A rough morning. Had a 9AM game and one of my big strong arm guys pitching and he couldn’t find home plate with a map, compass and a guide dog. After two innings we are down 8-0 and I’m ready to blow a fucking gasket, walks and errors that’s all I see in my sleep lately. After the 60 th pitch I’d seen enough and I bring in a kid to pitch that while not throwing hard, throws strikes and he holds the fort as we nibble back to 8-4 until he runs out of gas. I go to option three which on this team is the equivalent of Manny Acta going to his pen and lo and behold after seven walks, three errors and leaving about eight runners on base the score after 6 innings is 13-6.

There was another game to be played on the field after ours and the teams were milling around waiting for our game to end. The coach of one of the teams was a guy I’ve known for a few years so I told “Don’t worry Jim we’ll be quick” and we both laughed. What are you gonna do cry? First kid up grounds out. Next kid walks. Next one hits a bloop over short. Next batter drills one to the gap in left center-a bloop and a blast-and it’s 13-8. Next batter walks then another walk and a strike out and a hit batsman. New pitcher and it’s 13-9 with two out. First pitch to the batter a hit down the left field line and holy shit it’s 13-11 with two out and then a infield hit and it’s 13-12 with two out. Now I’d love to say the next batter drove in two more runs but that only happens in the movies. The next kid K’d and we lost 13-12 but from the roar of the crowd and the kids waiting to play you would have thought we won a championship.

When the game ended we took the kids over to the snack stand which was the plan win or lose to buy them lunch. As we come off the field, the people at the complex were clapping and patting the kids on the back which was great because they really deserved to for not giving up and fighting back. But the best part of it was when one of the kids, the pitcher I took out after two innings said “We never give up because the coaches never give up on us”

And that right there is worth all the vacation days I’ve used and all the overtime I’ve given up and all the food, drinks, and baseballs I’ve bought and all the time I’ve put into practicing with these kids. Johan Santana, Alex Rodriguez Carlos Beltran they are all making a ton of money in baseball more than me but I guarantee they are not loving baseball more than I am.

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If you saw the back page of the Daily News this morning you’d think “oh shit” but then when you read the story you say “what’s the big deal”?:

 

And asked if he could be certain that he’ll return to the Mets at some point during the 2009 season, Delgado said: “I can’t guarantee that. But it looks that that’s going to be the case. The most important thing is to get better, get healthy, that you can perform effectively, and that’s our goal.

 

“I think that’s going to happen sometime this year, but I can’t guarantee nothing.”

 

 

So he feels he can get back this year but who knows what set backs he could endure during his rehab. Makes sense no?

 

Joe Janish hits a home run in his post at Mets Today on Fernando Martinez and the lazy ass culture of the Mets. I went over this last night with Joe McDonald on PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL. Larry Brooks in a story in yesterday Post said the same thing that the Mets are known for non-hustle and I agree. Delgado has been a culprit as has Beltran at times, Reyes has not hustled on numerous occasions and the fan fav Mike Piazza dogged it regularly (Yeah Joe Mac Piazza dogged it!!) Now most of this non ass busting is not to maligners but down right laziness. The more I think of young Martinez not busting it the other day the more pissed off I am at him and at J-Man for not taking him off the field. As I said last night, I’m trying not to rush to judgment on F-Mart as it’s just two games but do far I don’t see what the big fuss is about this kid and maybe it would have been more beneficial to him to leave him in Buffalo for the whole season.

 

Mets Grrl in her continuing endeavor to make $iti Field a better place for Mets fans and to help straighten out this clueless ownership has a third installment of her letter writing campaign this time to have the Skill Sets acknowledge the history of the NY Mets in $iti Field. This prove how pathetic the Skill Sets are when it comes to knowing it’s fan base that you actually have to pressure them to celebrate the franchise history.

 

You may have read the Tyler Kepner piece in the Times the other day where he reports on Nolan Ryan and Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux are going back to old school tactics with the Rangers pitchers throughout the organization to go deeper into games and not be a slave to pitch counts. All I can say is HALLE-FUCKING-LUJAH!!!!!! I would hope the Mets would get in on this retro trend as well. It has to start in the low minors as it’s time pitchers learned how to pitch and how to pitch out of trouble. Too many guys stand on that mound when they are in a jam ready to shit themselves while looking toward the bullpen for help. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about the minor league teams records and winning the fucking Sally League Championship, how about teaching not only pitchers but all players in the organization the proper way to play baseball. You can shove the NY-PENN League Championship Banners up Jeffey’s ass.

 

For a much calmer look at pitch counts check out Mike Silva’s NYBD and his thoughts on this.

 

 

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Sam Hollbrook almost did what the NL has not been to do all year, get the best of Johan Santana. Hollbrook was embarrassingly inconsistent last night calling balls and strikes to the point that either J-Man or Old School Dan Werthan should have gotten themselves tossed out of the game going after the inept Hollbrook. It’s not a question of not giving Santana the inside of the plate as Santana is savvy and knows if your not getting that part of the plate move on to something else but when an ump gives you the call in the first and second inning then doesn’t give it to you in the third and fourth, that’s a problem.

