It's Been a While

Since we last posted, the hockey season is back in full swing and we just witnessed what we all feared- a Phillies-Yankees World Series. Let's try to sum up the month of October and hope we do not have to do this again a month from now.

The Yankees are the World Series champions. Congrats to them. You should be the champs when you outspend the team behind you in annual player salaries by $60+ million. That team behind them is the Mets, but we won't go there. I hope the Mets were watching what the Yankees did to the Phillies. That means Oliver Perez has to return to 2007 form and another lefty is needed in the bullpen. Lefties, lefties, lefties.

As long as the small market teams keep pocketing their luxury tax money and never bitch about it, this will go on forever. The Yankees will be there every year. They will never see the dark ages like they did in the 80s. Major League Baseball needs to put something in place to limit free agent spending, while allowing teams to pay as much as they want for homegrown talent or players acquired in trades. Think about it- owners won't go throwing money around because they can't and roster turnover will not be as frequent as it is now. Teams will be good because of drafting and trading and not because they have the money to splurge on each and every all-star available in the winter. It's not a team salary cap, but a new-player-acquisition cap.

Don't get me wrong, credit the Yankees for spending wisely, even if they did break the bank. All the moves paid off. Who had a bad year on that team?

The NHL could use this different cap as well. A hard cap as it is in place now, creates what is now a free agent frenzy on July 1. Sure it bring a buzz, but it also brings a completely different team come training camp. What happens when your 4th round draft pick turns out to be a gem and his contract is up, but you're up against the cap? So long buddy.

The Rangers are nothing without Marian Gaborik. Hopefully they can adjust to the gameplan Vancouver had for them, which shut him down big time. Dubinsky and Callahan are the guys that have to get going. They've been around for a few seasons now- it's time for them to approach the peak in their development.

Like last season, you can thank the good start to the season. Unlike last season, hopefully we don't limp into the playoffs and have another early exit.

The last three champions in MLB and the NHL have been the Phillies, Penguins and Yankees. Ugh.

Same Start, Different Result

I'm watching this game from the Promenade last night and I got this feeling of deja vu. I flip back in the scorebook of games I attended this season to look at 6/10. Mike Pelfrey vs Cole Hamels- yep. Mets knocking around Hamels at a rate of two hits per inning, knocking him out after five- yep. 4-1 lead- yep. Blown save in the late innings- NO.

Pelfrey got hit by Hamels and it seemed to ignite the Mets. The team needs more of the response Pelfrey displayed. Just a little passion. You don't have to charge the mound. Just make sure the other team knows you're ticked off. Jerry went nuts too, arguing another pathetic call by an umpire this season. You gotta love it.

The Mets held on, and it was good that they did, considering how many Phillies fans were in the ballpark. There was even a strong "Let's Go Phillies" chant early on that had to be drowned out by boos. It helped the atmosphere though, big time. This was the most life Citi Field had all season and the Mets are pretty much out of it.

Jayson Werth has a smug look for his face shot that appears on the big screen for his at-bats. Jayson, it's ok to crack a smile. We'll settle for you going 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts.

I'm done with Anderson Hernandez. Unfortunately it's either him or Wilson Valdez the rest of the season. Joy.

We have now learned that the out-of-town scoreboard does not support anyone that scores 20. The Yankee 16-7 lead over Boston, suddenly was cut down to a 10-7 lead, then Boston had an 11-10 lead. WTF? The game was removed from the scoreboard shortly thereafter to prevent any further confusion. Of course, anyone who had been taking a peek at the scoreboard throughout the game knew exactly what happened. A 20-spot? It could be a long winter for Yankee haters in New York.

The Yankees Also Lost Two of Three to the Nats

So we should not feel so bad. By the way, have the Yankees lost a home game since that series?

