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| May 6, 2006: Mets vs. Braves (Shea Stadium)
RadioMercenary: look at that zambrano with a k
SpiritRoomFL: kid gloves my friend
RadioMercenary: ooo he struck out larry
RadioMercenary: well i for one did not see that coming
SpiritRoomFL: ill say
SpiritRoomFL: lets smoke em out of the gate
RadioMercenary: yeah
RadioMercenary: whoo reyes
RadioMercenary: carlos squared strikes again with a walk and an rbi single
SpiritRoomFL: we gotta get on hudson before he can establish a groove
RadioMercenary: the first time through the batting order opposing hitters are batting .153
RadioMercenary: he starts in a groove
RadioMercenary: what are you talking about
SpiritRoomFL: well he got it goin early last time in shea and howd that turn out?
RadioMercenary: whats your point
RadioMercenary: hes a good pitcher
RadioMercenary: its not like hes the guy we have going
RadioMercenary: anyways let get some more
RadioMercenary: uh oh
SpiritRoomFL: double whammy
SpiritRoomFL: lima time
RadioMercenary: lima time is all the time
RadioMercenary: wow druw strikes out
RadioMercenary: goddamn it
SpiritRoomFL: PUSSY!
RadioMercenary: hes finally not fucking up
RadioMercenary: booo
RadioMercenary: maybe he had to take a leak
SpiritRoomFL: at least give em a signal
RadioMercenary: when you gotta go, you gotta go
SpiritRoomFL: that seems to be the least of our concern right now
RadioMercenary: that was just weird though
RadioMercenary: oh well i have more faith in oliver then zambrano
RadioMercenary: lol
RadioMercenary: he better be hurt though because he looked like such a bitch just leaving
SpiritRoomFL: hes lucky that trax is stinkin and maine and B40 are on the DL
RadioMercenary: wow that sucks
SpiritRoomFL: b/c if they werent, he probably wouldve just sealed his ticket out of town
SpiritRoomFL: oh goddamnit
SpiritRoomFL: why does he only showe up against us?
RadioMercenary: he just one good day
RadioMercenary: chill out
SpiritRoomFL: well look at it this way
SpiritRoomFL: oliver used to be a pretty effectiove starter in his day
RadioMercenary: i dont think so
RadioMercenary: his career era is 5.06
SpiritRoomFL: didnt he used to pitch on the texas playoff teams tho?
RadioMercenary: career whip is 1.54 and inn his career the league batting .288
RadioMercenary: so who gives a shit?
RadioMercenary: one that was 10 years ago
RadioMercenary: two not everyone has to be an ace on a playoff team
SpiritRoomFL: well thanks for that boost lol
RadioMercenary: but lets see
RadioMercenary: in 1996, 14-6, 4.66 era, 1.53 whip
RadioMercenary: in 1998, 6-7, 6.53 era, 1.77 whip
RadioMercenary: and he wasnt a ranger in 1999
RadioMercenary: in fact was traded to st louis midway through 98
SpiritRoomFL: oh
RadioMercenary: anyways we shall see what happens
SpiritRoomFL: ramooooooooooone
SpiritRoomFL: hit one away from marcus giles!
RadioMercenary: ramoooooone victor zambrano has sand in his vagina
SpiritRoomFL: ramoooooooooooooooone divine zambrano went to the underpants gnomes' village!
RadioMercenary: marcus giles is putting on a show
SpiritRoomFL: you know how they play the bells after the strikeout?
RadioMercenary: yes
SpiritRoomFL: well, a couple years ago, the room was silent and so were the annopuncers when it played
SpiritRoomFL: my dog started barking at the TV
RadioMercenary: lol ok
RadioMercenary: all righty
RadioMercenary: its carlos
SpiritRoomFL: here comes the BOOm!
SpiritRoomFL: *BOOM!
SpiritRoomFL: goddamnit lol
RadioMercenary: he finally realized one of the colors of the mets was
RadioMercenary: royal blue
RadioMercenary: beacause thats where he did his best work
SpiritRoomFL: hahahaha
RadioMercenary: carlos squared baby
SpiritRoomFL: i woulda said houston, but its just semantics
RadioMercenary: the royals have a much larger body of work
RadioMercenary: and i could hit 40 home runs in that dinky park
RadioMercenary: they're waiting for a medical report on zambrano
RadioMercenary: andruw is killing our catcher
RadioMercenary: s
RadioMercenary: and there you have it, discomfort in the elbow for victor
SpiritRoomFL: *insert fan discomfort joke here*
RadioMercenary: lol
SpiritRoomFL: btw, the whistle thing between pitches is "there it go" by juelz santana
RadioMercenary: i did not know that
RadioMercenary: oliver does it all
SpiritRoomFL: he'll make you pay for his dry cleanin
RadioMercenary: yes he will
RadioMercenary: fuck zambrano lets just have him start lol
RadioMercenary: lol its el bart
RadioMercenary: oh noes
SpiritRoomFL: i pledge allegiance to flavor
SpiritRoomFL: grandpa's convinced that met fans actually like larry
SpiritRoomFL: uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, sure, whatever
RadioMercenary: come again?
