So here we stand on the first of September with our Mets and Mets fans getting through a spring and summer that saw injuries, an upheaval in the managers office, an as advertised Ace pitcher, the emergence of a young Ace pitcher that gives fans a warming feeling of the late sixties, mid eighties when the Mets had a dominant 1-2 punch in the rotation, the unexpected performance of Danny Murphy, Nick Evans and Fernando Tatis, the crap shoot bullpen, and the thought that starting next season that we will be priced out of our new home as the Skill Sets seem to rather have a wine and caviar crowd than the Bud and Nathans crowd that have given it’s tears and cheers to the organization since the days of the Polo Grounds. And with all that the Mets are a first place team today as the home stretch begins in Milwaukee. Sweet.

I’m very anxious about watching Jon Niese go tomorrow night but I’m also concerned with the Mets starting three lefties in a row espically against the  Brewskis as they pound lefties like they were Pabst Blue Ribbon

The big addition to the team will be RHP Al Reyes who could be the missing link in the command challenged bullpen. Reyes if healthy and on his game his a big strikeout pitcher so with Brian Stokes pitching well (thank you Tampa for making up a bit for the Kazmir heist) and Luis Ayala doing better than the rest maybe, just maybe we can have less angst watching Mets games plus the Mets organization has done well with players named Reyes.

33 years ago today I was a 17 year old sitting in Shea Stadium watching The Franchise strike out Manny Sanguillen for his 200 K and the 8 the straight season he had reached that mark a record. That was the last meaningful game at Shea that season as the Mets fell out of the division race.

The first thought that popped into my head when I heard about the death of Killer Kowalski was the Sunnyside Gardens in Queens. It was second only to MSG as the Wrestling Mecca of the city. Roller Derby too.

Of course the first thing I said when I saw John McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin was Now that’s a middle aged hottie, the second thing I thought was why doesn’t McCain just call it a forfeit and let the Obama/Biden administration get ready to take over. Talk about pandering the only reason Ms. Palin is on the ticket is because she is a Ms. No way McCain picks a man with the limited qualifications than Ms Alaska has. The other question I have is this woman has five kids and one a baby with Down Syndrome, you would think she would have her hands full at home, what would happen if McCain kicks the bucket (was Palin on his Bucket List, Pick a Hot MILF for a running mate) and person with no experience at all has to run this country. Don’t give me she was the Mayor of town and the Governor of Alaska there are almost as many people on Staten Island than there are in Alaska and if SI Boro President James Molinaro had to run this country, I’d be moving to me Grand da’ house in Sligo.  

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I’m still trying to figure out how to post pictures so you will be seeing some stuff I took while at Fenway Park and in Cape Cod.

Here is a pic of my son and I with Jerry Remy in Hyanis. The Rem Dog is not a fan of Shea Stadium seems the visting team TV both leaves a lot to be desired

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It’s up to Big Pelf to bail out the Mets today and gain a spilt with the “Stros. Speaking of Big Pelf, how come I couldn’t find a PELFREY 34 T-Shirt at Shea Stadium? I looked at the souvenir stands on the Upper Deck and outside the Stadium and not one PELFREY 34 shirt. I admit I didn’t ‘t go to the team store as I was hell bent to get my free sports bag as my other fifteen or so other Mets sports bags don’t get lonely. I have so many Mets bags from giveaway days that when we go on vacation my van looks like the Mets equipment truck. It’s not just sports bags either it’s coffee mugs, lunch bags, bobbleheads, pens, key chains, t shirts, seat cushions, baseball cards, 2000 NL Pennant flags and my prized possession a CD of Meet The Mets, original and 80’s version and an instrumental played  by Jane Jarvis.  That list doesn’t even count the blankets, drawstring bags and hats I have from filling out credit card applications.  Yes I am seeking help for my Mets tchotchke addiction.

I was ready to get on the bully pulpit on how the Mets need to shut down John Maine right now but Mike Silva at NY Baseball Digest saved me the venom (by the way while your at Mike’s site click on his link to his interviews which are fantastic), it is admirable that Maine has taken on pitching through pain and that he has put team before self but he really is not helping the team or himself if his signature pitch the late giddy up fastball has lost it late jump. As we witnessed on Saturday without that second wind his fastball is very hittable. If surgery is needed then do it now so he is ready for spring ’09. Maine is way too valuable to the Mets to mess around like this.