 

Maybe it was poetic justice that crew chief Larry Vanover ruled Daniel Murphy’ hit in the 6th a home run as I ‘ve seen the replay so many times I have a serious craving for a hero sandwich (SUBWAY got there money’s worth for that billboard ) and I still can’t say for sure if Murph’s hit was a homer but it was defiantly good to see him break his slump. Hopefully J-Man doesn’t sit him Friday night.

 

It’s just two games so I am really really restraining myself with young Fernando Martinez as first impression has been underwhelming. It is inexcusable for F-Mart not to run out that pop up in the 6th . He should be busting ass on a foul tip no less a pop up maybe it was the starry night, maybe he heard some distant drums? Or the sound of a bugle calls from a far? I don’t know was there something in the air last night Fernando?

 

Mets Police Chief, Shannon Shark has a must read piece about the scam job that is being perpetrated on Mets fans buying tickets to Mets games in advance. The Skill Sets look like they picked up some tips from Bernie Madoff with this scheme.

 

Wilson Valdez gets to wear #4? Are you fucking kidding me?

 

Sure we all know that Carlos Beltran is having a career offensive season so far but did you know that when it comes to facing a pitcher for the second time in a game he is the best hitter in all the land?

 

On this day in 1957 the NL owners voted unanimously in favor of the Dodgers and Giants move to Cali.

 

Don’t forget tonight there is no Mets game but there is another edition of PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL at 9PM EDST. Tune in and call in at (646) 595-4462. If you can listen live then catch the show on our podcast here.

 

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Obviously I’m extremely happy with the win last night especially with Livan Hernandez pitching like a prehistoric pitcher actually finishing a game, who does he thinks he is Roy Halliday? But we all need to remember that the opponent was one of the worst baseball teams to call it’s self a major league team since the Mets played in the Polo Grounds. I really didn’t want to piss on the parade here as I really enjoyed watching Livan Hernandez pitch as he couldn’t break a pane of glass with his fastball but his breaking ball had so much movement it looked like the ball was made of J-ELLO so it was a real pleasure watching that performance but it was the Nationals.

Hard to rate the first appearance of Fernando Martinez as the kid went from Buffalo to a plane trip to NYC to $iti Field in a matter of hours so you can just imagine the type of out of body experience he was going through but at least we know that he will be stationed in right field for at least the next two weeks so we can gauge him better by then.

From what I ‘ve read about Wilson Valdez he is all glove no stick which is fine as the Mets need to shore up the middle of the infield and all he cost was money. Being that it’s Johan against the Nationals tonight does Valdez get the start over Ramon Martinez tonight? I’d say so.

I better see Daniel Murphy at first base tonight. The kid can’t get out of his slump sitting on the bench.

Ollie Perez did nothing in Buffalo last night that would rush his return back to Flushing. The one thing in OP’s favor is that Tim Redding has been underwhelming to say the least .Interesting that the Mets have not announced the starting pitcher for Sunday game in Florida as with the day off Thursday they could skip Redding and go with Livan.

Great post by Ken Davidoff on his evaluation of Omar Minaya. I don’t want to say Minaya is an enigma but my mood on him changes almost weekly. Omar handling the DL infuriates me. Omar the talent evaluator is a plus in my book. Omar the public speaker makes my ears bleed. Omar the dumpster diver is without peer. When it comes time to seal the big deal, even the most anti Omar detractors will agree he has always closed the deal which brings me back to Daniel Murphy.

I really like Murphy and I want him to show what’s in that bat of his and the fact that he looks so comfortable at first base has me hoping he will break out with some big hits . J-Man and Omar need to sit down and decide to either let Murphy play everyday at first for the next two three weeks and then decide if he stays at the big league level or goes to Buffalo. As I say I like Murphy a lot but this is the big leagues and if it’s a question of the league having caught up to Murphy or the fact that he has been scared by playing left field then the brain trust has to make the determination if Murphy is THE GUY for first base or if he’s not and go out and make a deal for a big bat.

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word out of Queens is Jose Reyes and Ryan Church have been relegated to the DL (finally!) and Fernando Martinez is in the ball park and the lineup hitting 6th and Wilson Vladez (yes THE Wilson Valdez) has been obtained from the Cleveland Indians for cash and will play short most likely tomorrow when he reports

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How would this cap go with the groteque black jerseys.

tip of the blue and orange Mets cap to Home Run Derby for this link

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A game like last night’s  could only be won against at team like the lowly Washington Nationals. NINE WALKS!!!!!!!!!!! What is this Little League? Even the usually on target Bobby Parnell was off his game last night as he could not place his fastball down and off the plate.

 

I give J- Man credit for he has much more patience than I’d ever have with the way the front office keeps making him play short handed to the point that Livan Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey wore spikes last night in case either pitcher would be needed to pinch run or hit. How embarrassing would it have been if the Mets went to extra innings with a chance to win the game and the choice of the bench to hits was either Livan or Big Pelf?

