Look we all know the Mets need pitching, pitching and more pitching but there is not much we Mets fans can do but hope that Omar spends the $150 mil or so the Skill Sets have given him to bring back value for their bucks.  Now something WE do have control over is outfitting ourselves in the finest fashions and that means clothing apparel from the Gary, Keith, and Ron charity website. If you’ve been to Shea you’ve seen your fellow Mets fans dressed in the t-shirts and caps with the familar baseball/headset logo and you felt left out because let’s face it all the cool kids in the class are wearing something from the Gary, Keith and Ron collection. So in order to ratchet up your standing in the Kool Kids Klub have I got an offer for you!

When you go to Gary, Keith and Ron and  pick out what you want (not just t-shirts and caps but gift baskets and stuff animals as well) for being a reader of the Eddie Kranepool Society you will get 10 % off your order just by typing the word BLOGGER in the coupon spot on the order page. Such a steal!

So go now look over the merchandise and place your order today remember not only will you be the envy of your friends when you don your Gary, Keith and Ron apparel but you are also helping some great causes.

In the latest missive from the WWL, Peter Gammons is trying to sell the fact that the Skill Sets are not swimming in cash as it appears:

{The Mets don’t have the kind of money everyone thinks, especially having to pay Billy Wagner $10M next season. They will spend to get a starter, a reliever and a bat to supplement Ryan Church in right and the Daniel Murphy/Fernando Tatis platoon in left.

No one knows what impact the economy will have on baseball, especially in New York, but someone is going to pay a price for the national debt increasing by $450B in October. The Mets are not going to jump over the luxury tax threshold, so they will continue to build around David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, figure Mike Pelfrey will continue his quantum leap forward, and do their best to fill in around them.}

So a team that owns a television station, has a brand new ball park in the most populous city in the country and has sold all his suites and will draw a minimum of 3.5 mil fans has no money to improve the team? And tell me what the National debt has to do with the Mets finances? Sorry Gammo I’m not buying it. I’m not ready to go out and buy a pennant because I don’t think building through free agency is the answer but don’t you dare insult the Mets fan base and cry poverty. By the way to read the whole article you have to pay to read it.

Taking time out from counting the receipts from the luxury suites at the new Skill Set Pleasure Palace Jeffey Skill Sets came on WFAN with the Francesa the Bloviator to what was about 10 minutes of nothing.

Jeffey was happy that the Mets have re-upped with the WFAN and Francesa then morphed into a persona that resembled his ex-partner and gave Jeffey a thorough tounge bath saying how WFAN and the Mets have been long time partners and how the station is glad to have the team on it’s air waves and on and on. Jeffy said the organization is happy as well as Mets fan always know what station their on all the time but he would not state the real reason that the Mets stayed with the FAN and that’s all the dead presidents the station is paying them for the radio rights. So when the Bloviator asked about changes to the team Jeffey claims that Omar has total control over personnel and that their is no set budget. Jeffey did seem a perturbed that the Famous Rays with a payroll of about the price of two luxury suites are in the World Series and his team with one of the highest payrolls in the game are home watching on TV.

The bulk of the interview was all about &iti Field and the dismantling of Shea which should be an empty lot by January.

Last night was my first hockey night of the season as I made my way over to the rink at 33rd and 8th for Rangers-Maple Leafs an Original Six match-up ( I heart Original Six) as we sat around talking politics, baseball and how the three young ladies sitting two rows down made those RANGERS sweaters look as good as Dior dresses, the Garden PA announcer came on to greet the crowd and after telling us how the NHL was proud to present and Original Six match up, the lights went down and this video played on the scoreboard screen.

Me and Tevje have alot in common we both love TRADITION! What bug the shit out me the most about the Mets is the lack of TRADITION. All the teams I root for the Rangers, NY Football Giants, Boston Celtics, Fighting Irish of Notre Dame all embrace their past. When you play for any of those teams it’s like being a U.S. Marine- there is no such thing as an ex-Marine once a Marine always a Marine-same for those teams.

But for the Mets, it’s like management is embarrassed by the teams past. Just look at this past season. I ‘ve ranted over and over how the closing of Shea could have been handled better and just the fact that the new place looks like Ebbets Field tells you what the Skill Sets think of our TRADITION. You know where it says $iti Field arcoss the outside facade of the park, why couldn’t you put a Mr. Met on one side and maybe the hat with the Apple on the other? Something to show that the METS play here and not that the DODGERS moved back to NY.