Late post on this one as I took the drive back home from Montreal today. A GPS is a must for anyone driving. Make a wrong turn, no problem. "Recalculating," says the handy device, and an alternate route is computed for you. Keep making wrong turns. Explore the countryside. You'll always be headed where you need to go. Just avoid starting the car while it's plugged into the cigarette charger. Had a scare a few weeks ago when I thought I fried it, but it just needed a hard reset.

That's all I got on this game. Which is nothing. I got back to the room and fired up gameday audio in the 9th inning and it was not long after 9:00. Just saw a note in the boxscore that Luis Castillo was ejected in the second inning. The Mets sure know how to make these stinkers quick, which is a good thing.

Got tickets to four of the ten games on the homestand next week. Should be good times at Citi.

Painful

The inflatable raft that's been holding us up has a hole. We are not going to be able to stay afloat much longer. This weekend has brought us a reality check. You can only go so far with a bunch of backups comprising your starting lineup every night. Talk about a weak end to the homestand.

The thing to be worried about all of this is the mental errors. Backups or not, some of the stuff we have seen recently just should not happen. I know Daniel Murphy is learning a new position. But I believe his situation is hopeless. He is a third baseman. We have one. Trade him. Ike Davis is making his move in the minors and could be ready to play here in 2011. Get something for Murph now while he is young. The window to deal him might have passed, if it has not already.

Have I asked to send Fernando Martinez down? It's painful to watch him fall behind 0 and 2. You know what's going to happen. Swing and a miss at ball 1. Send the kid down. I don't care if he hits the occasional double and looks good in centerfield. Send him down.

Do you think K-Rod wanted to pitch to Jeter because he knew he was at risk of walking Mariano Rivera? As lights out as he's been as our closer this season, you have to look at that walk rate and wonder how much longer he can keep it up. There will be more blown saves in the near future.

Chien-Ming Wang gets his first win of the season. Of course that was going to happen. Although how funny would it have been to see him get injured running to first? Steinbrenner would not have the team play another game unless the DH was mandatory in the National League.

Our savior, Fernando Nieve, is pitching tonight. When are we going to get the reality check on that one?

Gutless, part II

You are being outscored 29-1 in the last three games vs a team. You get a hit to break up a no-hitter in the sixth inning. Will anyone throw at somebody now? I'm still waiting. We'll be waiting for a while.

And why the hell is Argenis Reyes hitting second??

David Wright should have smacked that Yankee photographer in the front row in the first inning after missing a chance at that popup. He wouldn't. He's David Wright. Mr. Nice Guy. Mr. I pat everybody's behind when they join me at third base.

Jorge Posada needs to just age and retire already. Enough is enough. And to think, in this series, we would have been better off had Derek Jeter been playing instead of Ramiro Pena.

To the person who bought my tickets for last night's game at 200% above face value, I quote the great Mark Messier at his retirement ceremony: "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!"

A Yankee Islander Night

Two Fridays ago we had an unimaginable loss against the Yankees and the Penguins winning the Stanley Cup. Last night we had a Yankee blowout against the Mets and the Islanders taking significant steps to rebuild their franchise, while the Rangers continue to swim in mediocreville.

Aside from some walks here and there this game was not on Mike Pelfrey. You had to feel bad for him in that second inning when bloop after bloop followed error after error.

This game was so in the bag that I feel asleep at 4-1 in the 7th. The eyes opened at 9-1 in the 9th; what a surprise. Early in the game at 4-0 all you wanted was a hit off C.C. Sabtathia, who was perfect through four.

Brett Gardner is slowly ascending the hate list.


As for the NHL Draft (another night of channel flipping during a Met-Yankee game), this was the first time in years you saw some joy from Islander fans. I like it- it's good for the rivalry. If the Islanders move to Kansas City, where's the fun in that? What would become of Ranger-Island- rather, Rangers-Chiefs games then? It would be no different than Rangers-Nashville.

Stay away from Dany Heatley. The guy run himself out of two cities AND has a bonus payment of four million due in addition to his seven million salary this season? Leave Ottawa with that headache unless they want Wade Redden back.

