Mets Minutia

September 7, 2012 by 1 Comment

Every year we brace ourselves here in NYC when September 11th shows up on our calendar. For many of us the events of that day never leave our minds and for some it’s a reminder of how that day has changed the way we live our lives , it’s also the day that we have to argue should the Mets wear first responders caps during the game or not. To tell you the truth, I’m tired of the argument in fact it just goes to show you what a mess the Mets organization is that they can’t even figure out how to do something so simple and admirable  as wearing the caps of the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD  could be and how beholden they are to the Commissioner for keeping the Wilpon’s in business that they won’t make waves and not dare MLB to punish them for wearing the caps. What is even sadder is that I expect this from the Mets as they are good at rolling over and playing dead. It’s a sad commentary on this organization that by not showing any defiance’s over this issue is just business as usual in Flushing.

My friend and podcasting colleague Mike Silva, made a bet with Highlander windbag announcer Michael Kay that the Mets would win 60+ games this season. Kay said the Mets were so bad that 60 wins would be a stretch. So Silva bet Kay that if the Mets win 60 games, Kay would have to wear and be photographed in a Mets jersey. If Sliva were to lose the wager, he would have to write a column on how great an announcer/talk show host Kay is, which by the way is like trying to write a column on how classy the Kardashian’s are. So the Mets have gone above and beyond the 60 win mark which means Kay must pay his debt but wait it seems that Kay is ready to add to his impressive character traits of insufferable, incompetent, uniformed and downright annoying to listen to with tag of being a welsher , in fact Mike Silva has reached out to Kay to be a guest on our Sunday night podcast, so far Kay has not responded to the request. My advice to Kay is honor your bet or as soon as Silva gives the word, I’ll go Dog The Bounty Hunter on your ass.

The NY Times has published an editorial on R.A. Dickey and his amazing 2012 season.

Andy McCullough has a piece about the possibility of trading Jon Niese over the winter. Now before you overreact, read the article then think for a moment……….it’s not a bad idea.

Chipper Jones reflects on playing in NYC and the high level of respect he has for the town. He also mentions some of his favorite moments here as well, quite surprising. Sorry I can’t be a Chipper hater.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Time Now For Double Standard Baseball Coverage, Brought To You By The Pro-Yankee NY Media

March 23, 2012 by 2 Comments

A few quick hits on a busy Friday:

I see where Joba Chamberlain had an awful dislocation of his ankle while jumping on a trampoline with his son. This was one of those gruesome injuries where the bone comes through the skin and with Chamberlain rehabbing from Tommy John surgery not only is this a season ending injury but his baseball career is in doubt now as well.

Since I was away from any social media all day I wondered how this news went over on Twitter and it seems it didn’t cause too much of a stir, in fact it seems Ruben Tejada’s tight groin was bigger news as was Scott Hairston’s oblique strain. See when a Highlander gets hurt the biased Pro-Bronx Bastard sports writers in this town go underground.

I want to hear and read Michael Kay, Filip Bondy, Mike Francessa, Ian O’Connor, Joel Sherman, John Sterling, Suzyn Waldman and Bill Madden call Chamberlain out for be a selfish and stupid asshole for sustaining this injury.  I’m sure you won’t hear one negative word about Joba being a dumb ass for getting hurt in this manner.

I bring this up because, the hacks I mentioned would have had a field day with this is it were a Met.  They all would be good for 1,000 words of ridicule and stupidity if this were a Mets player. Instead they will all find a way to blame the trampoline. Get well soon Joba.

The Bitter Bill had an interesting post today about maybe the tide is turning for the Mets. The Jets seem to be ready to take claim to the most dysfunctional pro sports team in town. The terminally injured on the Mets are coming back day by day and the Ace of the Mets pitching staff looks to be ready, willing and quite able to regain his post shoulder surgery pitching prowess.  Yeah, Ya Gotta Believe!!!

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

IN NYC YOU CAN GET GREAT PASTRAMI,BUT GREAT SPORTS TALK RADIO? I’M AFRAID NOT

January 31, 2012 by 1 Comment

It will be tough to read any Mets news this week as NYC has turned its sports eye to this Sunday’s Super Bowl (with a squint at Madison Square Garden as Knicks fans await the firing of coach Mike D’Antoni and Mike Woodson taking over for the season) and the over saturation of information that will come out of Indianapolis all week. One of the more interesting aspects of this fountain of information is the two sports radio station in town going head to head on Radio Row.

