We Suck

You know, I didn't even have to watch that whole game in Washington tonight to realize what the hell was going on. The Mets are brutal. It's sad, they probably won't even reach 70 wins on the year.

What did Wilson Valdez do wrong to get taken out of that game? Anderson Hernandez is not a shortstop, and proves it by committing the big error in the 8th that led to the go-ahead run.

Friday night is almost here. Opening night- in Pittsburgh of all places. How long before we rip on Crosby and pig-face Kennedy?

Hell is Black and Gold

Could it get any better for a Pittsburgh sports fan yesterday? If you had great seats to the Pirates game last night and could not refuse them despite wanting to watch Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night, you had almost the best of both worlds. A just-over-two-hour baseball game in which your team continues to make the New York team look like the one that's been losing for almost twenty years and a hop over to the Igloo, a short walk across the bridge, to join the party watching the hockey. A fun night all around. Screw you guys.

I give up trashing this city and it's teams. The Mets need to get out fast and we need to forget about terrible towels and white-outs once and for all. Oh wait, it's a four game series? At least the pain will be quick with an early day game after night game.

Johan was cruising last night. I missed the first inning and my only concern was "did he give up a hit?" Not only did he not, but he retired the first ten in order. This was going to be the one, especially after the two sparkling defensive plays the Mets made. But it was not to be, and then later it fell apart in the sixth.

Have I told you I hate the Penguins? So much for a sweep.

Thundersuck

This was going to be the headline for the Sunday game recap had J.J. Putz stayed in the game and eventually blow one to the Marlins. I guess we did not have to wait too long. Yesterday was batting practice and the Pirates were working on shooting it up the middle.

Pittsburgh is a house of horrors. Wait, this sounds familiar. Oh right, I've only been saying it all winter for the Rangers. At least unlike the NHL, the Pirates are not in our division. Thank goodness for that realignment that brought us the wild card in 1995 and knocked them out of the East. Just look at the recent history there, as described by Faith and Fear in Flushing. I was there to personally experience that brutal 7/8/05 collapse. Ouch, wrong word.

It's a shame because watching the game last night on TV made me want to plan a trip back to that ballpark, despite the wonderful outcomes. It certainly is one of the nicer ones out there. Just go there with thick skin. Nothing like hearing a five-year old on your way out from a game like the one in 2005 saying "Daddy, the Mets suck!" You bunch of losers, when was the last time you won anything? I hope Detroit wins in four to clinch on your home ice again. You know they're all Penguin fans. What else is there to do in Pittsburgh?

Braves 8, Mets 3

Johan Santana was brilliant again tonight. He got the loss. The boxscore says he gave up seven hits, but really, how many "hits" did he give up? The defense let him down. You had a feeling David Wright was going to bounce that throw in the first inning; it felt like he had to make that throw from the outfield when he fielded that one.

For all the questions of why Jerry Manual left Pedro Feliciano in to face lefty killer Matt Diaz, we know that it should not have ever come to that matchup had it not been for the Jose Reyes boot. That being said, do you want a Feliciano vs Diaz (who had been struggling vs anyone this season) matchup or a Stokes vs lefty pinch hitter, like Greg Norton. I'll take the former- Pedro's your guy in that spot, he's gotta get the job done. You could say you wanted to see Parnell pitch the whole inning, but what's Pedro's role in the bullpen if he does not come in to face their best hitter in the 7th, a lefty in a big spot?

Stokes and Takahashi were bound to give up a run at some point.

Derek Lowe looked good, but remember, he wanted four years. Give that contract some time.

NHL playoffs:
-When you watch two teams you despise, the best thing in that situation is to watch the visiting team win a couple of games in a row in overtime. Nothing like seeing the fans stunned. I really hate Pittsburgh, I'm kind of rooting for the lesser of two evils, the Caps, in game 7. But go Boston or Carolina in the next round.
-Roberto Luongo gave up 7 goals. Wow. Bye bye Vancouver. Still don't like you since '94.

Smallball: Mets 10, Pirates 1

It's nice to see a laugher when your team is on a roll. When you get the W and you see that Ken Takahashi and Brian Stokes took care of the last three innings, you know it was a good game.

They did it with small ball, except for a bomb by Carlos Beltran, hit into the second deck in left field, the first this season to reach the "left field landing". Wouldn't been more appropriate to name the first deck left field landing, since most homeruns will go there anyway? Then again maybe more balls will land up top as the weather gets warmer. Anyway...

Reyes, Beltran, Delgado and Wright each had two hits. That's the recipe for a blowout in our favor, assuming the pitching holds up. And John Maine did just that- one run in six innings.

You will not see many homers in Citi Field like the one Paul Maholm hit. Just over the Mo-Zone in rightfield, yet underneath the Porch. Not much room for the arc of the ball to find that spot. Either it hits the facade of the porch or it's caught by the rightfielder.

Screw Pittsburgh. They're more concerned with what they're hockey team is doing anyway. Speaking of which, how's my final four doing?