As I watched that video last night at the Garden, I asked a the friends I was with if they could ever see the Mets doing a video like that? They looked at me and said, “You of all people are asking that”? I know wishful thinking that some day I would see Ed Kranepool on the HD Diamond Vision of $iti Field say to one and all “I Am A Met” <sigh!>

There were a couple of comments from previous posts that I was going to answer in the comment section but I felt it would be better  to answer them in a full posting especially the second  one from an alleged Mets fan.

The first comment comes from Phanatic who is I guess a fan of the Phuckin’ Phills:

{I guess the fact that the Phillies scored 8 runs yesterday without a homerun will be ignored on your website. Well, isn’t that convenient.}

Well, since I am commenting on it you would be wrong Cheese Wiz breath. Yes the Phinks did mange to beat the Hollywood Bums without the aid of thier best weapon the home run but that game yesterday is what I envision baseball in hell to be play like with the duo of Mc Fullofshit and Doofus Joe announcing it that was the equivalent of 4 hours of root canal without Novocaine.

This post comes from someone named Ceetar and I’ll break his comments down in five sections:

{Honestly, who are you to say how much they should spend and how much they should charge for things?}

I’m guessing here you mean the Skill Sets and you’re right I have some pair of balls to be outraged that all of their energy is going into filling up the suites with wine sippers who couldn’t give a flyin’ fuck if the Mets won or lost. I mean really I do have some nerve fighting to make sure that the working class Mets fan that has supported this organization for years through more lean times than winning times is able to attend a Mets game that won’t cripple his bank account.    

{Sure, it sucks that the world, and baseball, is more expensive. It’s still cheaper than other sports. It’s still affordable to go to games. So you can’t buy a run down pair of seats that would probably collect clutter anyway, big deal. It’s a business, and that’s a necessity that we have to deal with.}

Maybe you have to deal with it but see me I have tough time dealing with shit that pisses me off. I guess what’s affordable to some is a big luxury to others. I’m very fortunate that I was able to spend over $1500 dollars just for tickets to Mets game this year add in parking and food and shirts, hats and other Mets crap I’ve bought this year it’s well over $2500 dollars right now there are not many people who can afford that and what you need to remember is baseball is not a rich man’s sport it has always been the middle class that has supported baseball and especially the Mets and the Skill Sets need to remember that as I am especially surprised by Freddie Skill Set as he is so Brooklyn Dodger-centric and that WAS their fan base.

{security at Shea has always sucked, I agree with that. Don’t know what there is to really do about it, but ignore them as much as possible, which is what I’ve taken to doing. I couldn’t care less how they’re dressed.}

Do you go through life just ignoring assholes? I mean at some point you take a stand and I don’t know about you up when some fat slob making 7 bucks an hour says that I can’t walk through the field level section because my Upper Deck ticket makes me unworthy of such a privilege it pisses me off. The same way when I’m told that I have to leave a stadium on the last day of it’s use because said rent a cop says so as for how they dress I guess you’re a fan of orange pollyester, with belly’s hanging over the pants and dirty rags in the back pocket look sorry but I’m not.,  

{I guess it would’ve been nice if they’d let us walk on the field after the game. However, it probably would’ve been a security nightmare. Maybe not, maybe so. It’s just not a big deal to me, it’s not like they owed us that. It’s not like we’d ever (except for some of us, via little league and the ron keith gary people..which you could’ve done if it was important to you) be on the field normally. Fans’ place is in the stands, and the players on the field.}

I guess you weren’t at the last game as there were more cops at Shea, it was like a Dunkin Dounuts grand opening. You must be in the Bush cabinet with that “security nightmare” scenario. It would have been fine to let everyone walk out to through the outfield fence but then that would be something nice to do for the fans and that’s against the Skill Set Doctrine. As for me going on the field I have been on the field at Shea as have been my kids so I’ve been fortunate enough to have done that but maybe, just maybe someone in attendance that day never had that chance wouldn’t have been the descent thing to do to afford that chance for someone? Guess not.    

{Collapsing sucked. I know. It pisses me off too, and Omar has already made the bad move of resigning Manuel, however I think he’ll make some good moves in the off season (and not necessarily the ones the ‘fans’ demand he makes because they think they know better) and this will be a good team again in ‘09. And I can’t wait to see a game at The Citi, because so far it looks great and promises to be a fun time.}

Who would you have hired instead of J-Man? I’m pro-Omar as well but the Mets are beyond being “good” it’s time to be a championship team and the first step is to find some grinders and pitchers for the bullpen. Don’t get me wrong I’m looking forward to the new park as well Ijust hope I’m welcome there that’s all. 