RadioMercenary: i dont think they like him
RadioMercenary: but they respect him
SpiritRoomFL: in the "goddamnit, why cant he do this to someone else " kind of way
RadioMercenary: pretty much
RadioMercenary: and thats the difference between met and yankee fans, we boo chipper and call him larry, etc etc
RadioMercenary: but yankee fans with big papi
RadioMercenary: well you dont want children around thats for sure
SpiritRoomFL: ho ho
RadioMercenary: el bart strikes again
SpiritRoomFL: and andruw says "why you little!"
RadioMercenary: lol
RadioMercenary: he didnt even run
RadioMercenary: ok all the mets need is to get hudson out
SpiritRoomFL: fuck adam laroche....FUCK HIM RIGHT IN THE EAR!
RadioMercenary: druw is gone!
RadioMercenary: wow they can actually get hits into center now
SpiritRoomFL: nohexnohexnohexnohexnohexnohexnohex
RadioMercenary: first we gonna rock, then we gonna roll
RadioMercenary: x delivers
SpiritRoomFL: RAMOOOOOOOONE
SpiritRoomFL: MAKE THIS FUCKER 4-3!
RadioMercenary: ramooooooone
RadioMercenary: oh noes its valentin
RadioMercenary: well he shut me up
SpiritRoomFL: its not casual saturday
SpiritRoomFL: ties needed
RadioMercenary: ho ho
SpiritRoomFL: yea i kno
RadioMercenary: i chuckled though, that wasnt too bad lol
RadioMercenary: carlos beltran looming on deck
RadioMercenary: timmy wants a piece of carlos it seems
SpiritRoomFL: unintentional IBB?
RadioMercenary: i wouldnt think so
RadioMercenary: here we go
RadioMercenary: that lil jap can hit
SpiritRoomFL: me hit ball far!
SpiritRoomFL: tiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SpiritRoomFL: tiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!
SpiritRoomFL: tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmy!
RadioMercenary: 4-0, 1.70 era for hudson vs the mets
RadioMercenary: to which they say to bobby cox
RadioMercenary: silly bitch, your weapons cannot harm me
SpiritRoomFL: are you a fuckin ass? dont you know who the fuck i am? he must not know who i am!
RadioMercenary: lol
RadioMercenary: and he got burned by kaz
RadioMercenary: point laugh and draw attention
RadioMercenary: oh its the second part of carlos squared
RadioMercenary: and delgado "oh im ready to beat his ass"
SpiritRoomFL: i apply the kobe comments to peter moylan
SpiritRoomFL: do i know this kid?
RadioMercenary: hes an aussie!
RadioMercenary: whatever moylan is trying to do
RadioMercenary: its not working
SpiritRoomFL: ha ha!
RadioMercenary: how pwnt
RadioMercenary: ha!*
RadioMercenary: well thanks to peter moylans antics
RadioMercenary: your final line on tim hudson, who was 4-0 with a 1.53 era against the mets in his career thus far
RadioMercenary: 6 1/3 ip, 9 h, 6 r; earned, 3 bb and 2 k
SpiritRoomFL: *dah dunt duh!*
RadioMercenary: ENDY!
RadioMercenary: haha
SpiritRoomFL: strap in
SpiritRoomFL: we're pushin i to the limit
SpiritRoomFL: *it
RadioMercenary: yes we are
RadioMercenary: whooo
RadioMercenary: lol
RadioMercenary: Julio has given up the 2nd most hrs among relievers
RadioMercenary: i have to know
RadioMercenary: whos the first?
RadioMercenary: oh noes
SpiritRoomFL: how many?
SpiritRoomFL: i know wagner's given up 3
RadioMercenary: julio has given up 4
SpiritRoomFL: really?
SpiritRoomFL: it said the mets pen overall has given up 4
RadioMercenary: wow that was just bad luck
RadioMercenary: no it didnt
RadioMercenary: unless your watching tbs
RadioMercenary: julio i know has given up at least 2 that i know, plus wagner's 3 is already more then 5
RadioMercenary: oh no the fuhrer is getting loose
RadioMercenary: oh noes its too late
RadioMercenary: oh no i cant watch
RadioMercenary: wow that was intense
SpiritRoomFL: i almost performed brain surgery w/ my thumb and index finger
SpiritRoomFL: for the entire inning
RadioMercenary: lol
SpiritRoomFL: on the edge is no way to go thru life
| | |
| Pedro goes for #200: Braves at MetsThe Mets are off to a stellar start, at 9-2, the best record in the
majors, albeit through only two weeks, but you have to start somewhere.