Gutless

15-0. The image on the right is that of Robinson Cano and his mug living it up after his homerun to make it 11-0. Off the bat the guy wanted to raise his arms like he hit a game winning homer in the 9th. When he came up to lead off the 6th, you think the Mets were angry enough? Embarrassed? No, just serve him up another pitch he can sock for a double.

To end the nightmare 9-run 4th, Melky Cabrera doubled in the final two runs of the inning. As he's rounding first if your wearing a Met uniform, you have to be steaming. Another hit? Come on already? Then you see Cabrera rounding second taking an extra base?? The guy has to get taken down. David Wright, Mr. Nice Guy, gets the throw from the outfield well in time and what he should have done was slap the tag on Cabrera's face- send some kind of message- for taking the extra base after making the score 13-0. Aww Melky, give me a hug instead.

At least K-Rod showed some guts. In-game, there's no fight with this team. You think after two collapses, losing two of three to the Phillies, and a crushing loss like Friday night, the time bomb would explode with the smallest thing, like, I don't know, Robinson Cano gleefully circling the bases to make it 11-0 at your expense.

As for the result of the game, think about your expectations before Saturday's game with Nieve and Johan next in line to start. Just flip the results and pretend Johan was solid in a 6-2 win and Nieve got tattered and you got what you thought was going to happen.

Shake It Off

Some carryover effect. Go figure. They say momentum is as good as your next day's starting pitcher, and there's no better example than today's game.

Luis Castillo had a couple of hits and even fielded some balls today. It seemed like everyone had at least a couple of hits. On the subject of one-handed popups, it's a matter of time before David Wright drops one of them gimmes. Just look at where his body is and where the ball is on EVERY popup.

Speaking of Wright, I can't forget to mention the big hit off Rivera in that game to forget, which was a "clutch situation." I've been complaining that seemingly all of his hits during this hot streak have come with the bases empty.

The story of this one was Fernando Nieve. For an unheralded starter, his stuff looked pretty good.

No lead is safe in this park. It's Mile High Stadium and pre-humidifier Coors Field all over again. A nice place to boost your offensive numbers. Is there any fly ball to left field that does not reach the warning track?

Safe to say Gary Sheffield is benefiting from the DH; a homer for the second straight day. Four more games in AL parks. Nice.

Fernando Martinez should still go to AAA when the Mets return from Baltimore. Unless Sheffield, who's scheduled for an MRI, is diagnosed with something that puts him on the DL.

Nightmare

I've slept on this one and still can't come to grips with what happened last night.

In the last day or so, we've seen the lists of top games in Subway Series history since this stuff started back in 1997. A second before the ball clanked off Luis Castillo's glove last night this one was headed for that list in the Mets favor. Instead of future Mets classics on SNY airing Joba walking the ballpark and Wright shooting one up the gap off Rivera, the video of this one will only be seen on the YES Network.

Everyone's crying about Castillo and they want him out. Aside from a buyout, it's not happening. Who else is going to play second base? Argenis Reyes? Alex Cora, when Reyes returns? They tried to get rid of him in the offseason. There were no takers. We're stuck with him for two and half more years. Two and half more years of choking and heartbreak. Pop quiz. Who is the one player on this team that symbolizes the collapse? Wright? Reyes? Beltran? Wrong. Luis Castillo. We acquired him in the 2007 season for the stretch drive. Some stretch drive.

K-Rod was not going to be perfect all the time (maybe this season, who knows), but wow, that's a tough way to get tagged with your first blown save of the season in June.

***

The night as a whole was a disaster. It was frustrating the damn Met game took so look that it conflicted with the final minutes of Game 7 of the Cup Finals. Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins on their victory, as much as it pains me to says it. They were the better team and I pretty much called it, aside from a St. Louis Blues non-upset in the first round. Hey, when your bracket almost comes out perfect you have to mention it. Now if I left out the series length it would've really looked good.