David Hinckley has a column in today’s NY Daily News on how both station will be on Radio Row fighting for guests and for the ears of the New York sports fan.  What makes it even more interesting is FAN is the flagship station for the NY Giants games and WEPN carries NY Jets games. Both station have players under contract for weekly spots with Anonte Rolle , a provocative weekly guest of Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts and Eli Manning who calls in to Michael Kay show each week.

WEPN has never made a dent in the ratings and as the Great Sports Pope, Mike Francesa likes to say, “Dey cum ta wawr wit pea shootas” .WEPN’s biggest problem is they can’t decide if they want to be national sports radio broadcasting in NYC or a hybrid National/Local station. To be honest here, I’ve kind of weaned my way off WFAN. I’ll listen to the station at work but when I’m in the car I’ll listen to Sirius/XM radio, mostly MLB Radio.   

As much as I would love to listen to someone other than Francesa, when I tune into the Michael Kay Show it’s the sports talk equivalent to fingers nails on a chalk board.  What make it worse is I really like Don LaGreca and I’ve always felt he was being wasted as a second banana on the Kay show.

When you look at the WEPN line up, it’s no wonder it gets miniscule ratings.  Even though Mike and Mike is an ESPN infomercial, I kind of enjoy listening to them but again they are a National show which makes it more puzzling why they follow M & M with the totally unlistenable Colin Cowherd, again another National show.  At 12 noon the station puts on its best effort of the day in airing Ryan Ruocco and Robin Lundburg. Ruocco and Lundburg are young and come with a fresher, hipper way of doing sports talk that is quite refreshing, the problem is they only get two hours of air time as at 2pm WEPN turns into old foggey radio with the Mike Lupica Show. Lupica has not been relevant on the New York sport scene in about 10 years when he was at least watching sporting events on television (stories were all around that Lupey never attended games he wrote about it seems he’s beneath siting in a press box) what line of thinking is going through WEPN program director Dave Roberts head that he feels an hour of Lupey is better radio than an extra hour of Ruocco and Lundberg?

Sure it’s a tough task to overtake WFAN in the ratings as they are the founding fathers of sports talk radio not just in NYC but the country but it can be done if you go out a get younger hosts who are social media savvy who can talk about multiple subjects instead of beating listeners to death with Rex Ryan coaching critiques and 1960’s Yankees retrospectives. WEPN is missing a great opportunity to reach hockey fans by not giving LaGreca a weekend hockey show especially with the station airing NY Rangers games. Same for doing an NBA show. I know Stephen (Screamin’) A. Smith can polarized listeners but he is in tune with the NBA and by paring him up with the underutilized and underrated Larry Hardesty I’m sure they would move the rating needle north.

When you think about it here we live in a city that is sports crazy with multiple teams in four major sports but we don’t have a decent sports talk radio station to listen to. Sad, don’t you think?

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

OUT THE DOOR POST

July 24, 2011 by 2 Comments

Yesterday was a triple header day of baseball for me.  First my Babe Ruth League played a double header, yes that’s right a DOUBLE HEADER during a heat wave. We started at 8:30 AM and we finished up at 1PM winning the first game 7-6 and playing the second game to a 4-4 tie that was called due the heat after 7 innings the regulation amount of innings for Babe Ruth baseball. After a nice cool shower and lounging in air conditioning while watching the Highlanders-A’s contest from the Bronx (I muted the TV as it was Michael Kay and Paul O’Neil  doing the game and radio for Highlander games is not a option and besides I think I have a pretty good handle on the game of baseball that I really don’t need to hear the commentators unless of course it’s our own GK & R) I headed to St George for the SI Highlanders v. Tri City Cats of the Houston Astro organization. It was Boy Scout night so this was more a social call than an actual sitting and critiquing a baseball game .

So even with that I still woke up early enough to watch a replay of last nights Mets-Fish game . I think it safe to say Terry Collins went a bit to far with Chris Capuano. It looks like once you get to the third time around the lineup for Capuano, he falls apart. It will be interesting to see how Collins handles Cap in his next start as he he gets to the third at bats in the opposing line up.