The Skill Sets are farting through silk undies as all of the luxury suites at $iti Field have been sold out.  I’m sure the Skill Sets are happy that the Appletini crowd will be in full apathy mode come April 2009 because really who needs a bunch of people who care about winning around, they are so annoying. 

When asked about the folks you bought partial season ticket plans at Shea for years and wanted to do the same at $iti Field,  Jeffey Skill Set said he was looking into what affordable packages could be put together for those fans as he looks into building a platform by the chop shops of Willets Point for them to view games next season/

As loyal watchers of Mets baseball on State controlled Skill Sets Television Network we hear Keith Hernandez talk all the time about executing the fundimentals of baseball “The Fundies” as he calls them like hitting the cut off man, going from first to third, hitting the other way etc. and Mex preaches this as a diciple of the ledgendary St. Louis Cardinals coach George Kissell. Kissell died last night in Florida from injuries sustained in a traffic accident which to make thing worse was caused by his daughter running a red light. Condolences to the Kissell family.

There is no better place on earth than New York City on the first crisp cool fall day even though we haven’t had one of those classic “Con Edison can’t handle the electrical demand summers” there is something invigorating when you step out the door and it’s 51 degrees with a chilly breeze. The afternoons are even better as the shadows of the sky scrapers bring back memories of Seaver/Cuellar and Koosman/McNally and just makes me root harder for the Mets to get into the post season as this season HAS TO KEEP GOING. Not just because fall baseball is the ultimate sporting event (made even better that my son was asked to play on a team in a fall baseball league today even though he didn’t sign up as he rather play soccer this time of year but the coach knew of him from Little League and asked him to play for his team today. Talk about your late season call up)  but it’s only fitting that the team from the South Bronx which has looked down it’s nose at us for years closes it’s stadium doors with no post season game but a with a meaningless play out the string game tomorrow night and that Shea the old clapboard house that many an insult has been hurled at it finishes out in style with post season baseball. 

Last night’s game was no work of art by any means but OP was great, Brain Stokes had his fastball back and Daniel Murphy will find a place to play for the Mets this post season and for many seasons to come.

Is FOX kidding by putting Cards-Cubs on in NYC with the Brewers-Reds on at the same time?

Let’s hope Petey has some magic left in that right arm tonight

I can’t say this enough please Skill Sets and Omar shut down John Maine for the season get him the surgery he needs and let the cow chips of the bullpen fall where they may.

Ah!!!!! why can‘t they all be like last nights game. No irritable bowels. No wretching. Just pleasure watching your ACE take car of business. Oh and muchas gracias to Geovany Soto for that three run bomb in the 9^th yesterday. The cuchifritos are on me baby.

I read a lot of stuff and I write down a lot of stuff and stuff just flies into my spacious head so here is some of that stuff in no order or no rhyme or reason:

The Mets are scaring the living shit out me with their treatment of John Maine. The more I keep hearing that he can’t do further damage to his shoulder the more I feel he will be making a trip to Dr Andrews office in the near future. Just goes to show that the fans, manager and front office have no faith at all in the bullpen.

Now don’t tell me that you won’t go after K-Rod because it may cost too much. Don’t lay that bullshit excuse on me. I’m not totally sold on signing K-Rod but it has nothing to do with money, as the Skill Sets are making enough money to bail out a bunch of mortgage lenders. Even if you think the money K-Rod will be asking is outlandish please for once blow a little smoke up my ass, and tell me the bullpen will be upgraded by any means necessary.

There has to be more to the release of Al Reyes than saying it was loss of velocity.

Looks like Gimp Castillo will be the getting the bulk of the playing time at 2^nd base. I love Argenis Reyes’ glove and his pluck but Castillo is league average in the field and he’s a better bat. Even though Brain Schneider hit two bombs last night, the 7-8-9 in the Mets line up is a black hole, and puts tons of pressure on the guys ahead of them and that’s a big part of the Mets late inning offensive woes.

I told you this week during my morning walk to work as I got to Wall St,  Boulevard of Broken Dreams was on my iPod. Today when I passed there my iPod died. I need to find a new route to work.

How much will it bother you if the Mets make the post season as the Wild Card rather than NL East Champs? Last week it bugged me but the more I look at to paraphrase that Crazy Old Bastard who runs the Oakland Raiders, “Just Make The Post Season Baby”.

