK IN THIS THREAD. welcome back carlos!!!

if the season was just 162 games of braves v mets, atlanta would have the best record in the league. too bad the mets are better than them against every other team :'(

not too bad. any team that can't attract fans to its own park during the playoffs... ahem

actually they've set new attendance records these last two seasons! last year against the mets, and again this year against the phillies. i think the fact that they actually have to compete for a shot at the division instead of waltzing into the playoffs is generating way more interest~

ok, fair enough then!

OK, THAT was a Franco act.

I think yr 162-game hypoth is crap, but we'll never know, shall we?

but we'll never know, shall we?

never stopped anybody on this thread from bringing up that pythagorean crap, tho.

boomshakalaka~

What a freakin' 7th inning. Mota bailed out, but the homeplate ump waaaay off the mark!

stenc no understand what pythag is for

Who wants ta catch?

that bannister kid is having a pretty decent year for an awful royals team, why did we get rid of him again? he would look pretty nice in the 5 spot right about now.

the royals aren't awful this year! they are on pace for winning 75 games this year, and possibly not finishing in last place. that is huge for them.

good lord, it is so good to have alou back. and i really didn't think i'd be saying that at all when he was signed.

lol @ ryan zimmerman

the stache = nü wally pipp?

Jeff Conine, PROVEN (overthehill) WINNER

so many 40 year olds

morbs should feel right at home.

Beltran is on fire!

well that was a satisfying game

Yeah, it was pretty great to watch too.

Armando Benitez top 10 meltdowns

+1 tonight :D

Every time I'm in the park, FUCKIN' WAGNER MELTDOWN! Fortunately Trevor H decided to outcrap him.

The Torontonians hasd to be schooled in the ways of Mr. Met.

(when he's 40, stenc will look like Bob Feller today)

His head is so mighty and round!

erm... mr.met that is.

what a draaaaaag it is to be olllllld

Did you guys see Moises Alou's "defensive play" on Marcus Giles's "triple"?

you mean his beef? yeah, that was terrible. poor peepeehands!

Thermo was in the men's room, he had to make do with my word picture of how that ball alou-ded Moises.

Ron Darling working in Zen and the Art of Archery into his conversation of pitching tonight made my week.

country time

hoffman and wagner both blow it again!

apparently scott schoenweiss is now the ace of the bullpen

"ace"

GREAT oldskool block of home by Sandy Alomar! 40something repping!

carlos d wtf

his knee injury has depressed his offense to Bob Buhl level.

wtf with with that ball fake rolling foul!

time to cut bait on Mota

JA (Chanhassen): Is Pedro Martinez' lack of velocity a concern? Could he be reserving his top arm speed for the big leaguers, or is 88-90 his new ceiling? His brother didn't bounce back well from rotator cuff surgery, and that must be weighing on his mind, but he's just not striking out A ball hitters. That can't bode well. Any insight as to his chance at being 80% of Pedro v 2001-2004 ever again?

Will Carroll: When you say "lack", you have to look at it relative to not only where he once was (low to mid 90s) but also to where he was last year (low to mid 80s.) Watching video of his third rehab start, Pedro was toying with hitters. I think if he wanted to strike them out, he could have, but he was doing what he was doing, just with batters. There's a part of me that thinks he'll have an extra gear when he sees the lights, but I don't have evidence of that either. 80%? That's a pretty high standard. I'll say I think he's likely to be their second best pitcher by October and much better than anything Omar Minaya could have acquired.

God help me, I'm probably going to actually root for the Mets in the NL the rest of this year.

motherfuckers really need to win tonight

motherfuckers really fucked up tonight

stupid marlon

"Pushed" the Mets right into a pennant race, FUCK

btw, Reyes not a great leadoff guy the last 2 months: .317 OBP in July, .331 in August.

trade him, obv.

don't be a provocateur. The MVP talk is just silly.

x_0

OK, El Duque out after 3, it's TIME TO PANIC.

FUCKIN' BURRELL

shawn green W/ MIGHTY GAME-TYING SAC FLY

hey, Reyes is 0 for 3, so it was Delgado's turn TO GET PICKED OFF

I wonder how many teams have lost 5 games off a 7-game lead in 5 days.

Wow.

oh, I almost sort of hate to see a comeback...

Randolph brought in Wags in the 8th? has he given up on MOTA?

i love endy

Wow!

"Another slider, Ron."

no surprise

Those four jackasses in the front row look like jackasses.

some of us have jobs, Andy

today's game has been absolutely fucking nuts.

42 pitches by Wagfuck

One of us has a sick child, an out-of-town wife, and a job.

holy shit

nicely done, billy

they better shape up tomorrow.

xp
Sorry man, I just meant we were TV-challenged.

goodnight

First attempt at a six-out save in eight years, apparently?

(No need to apologize, Dr M.)

I remain guardedly optimistic only bcz the last 2 weeks of Sept the Mets play Fla & Wash.

^that is exactly what i just saw and emailed to all the hatas giving me shit..

of course, the bullpen still has to elevate its game to stinko.

Marlon is like the best pinch hitter in the game lately. 11 PH RBIs!

look at pelfrey + bullpen!

mets really needed this sweep

FRIDAY:

[22:00] me: i wouldnt be surprised if atl got swept this weekend
[22:00] neurotic mets fan: i would

;_;

bilmando wagnitez

PEDRO

the gravy has arrived

so best

who has been added to the expanded roster?
how fricken hot is dave wright??

not "hott" the way the kids say, i mean the writerightwright stuff, amirite...killing it..

he is hawt in all ways, MVP

sayin'

Runs Above Replacement, Position-Adjusted, NL

HANLEY RAMIREZ FLA-N SS 62.5
DAVID WRIGHT NY_-N 3B 59.2
MIGUEL CABRERA FLA-N 3B 58.0
BARRY BONDS SF_-N LF 56.1

Man Alou didn't seem to lose a step since coming back, he's so consistent. You think if he wasn't injured so much in his career he could have had Hall of Fame potential.

That shot Moises Alou hit against the Reds yesterday was a moonshot.

Alou has probably missed about three seasons of games, not including 50 or so to a strike. He would probably be over 2500 hits and 400 HRs by this point without the injuries. Alou also didn't become a regular everyday player until he was 25-26.

god bless the stache, but luis castillo has been a pleasant addition