 

I’m trying to figure out the rational for not DL’ing Reyes now instead of waiting until Friday? Does Omar feel the Nats are so bad he only needs 23 players to beat them? Does Omar feel that Reyes is not hurt as badly as he is letting on and wants him to “man up”? I hope that’s not the case because one thing you can say about Jose Reyes is he never comes out the lineup so he really must be hurting not to be back on the field. As far as Reyes calf injury and now Ryan “The Red Headed Step Child” Church with a hurtin’ hammy maybe it’s time to review the Mets training staff and the stretching routine they’re using.

 

Carlos Beltran is going for an MRI today and lucky for him the Mets are home as the only place they can go for MRI’s is in NYC

 

Of course the red caps that were worn around MLB were for a good cause in helping veterans through the sale of the caps to baseball fans but did all the players have to wear them? Red does not go with everything especially blue and orange. The Mets uni last night looked like an explosion at the Dutch Boy factory.

 

Even the most critical Omar observer (Rich?) has to admit he hit a gold mine by signing Gary Sheffield. But just how long this will last is the question.

 

Rumor has it, there was a kid on the NY Thruway this morning with his thumb out and a cardboard sign that read $iti Field on it.

 

Congrats to Sonia From The Block on being named to the Supreme Court. Judge Sotomayor as you remember she issued an injunction back in 1995 against MLB to stop the owners from implementing a Collective Bargaining Agreement and then opening camps with replacement players saving the game from embarrassment.

 

 

 

 

 

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I’m running out the door as my son is marching in the Memorial Day Parade in Staten Island today with his Boy Scout troop but I just wanted to make mention of the 5-5 roadie the Mets just finished

I said 6-4 would be th emark to hit and with the melt down in LA and players dropping left and right winning 2 of the 3 series is encouraging.

Looks like F- Mart will join th eteam as early as tonight. How about we Mets fans let the kid breathe before we put Willie Mays aspirations on him?

At what point does Omar DL Jose Reyes? Reyes is not getting any better and now Ramon Martinez is hurting and from reading Fernando Tatis words in the paper this morning he is not looking forward to playing short.  Either bring up Ruben Tejada or Jose Cornado go try to get Omar Vizquel from the Rangers   

Picked up a nice 30 in Louisville Slugger at the flea market yesterday and a huge poster of the NY Football Giants winning the Super Bowl XLII for my office wall for 5 bucks oh and a nice sun burn as well

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And people around baseball want to know why Mets fans are on the lunatic fringe? One day we’re reaching for the anti depressants the next day it’s an Irish wake this Mets team will drain all the emotion out of your of your soul. After the last two games I’m looking to get my spot on Broadway for the Championship parade but I know by this time next week I may be wondering what we’ll do with the first pick in the 2010 free agent draft.

Dave Singer does it again with a great clip of Jonathan Papelpon going ape shit over D-Wright’ throw from closer to left field than third base to Luis Castillo with the big ssstttrrreeeccchhhh for a force of Youkilis.

O-MIR SAN-TOS,…. O-MIR SAN-TOS,…. O-MIR SAN-TOS….Good luck getting your job back Brian Schneider. This will be on to watch as no way J-Man wants Santos going to Buffalo and with all the injuries the team has suffered look for three catchers on the 25 man roster. If I’m Jeremy Reed I’m a little nervous right now.

Another strong start by Big Pelf as that ERA drops again after every start. Good job by the sports shrink he visited as well as he was yip free last night.

Man I thought I was a Highlander Hater but Gary Cohen has us all beat

My Babe Ruth League team won for just the second time this season as my top pitcher K’d 10 and we played flawless defense. Maybe the message will finally get through to them throw strikes, limit walks and play solid D wins games. Right Jerry?

I’m off to Englishtown Flea Market today with my radio and headphones to listen to the game. We need this trip because you can almost see there is this spot in my garage that is vacant so I need some crap to fill it. Never have enough crap. Plus I’m looking for another catchers mask and a first baseman’s glove.

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I’m sure Johan Santana would love to join Jerry Manuel in a tag team against Omar Minaya and Tony Bernazard to find out why the front office has it’s head up it’s ass over brining in a shortstop either Ruben Tejada, Jose Coronado from the minors or going out and getting a middle infielder and stop the embarrassment that is Ramon Martinez. It’s not Martinez fault he is should not be on a major league roster. If the Mets would have put Jose Reyes on the DL on the 14^th when he first felt the pain in his calf, he may have recuperated and would be ready to go this week but the way the Mets have dicked around with Reyes he’ll most likely end up on the DL now and would make a month he’s be out. I can’t understand for the life of me how Omar and his grew have no grasp whatsoever on injuries and how much they bungle call ups from the minors.

Kevin Youkils is lucky he didn‘t get more than hit in the elbow last night. Remember last season before Manny Ramirez was shipped out of Boston he kicked Youks ass as he got tired of him throwing his helmet after making an out in the Red Sox dugout.

Next on the walking wounded list is Ryan Church you claims to have teak a hammy so now the Mets will play two position players down.

Bravo Gary Cohen and I think I speak for the vast majority of Mets fans who HATE hearing Sweet Caroline at $iti Field. Please Gary you are the one with the ear of the nit wits in management. Your our only hope.

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