Shout out to Kathy Foronjy. I swear to God I am going to take fucking hostages at the Dunkin’ Dounts on Murray St some day. First I was shocked as there were only two people ahead of me on line there this morning as the incompetent staff is so fucking slow that the line is always out the door. Then a woman in front of me spoke limited English as did the worker behind the counter. The customer wanted one of those unappetizing sandwich on flat bread that she could not pronounce and the worker could not understand what she wanted so me,  speaker of two languages Brooklynese and Profanity,  is trying to interpret for this duo while trying to order a simple Extra Large Coffee just milk.  “Fucking flat bread with vegetable spread” got lost in the translation.

I don’t get all this weepy stuff over Highlander Stadium closing and I really don’t get what the picture on the front of the NY Post today has to do with it either as that stadium has been gone for 35 years . As far as I’m concerned the House That  the Womanizing Boozing Home Run Hitter Built closed on September 30 1973. This edifice that’s closing in the South Bronx, The House That The Costra Nostra Made A Killing On, is a shell of it’s former self.

There are guys like me who rant and rave and then there are sane guys like Howard Megdal who make tremendous statements quick and to the point. Even I feel better after seeing this.

Even with my baseball team in the heat of a pennant race, I am looking forward to watching Rangers-Senators hockey tomorrow night on MSG

Also Manchester United-Chelsea on Sunday morning FSC.

Com’on folks broaden your horizons.

I usually look at Phil Mushnick as a “Get off my lawn” kind of guy but today he was dead spot on with his critique of Mike Francesa and Chris Russo. I felt sad for Francesa in away, as he is tired of fans of his show and others saying how bad he is as a solo artist. His rant about having three number one shows and how he’s been very successful just comes off as Mike being extremely jealous and petty of the attention that Russo is getting with his new gig at Sirius.  Francesa can be a big blow hard but I guess out of habit I turn the radio on at 1:05PM to his show but I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t feel he needs desperately needs and injection of youth and enthusiasm to his show fast.

I have no ambition to do any work today. It’s sunny and cool out so it is definitley a walking day so it’s pizza at Ben’s on Thompson St for lunch. Later, kids

When Warlord Jerry addressed his shell shocked warriors yesterday I hope he let them know that every team in the division hopes they fail again. I hope he let them no that every team in the NL East just doesn’t find then unpleasing I hope he told how much they hate them. I  hope he told them that the Nationals, Marlins and Braves want the Phillies to represent the NL East in the post season. I hope he told them that the also rans sit in their clubhouses and say “yeah we’re out of it but at least we didn’t choke like the Mets” and then laugh their ass’ off.  Seriously, nothing the opposition does or says angers the Mets.. Sure David Wright has been slamming hats and bats the last couple of days but don’t they see how the Braves, Nats, Marlins and of course the Phillies all turn into  Shaq serenading Kobe with “tell me how my ass taste” every time they play against them? With every loss and every blown opportunity to put the Phillies in the rear view mirror the Mets grab the bats a little tighter and overthrow their fastballs a little more out of the strike zone and fail to come through in clutch situations. It easy to throw all the blame on the bullpen but you have to question the entire character of the organization if they fail to make the post season for the second straight season. If that happens the Skill Sets will have some major decision to make here and not just how many olives to put in the martinis at the $iti field luxury suites.

The Braves came into Shea for their last series there and after beating the Mets two of three they are led by Larry Jones with cameras in hand to take pictures of the Shea Stadium scoreboard and no one on the Mets seemed to mind. Same with the Nats. First Elijah Dukes heckles Nelson Figurora and all he can do is call the Nats a girls softball team. Then Dukes goes nuts over a Mike Pelfrey ball inside. To Big Pelf’s credit he walked right toward Dukes and if not for Manny Acta coming out of the dugout there might have been an altercation. Willie Harris has been beating the Mets ass for a couple of years now maybe someone on the pitching staff will make him eat dirt.

Not only do I feel bad for Fernando Tatis for his injury and the fact that he was writing one of the great stories of the season but with him and Damien Easley out the Mets lose two of their best clutch hitters, Tatis was hitting .392 with RISP and .286 with 2 out/RISP and Easley was hitting a robust .314 with 2 out/RISP. Two guys who are killing the Mets in that department are Ryan Church (.179 2 out/RISP) and Carlos Beltran (.183 2 out/RISP) As I said it’s very easy to kill the Aaron Heilman’s and Scott Schoenweies of the world but when you lack the killer instinct to step on your opponents necks and snuff them out this is what you get, doubt, second guessing and Mets fans holding a puke bucket while watching their team fade down the stretch for the second year in a row.