Jason Bay looks like a boxer who looks toward his corner during a fight he knows he doesn’t want any more of. It’s like he wants Terry Collins to throw the towel on the field to end his season of futility. Making things worse for Bay is Lucas Duda is on fire and really needs to get into the lineup.

Maybe all this farewell to Beltran is a bit premature. What if Alderson doesn’t like the prospects offered to him for trade and says “Fuck it” and keeps Beltran for the rest of the season? Who you be surprised?

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

USING TWITTER TO SET PEOPLE STRAIGHT

July 20, 2011 by 2 Comments

Last night while watching the Mets-Cards game and enjoying the return of Jose Reyes and short timer Carlos Beltran, I went back to a bad habit that I thought I had overcome, going on Twitter while watching the Mets. I tried breaking this habit because I couldn’t take the fill in the player’s name “You Suck” and then when said player comes through the same Tweeters comeback with fill in the player’s name “I<3 you”. It get tiring. Well last night I guess I’d had enough as Jose Reyes made his second great play at short. Bases loaded 1 out and Albert Pujols  at bat against Bobby Parnell and the Mets holding a 2 run lead. Pujols hits a ground ball at the 2nd base bag Reyes snares hit and touches the bag while trying to avoid getting wiped out by the runner gets a laser beam throw off to Lucas Duda for the double play. An outstanding play if there ever was one.

 

Now the play by play of than call by Gary Cohen was as usual perfect. Well to everyone but 1050 ESPN’s Don LeGreca. When I read that Tweet I was ready to scream, this guy works with arguably the worst play by play man in baseball in Michael Kay (John Sterling sucks as well, I know but at least Sterling is entertaining, Kay makes homicidal thought run through your mind) so I had to take matters into my own fingers and tweet back to Mr. LeGreca. He in turn tweets back that he is a big fan of Gary’s (don’t give that first name basis bullshit you just ripped the guy for an over the top call when in fact it was a great call and you look like a horses ass) and that wasn’t the point of the Tweet. Then what was the point? Saying the DP started by Reyes was routine? That makes you ignorant. Saying that Cohen’ call was “over the top” that just makes you look jealous and petty.

 

I think I’ll Tweet LeGreca back (before he blocks me) about he felt about his boss Kay and the way he not only ruined the Derek Jeter 3,000 hit call with his constant” listen to me try to make the moment mine” diatribe when Jeter homered and then how he went on to felate The Captain the rest of the game.

See that is the glory of Twiter, you say stupid shit and then your set straight. Let’s see who pisses me off tonight.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ONLY ON YUCK!

April 26, 2011 by 5 Comments

pic courtesy of Bob’s Blitz

No Mets game last night so I tuned into the NY Highlander-Chicago White Stockings game from the South Bronx. I had two options on where to watch the festivities, ESPN or YUCK. The one outlet I wanted to watch it on CSN-Chicago (I know I’m in the minority but I enjoy listening to Hawk Harrelson do White Sox games) was blacked out because MLB Extra Innings feels that since I live in a NYC zip code I enjoy watching the YUCK Network, which could not be further from the truth. In fact, I rarely watch the YUCK Network, but last night I did and all I can say is, whatever SNY is paying Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez and Kevin Burkhardt they are getting away cheap, in fact if I were the agents for those gentleman I would use tape of the games on YUCK to get my clients big pay raises.

I started off watching this game on ESPN and was quite happy that Sean McDonough was the play by play man. Then when I heard Rick Sutcliffe and Aaron Boone chiming in, I ducked for cover. Sutcliffe always sounds like he had a few Rob Roy’s before the game and Boone brings nothing of substance to the telecast. In fact these three men in a booth is a disaster on every sporting event except for Mets games on SNY. Gary, Keith and Ron are the gold standard for the three man booth. The Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy duo would work very well as a three man booth if the third man wasn’t Mike Breen.Put Marv Albert with those two and you’d have the basketball version of sports broadcasting nirvana.

So back to YUCK I go and as I tune in Michael Kay brings in Kim Jones to the broadcast. Jones is a very good nuts and bolts reporter having been the Giants beat writer and general NFL correspondent for the Newark Star-Ledger but as a “personality” well she’s lacking in that department . When she fills in on WFAN she comes off at times as a female version of Mike Francesa, but anyway, Kay brought her in to take about Phil Hughes and his “dead arm”. Jones went on a dissertation that made me think Highlanders fans have a problem comprehending information as Jones spoke…….very……..slowly…….and…..accented……some….key…..words……in…..her……report……like….it…..was…..remidial…….tv………watching……….