There has been some criticism regarding the schedule, they did win 5
out of 6 from the Expos, 2 of 3 from the suddenly talented Brewers, and
swept a pair from the Marlins. Today, they host the second place
Braves, (How weird does that sound? Though it does have a ring to
it...) with Pedro Martinez taking the mound looking for his 200th
career win.
Year after year, team after team, Mets players and fans' dreams have
died in sunny Atlanta. What can you say? The Braves are the
Braves, they are to the Mets, what the Yankees have been to the Red
Sox, but 2004 came along and changed that. In 2004, Curt
Schilling, bloody sock and all, led the team through the playoffs with
a mantra of "Why Not Us?" Pedro Martinez was a member of the Red
Sox in 2004, and in 2006, he's a Met. So two years after the Red
Sox finally slayed their dragon, and as a fan of the Mets, I pose the
same question, "Why Not Us?"
In leiu of a serious entry, I'll do my second running diary of the season, incidentally drawing a Pedro start once again....
7:09 The broadcast begins on
SNY, and the first thing I'd like to discuss, has anyone heard the new
Mets theme song, "The Team, The Time", or something to that
effect. It is god awful and the front office needs a smack to the
head for spending time and money on it
7:10 Pete Orr, playing shortstop for the injured Edgar Renteria, steps in and takes a ball from Pedro and we're off!
7:12 Victor Diaz fails at Major
League Baseball and is sent down to Norfolk, looks like there'll be
many an X to the N sighting, and look at that, Orr fails at batting,
going down on strikes
7:13 Marcus Giles, Brian's younger brother steps. The talented young 2B takes a walk.
7:14 Dumb SNY stat alert: Mets have made 7 errors which is the 5th fewest in the National League....um...ok?
7:15 Petey getting in trouble, a single by Langerhans puts runners at the corners for Andruw Jones.
7:16 Oh noes! A sac fly for 'Druw and the Bravos are onto a 1-0 lead.
7:17 Adam LaRoche of stupid
comment fame, has 18 k's in 45 ab's....takes the facial with a three
pitch Pedro K, make that 19 k's in 46 ab's, to end the first, Braves up
by 1.
7:19 Jorge Sosa, the Braves pitcher, sporting an ERA in the 11's falls behind Jay Rey to start the game.
7:21 Jose looks bad on that pitch to strike out to start the Mets offensive section of the game.
7:22 An infield hit for Paul Lo Duca, which was a great effort by Wilson Betemit, Braves fill in shortstop.
7:23 Now here's a point, laugh,
and draw attention moment, LaRoche misses the Delgado grounder, Giles
stumbles and misjudges it, then Jeff Francoeur, the Braves right
fielder trips. "A comedy of errors" as Gary Cohen calls
it. So the Mets threatening with runners at the corners....
7:25 D-Wright hits into a double play, so much for that, end of the 1st, Braves 1, Mets 0.
7:27 Petey with an easy play, getting Francoeur out on a bunt attempt, quick outs are always more gooder.
7:29 12 Braves rookies made
their debut in 2005. It's amazing what Bobby Cox does there, he
must have some deal with the devil or something, because of that man,
you can never count out Atlanta.
7:30 C-Flo playing with the
wind to make the catch on second year catcher, Brian McCann.
There are a lot of those second year players on those Braves
7:31 Wilson Betemit the latest
student in Pedro Academy, Strikeout 101. Thats number three for
Petey, and through the top of the 2nd, Mets down by 1.
7:34 X to the N sighting: X gon' give it to ya, says I'll take this to go, it's a tie ballgame.
7:36 The "comedy of errors" has
been changed from an error on LaRoche to a single for Delgado, giving
Carlos an 11 game hitting streak.
7:38 Gary Cohen with some
disturbing news as Mr. Anderson flies out to center, that Kaz Matsui is
beginning a rehab program. I'm sorry, I'm a big fan of the school
of thought: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
7:41 A fun stat from G.C., Jorge Sosa, for all his struggles so far in '06, gave up his first home run to X in that last inning.
7:42 Pete Orr, playing third
base today, bats surprisingly similar to Larry "Chipper" Jones, this
guy will always haunt the Mets faithful, Chipper that is, not Orr.
7:44 Petey with victim number four, gets Orr to look like a dildo on that one.
7:46 Ryan Langerhans swings 3-0
and drives home Marcus Giles to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. See
this is why they always win, they just find a way, it's like the
Yankees.