It’s not time to think about the off season I know but when it comes to focusing in on who the Mets need to go after in the free agent market the number one name on their list had better be C.C Sabathia. With all the money the Mets are making, money is no object they have to be major players for Sabathia. Forget about Texieira I WANT CC.

I wish I knew what is really going on with Gimp Castillo? Did he beg out of activation on Saturday? Did Warlord Jerry win his power play with Omar? Is he not ready for prime time physically and or mentally to play? Or is it that he sees the team playing winning baseball and is putting team before himself?

Tonight at Shea the Shea-Goodbye Countdown goes to 16 remaining games. Yesterday Mex took down number 17 as he should but tonight the man who should take down number 16 will not be in attendance and it breaks my heart. Dwight Gooden for what ever reason has be estranged from the organization that gave him his start and put up with a lot of bullshit along the way and has aligned himself as more of a Bronx Bastard than a a Met. Doc was never known for making good decisions. What makes it even sadder is today is the anniversary of Doc becoming the youngest pitcher in the modern era to win 20 games in a season when he did it as a 20 year old back in 1985. Yeah kids, those were the days

Great story by Bob Klapish in yesterday’s Bergen Record (tip of the Mets cap to Repoz and the Baseball Think Factory) on his journey back from his devastating injury while pitching in a semi pro game. Scary stuff. Get well soon Klapper.

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I hope to make it down to Foley’s for the festivities. Check out the details below:

Tug McGraw, Mets Groundskeeper Pete Flynn, John Flaherty, Sean Casey and the Legendary Connie Mack Among Inductees in

Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame

Tues, Aug. 26, 2008

Foley’s NY Recognizes Baseball Players, Managers, Executives, Journalists and Entertainers of Irish Descent

WHAT:           Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame – Unveiling of plaques, induction of “The Starting Nine”

WHO:            

1.      Connie Mack, baseball’s winningest manager – Represented by daughter Ruth Mack Clark, age 94

2.      Sean Casey, Red Sox 1B known as “The Mayor” – ATTENDING

3.      Tug McGraw, Mets and Phillies reliever – Represented by his son, Mark

4.      Pete Flynn, Shea Stadium’s longtime groundskeeper – ATTENDING

5.      John Flaherty, YES Network announcer, former player – ATTENDING

6.      Jeff Horrigan, Red Sox beat reporter – ATTENDING

7.      Arthur “Red” Foley, Longtime official scorer and sports columnist

8.      Mark McGwire, A’s and Cardinals slugger

9.      Kevin Costner, star of Field of Dreams and Bull Durham

WHEN:          Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Noon– 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:       Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant

18 W. 33^rd Street (near 5^th Ave, across from Empire State Bldg)

WHY:             To celebrate the contributions of Irish Americans to the game of baseball.  Immigrants and their descendants have long been an important to baseball; during the early 1900s, an estimated one-third of players were either immigrants or first generation Irish Americans.  Foley’s Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame celebrates current and former players, executives, umpires, sportswriters, and entertainers with Irish connections who have made the significant contributions to the national past time.

Foley’s, the “Irish bar with a baseball attitude,” is adorned with 1,800 autographed balls, 300+ bobbleheads, game-worn jerseys, stadium seats and other artifacts that make Foley’s New York’s best baseball bar and one of the best sports bars in America. Visit www.foleysny.com

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Only the New York Mets can go 6-1 on a road trip and have the fan base hold their chest and moan in agony, why? The bullpen of course. Ah yes the Mets bullpen the underachieving child in a family of successful children. Why can’t Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoenewies, Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano be the pitching equivalent of Jose Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Daniel Murphy? Now we have another adopted child from DC in Luis Ayala who could not believe is good fortune to go from a group home in the Nations Capital to the Buena Vista Social Club. Hopefully the new surrounding rejuvenates him and a couple of sessions with Dean of Old School Warthen get him straight as the call to the pen is literally all hands on deck.

What I’m about to write may get me flamed worse than any forest fire in Cali but I have to let it out. I have a hard time hating Larry Jones and the Atlanta Braves. In fact it’s so strange because all the teams I root for I have a deep despise for their arch rival. The Boston Celtics, I puke at the site of Purple and Gold. The NY Rangers, I would love to get the chant “BEAT YOUR WIFE POTVIN, BEAT YOU WIFE” as a ring tone. The NY Football Giants, “How about those Cowgirls”? but when it comes to the Braves a team I should have a deep seeded hatred for, I have admiration. Most of that is for the front office especially John Shuerholz who took a franchise that was nothing but TV programming on a little bullshit cable channel and turned into a model sports franchise. So it was interesting to read Ray Glider’ piece in the NY Times this morning about Larry Jones and his last trip to Shea Stadium. Jones was a guy who got what NY was all about and he played the heel role better than anyone who strode through Flushing. As a kid Mets fans were known for acknowledging great players from other teams. Of course when the Giants and Dodgers came to town Mets fans still had a glow in their heart for Willie Mays and Sandy Koufax but also when the Pirates came in Willie Stargell was revered as well. Times change and fans are more hostile than back then but I always felt that Mets fans respected Larry Jones and I know he appreciate the passion of Mets fans.