The fact that she reported that Hughes stopped his throwing session because his arm felt very heavy, to me was a major story and one if I were of the Highlander persuasion would cause me some alarm. When Jones threw it back to Kay, he acted like it wasn’t a big deal. To his credit, Al Leiter, a man we all know who pitched in the big leagues, showed the kind of concern I would have thought the newly wed Mr. Jodi Applegate would have.  As Leiter spoke about the effects of this on the Highlanders and on Hughes himself, Mr Applegate asked “Al did you ever go through a dead arm period”? Now if Leiter and Kay weren’t BFF’s I’m sure Letier would have exposed Kay for the fraud he is. Just about every pitcher deals with a dead arm problem, mostly in spring training but the bounce back after a day or three and Leiter was making it known that this situation with Hughes could be very serious. I guess Kay was more concerned with going home and having some Chicken Parm and then sharing the wedding bed with Madame’ Applegate.

For an extra added attraction, former Met Philip Humber, now a ChiSox pitcher was in the midst of no hitting the Bronx Bastards. It was hard not to know the BB’s were hitless as Kay mentioned it every ten seconds. When Alex Rodriguez got the first Highlander hit in the 7th    there was a sigh of relief coming from the YUCK booth because not only was the calamity of the Highlanders being no hit averted but now it was time for some good old fashion  Mets bashing, everybody take your pants off WOOOOO-HOOOOOO.

Kay went into full rant about the Mets never having been on the celebratory side on a no-no but of course pitchers who at one time toed the rubber for the Amazin’s have and of course he couldn’t wait to felate  his partner Leiter by bringing up his no hitter against the Colorado Rockies when he was a Marlin.

After ten minutes more of the reading of names of former Mets pitchers who pitched no hitters with clubs other than the Mets I was done.  I watched the rest of the game on ESPN which was more entertaining anyway as Rick Sutcliffe was on his 5th drink by the time I tuned in.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SUMMER OF ’86 SNOOZZZZZZZZE FEST

March 5, 2011 by 5 Comments

I’m having computer issues today, I call the tech I usually use and he can’t make it over here until tomorrow, so I’m making due on an antique computer which is not cooperating with my DSL making it  Bengi Molina like slow so I’m trying to put together a quick and dirty post.

I watched a little of the Summer of ’86 special on MSG. First, it’s pretty funny that when it comes to baseball teams in this town, past and present, the two teams that have been chronicled the most in print and film are the New York Mets and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Besides the fact that Can O’ Corn is involved in this special and Spike Lee, who I called out on this site 6 years ago, what more can I possibly learn about this team that  I haven’t learned in the last 25 years? Don’t get me wrong the 1984-1990 era of Mets baseball was the best time I ever had as a Mets fan (I also wonder what that era would be like if there was blogging and social media back then? “I’m at Rusty’s Mex Darling just walk in w/2 blondes” “Doc pitching 2nite at Shea Rolling Stones at MSG what do I do?” oh man I’d have been a hot mess ) but really I’d rather wait for the 25th year anniversary celebration at Cit Field and just watch my box set DVD’s of the 1986 post season thank you.

I can’t believe today’s Mets-Braves game is not on TV. I have the whole afternoon free and I’d love to sit down and watch some Mets baseball. On another TV note, I have to tell all of you Highlander fans out there how sorry I am for you guys that you have to choose between John Sterling and Michael Kay as to who brings you the play by play of your team. I was so pissed off last night that the Highlanders-Red Sox game was blacked out on NESN so I had to listen to Kay and Singleton instead of Don Orsillo and the Rem Dawg.  At least Sterling is entertaining, Kay is just a whinny shit who thinks the Highlanaders are baseball’s Harlem Globetrotters and the other 29 teams the Washington Generals. Look, most teams have homers who broadcast their games, I know that but Kay takes his homerism to major douchebagary heights.