How does Marian Hossa feel right now? Aside from Penguin fans, do you feel bad for the guy? Does he agree to go back to Pittsburgh this summer at a discount, citing "the best chance to win a Cup?" Maybe he hated Therien, who knows?

An awful night all around. Can't remember one worse than this one if you're a Mets/Rangers diehard, considering the only conflicts with the two sports is playoffs in one and early regular season in the other. The loss in the regular season affair would have to be brutal. It's safe to say last night fit the bill.

One out of Five?

It's not good enough. Johan pitched yesterday. How many errors did he have to fight through for yet another start? There were another two from Ramon Martinez. Which leads us to the injury situation.

Jose Reyes continues to be out. Then last night, Carlos Beltran has some knee issues, giving us the adventures of Gary Sheffield in left field instead of DH. At least we did not lose much with Jeremy Reed in center field (who would have played left). He mad a nice play late in the game, bouncing himself off the big wall in left center after making a running catch.

I think Johan started that incident with Kevin Youkilis after hitting him in the elbow. Youk's elbow was clearly above home plate; the pitch was not even inside, it was just high. Johan was peeved and let him know it, which was good for him because he took that anger and shut everyone down the rest of the way. I still can't hate Youkilis. Must be that thing with the Yankees.

I'm with Gary on his opinion of the Yankees-Phillies series. I could not care less because it's May. Part of me was happy the Yanks finally lost after how many games already. But then there were the Phillies, who slugged their way to another victory. They hit some bombs in that park last night.

I Hate L.A.

At least the Mets don't have to go there anymore, unless there's a postseason encounter a la 2006.

J.J. Putz continues to look ordinary and not the lights out reliever we anticipated. The more he's out there, the less you are confident. The guy had two seasons of 70+ innings pitched where his walk totals were 13 for each season. He has 12 in 23 innings so far this season.

With a steady backup like Alex Cora out, the last thing we need is Jose Reyes to miss any time. After leaving the game and heading back to New York for an MRI, it revealed only tendinitis. Ramon Martinez is an automatic out and it's time to explore other options down on the farm if this continues.

Now it's time for three games at Boston, with our buddies from Philadelphia in town to play the Yankees. A rare few days where Met and Yankee fans are united. By the way, how many homeruns do you think you are going to see in that series? For that matter, when was the last time a Met hit a homerun?

That's two- Mets 4, Braves 3

It was almost a loss, but it wasn't. A loss that would have been the worst of this young season and quite possible the worst of the season, especially if we need another final win come game 162. But it wasn't.

PPK (Parnell-Putz-KRod) did their job. K-Rod didn't have to walk unknown Clint Sammons there in the ninth inning, especially after going ahead 0-2, but give credit to the Sammons fellow, who battled and worked out the walk. Omar Infante pops one up and Delgado drops it. A single later and Chipper Jones is up with the game at 4-3 and the tying run at 3rd.

The odds here were not in our favor. What was surely a win, became surely a heartbreaking loss either in the 9th or extra innings, but came back to being a win and Chipper harmlessly flew out to right. Icing on the cake after his two-run error gave us the insurance we would eventually need. Plus he likes Shea and even bought a couple of Shea seats. Maybe I won't mind another three years of Chipper on the Braves.

Jose Reyes only had one hit last night, but should have had three. How many of you thought Yunel Escobar was going to throw him out on that ball in the hole in the 6th? Wow.

Flipped over to the Red Sox-Yankee game afterwards to watch a rookie pitcher walk three straight Boston batters and get pulled after going 2-0 on Mike Lowell. You almost felt sorry for the kid. Almost. How bad is that pen aside from Rivera? I don't know the details, but Joba's got some ego if he does not volunteer to put himself back in that 7th-8th inning if Wang ever comes back to form.

Yanks introduce Teixeira

Excuse me while I puke.



"Honey, let's go to New York, we can be rich!!"