Ryan Church played 5 innings last night and went 0 for 2 but the best part is he felt great in the field no headaches or dizziness. Mojo Nixon also played last night and looked fit as well. The only problem is they both not pitchers.

But a pitcher who did a rehab last night was Ambiorix Burgos who may become a big player come September 1

Due to last nights heist of a Gold medal of America anorexic gymnast Nasta Linkum to undeveloped Chinese gymnast He (She?) Kexin, I will be boycotting the Wo Hop Chinese Restaurant for 2 weeks. I’d boycott something Australian as well but what has that Penal Colony given the world?

Joe West is a big fat tool for calling A. Reyes out at first base saying he made a baseball move toward second base, Argenis flinched his shoulder left in the direction to second base and yes according to the rules he could be called out but sometimes you have to use the pea size brain that God gave you for more than contemplating if you want a glazed or Boston cream dount.

I watched the last two innings of the Brewers-Astros game last night and the look on Brewski manger Ned Yosts face while watching C.C. (Carniverous Creature as that is one big fella) Sabathia as he closed in on the 130 pitch mark. Sabathia got Hunter Pence to fly out for the first out of the inning. C C then gave up a single and then J J (lots of initials on the M B’s) Hardy booted a ground ball that could have been a game ending double play but instead it left the ‘Stros with 1 st and 2^nd 1 out. Darin Erstad reached base on an infield hit and now the Astros had the bags juiced with one out and Yost’s sphincter tightens by the second. Mike Maddux went out to talk to Sabathia and Yost paced the dugout floor as Mark Loretta came to bat. Loretta got a SAC Fly to left and now there were two outs. Miggy Tejada up and he walks. Now Yost is on the top step of the dugout like a guy on a roof top getting chased and has to make a decision jump to the next roof which is about 10 feet away or just stay and fight. Yost takes on the mob and let the leftie Sabathia face Lance Berkman from the right side. It pays off with Berkman grounding out 3^rd to 1^st but it was the 130^th pitch of the night for C.C. The MRI will be on Thursday.

Happy Birthday RJ.!!!!

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Funny I don’t feel “Fitty”? I had a very nice birthday it would have benn better if the Mets could have won (thank you Joe Smith and Scott Schoeneweis) but I did get some very nice gifts. A Mets t-shirt with the NY in a shamrock, Fay Vincent’s book on old ballplayers, the Shea Stadium DVD with the Essential Games and an baseball scoreboard that works off satellite like a GPS that give you up to date scores, standings and probable pitchers for all MLB games. We had dinner in Hyannis and watched the Sawx as I think it’s a state law that no other baseball game but Red Sox games can be shown in public.

I see where Jon Maine was yanked from last nights game with  shoulder soreness that Old School Warthen says it is not serious but they will still send Maine to NYC for a “picture” as J-Man likes to call an MRI so my guess is by Friday Maine’s arm will be amputated.

With teams asking too much for Omar and the Mets to give up, it looks like unless the price for Raul Ibanez drops alot the Mets wil go with Fernando Tatis as the everyday LF’er and call up Dan Murphy to add his bat and limited defensive skills. I know Omar lusts for Manny but the Mets do not have the chips for a deal to be made. Don’t worry Manny Mets fans we will have all winter to pursue the Manny Trail.

If anything the Mets look to need some bullpen help as Joe Smith and Scott Schoenwiess pitched awful last night as did Carlos Muniz and I am very disappointed in Muniz as he is getting his chance to show he belongs in the big leagues as he has not risen up to the task.

RHP Jon Neise was moved up to NOLA and looks like the guy who will take John Maine’s place if Maine is DL’d or even if the Mets decide to give him a start off.

Petey looks like he penciled in for Friday against the Astros with an 80 pitch limit let’s hope it not one and done for Petey.

Time to hit the treadmill as I had ice cream last night (hey it was my birthday) but now that I am officially an old man I have to watch my middle aged figure.

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