Ed Marcus’ 50 All Time Mets is down to 4 (Jerry Koosman was #5 ) with Darryl Strawberry checks in at the clean up spot. Straw has contended as he looks back on his career that the biggest mistake he made was leaving the Mets. It was a contentious time with Straw and Frank Cashen when he tested the free agent waters. Howie Rose was hosting Mets Extra back then and every show he’s yell out PAY THE MAN!!!! in taking up the Strawberry cause.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In the eyes of a ranger, The unsuspected stranger Had better know the truth of wrong from right, ’cause the eyes of a ranger are upon you,

October 20, 2010 by 2 Comments

Happy Highlander Elimination Day to ya! I can’t wait to see Michael Kay’s head explode on the YUCK post game show if Bronx Bastards lose game five. I hope Joe Girardi studied that binder of his and found the page where it says, “when a suck ass pitcher like AJ Burnett gives you five innings, take it an run”

No Mets news today except for Frankie Rodriguez getting a mere $3mil deduction from his personal worth for his altercation and embarrassment of himself and of the Mets organization. Hopefully who ever takes the reigns of the baseball operations let’s K-Rod know his days as a Mets closer are done. Welcome to a setup role K-Rod.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

IT’S THE BIZZARO WORLD OF NYC BASEBALL

May 22, 2009 by 8 Comments

For the first time in the history of baseball in NYC fanatics of both the Mets and Highlanders will be rooting for each others team as The Used Car Salesman’ Carnival Show A/K/A Inter-League play is set to go this weekend. For the first time in my memory, Mets fans will be rooting for “A-Bombs from A-Rod” and some “Swish-o-licios” home runs, as the Highlanders take on the hated Cheese Steakers from Philly.

 

Highlander fans in turn will be rooting for the Amazin’s for the first time ever as Mets take on the Old Town Team and try to help the cross town rivals climb into first place. Don’t get to comfortable with this truce as it ends June 12th when Mets-Highlanders meet in the Carnival Series.

 

Oh yea, condolences to Derek Jeter for losing his standing as team leader. Seems the new kids on the block don’t go for that old time Highlander religion. Looks more like Alex Rodriguez is the man in charge now. When Mariano Rivera becomes the Supreme Court Justice of the Kangaroo Court you see he has aligned with the Wild Bunch as well. As for dick heads like Michael Kay look at your Highlander history books and see that for all your pride and tradition bullshit this edition of the Highlanders has a retro 70’s feel to it.

 

I neglected to mention this yesterday here and on Pro Baseball Central (check out last nights show as Joe and I debated the reasoning for sending Carlos Delgado cross country then DL’ ing him and how I feel the Skill Sets need to hire a customer service expert to better serve the fan base a/k/a paying customers) to check out the story in the NY Times about Bobby Valentine and how the management of the Lotte Marines have told him he will not be back next season as their manager. The Marines claim it’s a money issue but the fans feel it’s more of Valentine and management not seeing eye to eye on most matters. Mets Grrl has a link to the story plus a great link to a site that has a video of the Lotte fans with a tribute to Bobby V. I’ve never hid my feeling for Bobby V as I thought he is a gifted baseball man and my biggest fear is of him coming back to the states and managing in the Bronx.

 

I think we all need to take a deep breath and maybe a cold shower over Mark DeRosa. Sure he would be a fine addition to the Mets now that Alex Cora is done for a couple of months but there is no way in hell I’m giving up Jon Neise or any upper tier prospect for him. Folks, DeRosa is nice player but I’m not going to go into a panic to get him. Jose Reyes it seems it not seriously hurt and let’s give Daniel Murphy a chance to play 1st base and if Murphy is not the answer at first base then neither is DeRosa you have to get better than that.

 

I have no problem with the Mets bringing up Fernando Martinez but if you do he has to planted in LF and left there even if he hits .210 for three weeks. Don’t yo-yo this kid bring him up drop Jeremy Reed and play Sheffield in right spelling him with Church.

 

A must read today is Greg Prince’ post on naming the bridge in $iti Field centerfield the Willie Mays Bridge. I’m all for it.  While you’re there click on the link for his book and thank me later.

 

   

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Filed Under: New York Mets News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tickets

The Mets are looking great this year and The Eddie Kranepool Society keeps you up to date on the good bad and the ugly. If you are looking for Mets Tickets, you must visit Coast To Coast Tickets for all your ticket needs. CTC carries MLB Tickets as well as some of the best priced Concert Tickets on the web and don't forget they also carry Yankees Tickets.