7:48 'Druw grounds out to third, so Pedro limits the damage.
7:49 Having purchased the
latest baseball game, MLB 2K6, I have to say it's a lot of fun.
The commercial featuring my no-hitter hero, Josh Beckett. An Alex
Gonzalez error robbed him of perfection, as he manhandled the White Sox
lineup.. Of course, that's neither here nor there.
7:53 Bobby Cox has a copy of
the Mets Media Guide in the dugout next to him. I'm sure it's a
compelling read, so far it's looking like another bend over to Atlanta
with two quick otus, and then Paul Lo Duca hits a double, silly me.
7:56 Carlos Delgado goes up and
says, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me
three times...that shit ain't happening, logs on for a pair, 3-2 Mets.
7:58 What a difference five minutes can make, eh?
8:00 Adam LaRoche comes up to
face Pedro to lead off the fourth, and lets revisit what the fellow
said. "I bet their fans can remember 14 straight titles" He
follows this up by lofting a lazy fly. For those at home, a
strikeout with two men on in the first, and a fly ball with his team
down a run in the fourth.
8:05 The trivia question for
today is when did the Mets last come into a series with the Braves with
a better record then them? It was April in 2002, and the only
time that has happened prior to tonight since the Braves entered the NL
East.
8:07 Pedro better get Sosa out since I'm missing "Deal or No Deal" to watch this game.
8:08 Petey gets Sosa, ok problem solved for now. Onto the bottom of the 4th!
8:12 Cliff Floyd is an American
Revolution! That hit's good for two bases. And right away: an X
to the N sighting: X takes a visit to Rip City with a liner to right to
drive in C-Flo, 4-2 Mets.
8:15 Mr. Anderson grounds to second, but a productive out nonetheless, though it's on Pedro now to hit.
8:18 Gotta love the ending of
the Boston game, what an exciting time, Kevin Youkilis runs beats out
an infield hit with two outs, then Mark Loretta with a two run walkoff
shot.
8:19 C-Flo seems to be banged
up since he's out of the game and Jose Valentin is in to play
left. Oh noes, first Beltran, now Floyd, hopefully it's nothing
too bad.
8:22 X to the N sighting: X gives it on D, diving catch to give Petey a 1-2-3 5th inning.
8:26 Here's a milestone for you: Jose Reyes with a walk in his third consecutive game.
8:29 Paul Lo Duca brought his
hitting shoes today with a single to left, so now the threat is on for
Carlos Delgado. Can I hear a "pus-sy" chant for Bobby Cox, since
that's all for Sosa, as he opts to go for the lefthander to face
Delgado.
8:31 Your final line on Sosa, 4 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs; earned, a walk and a strikeout; and responsible for the two men on base.
8:33 Braves lefty Chuck James,
who if memory serves was the opposing starter in another of these
exercises back in the spring. He whiffs Delgado, now he's gotta
face Wright.
8:34 Wright manages to turn the lineup over, with Jose "0 for 7" Valentin, the easy out due up with runners at the corners.
8:36 Valentin pops out to
right, well contact is better then nothing. At least John
Valentin was productive, bleh. Onto the 6th!
8:39 'Druw just broke someones windshield on that one, wow, it's 4-3. That's his first home run of Pedro in his career.
8:41 Facial LaRoche! Total
Facial! Another K, compliments of Pedro, so good bounceback by
Petey. So far Adam LaRoche is looking pretty dumb here.
8:44 That's why I love this
guy, it's business, but he's taking it very personal. Francoeur
down on strikes for victim number 7, second strikeout in a row after
the home run.
8:48 X to the N sighting: hard
single up the middle, you cannot stop him, you can only hope to contain
him! That's a 3 for 3 day for X.
8:53 With 100 pitches under his
belt, Pedro comes up to bat here in the bottom of the 6th. Cohen
makes a Grady Little reference, causing the Boston fan in me to cringe
a little.
8:57 Pedro starts the 7th with 100 pitches, will Willie's gamble work out? Stay tuned..
8:58 Wilson Betemit flies out to right, 1 out in the 7th, so far so good.
8:59 Hold on to your hats, it's Met killer Brian Jordan pinch hitting here.
9:01 Petey cranks up the velocity and schools Jordan for his 8th strikeout.
9:02 Pete Orr with a single, and Pedro's done, and Duaner Sanchez comes in to relieve with 2 outs in the 7th.
9:03 Pedro shows the Shea crowd
some love as he walks off the mound to a raucous ovation. That
has to be one of tbe best feelings in sports, to have won over the New
York fans. It's a love fest as Pedro is 2 and a third good
innings away from being a 200 game winner.
9:05 Orr steals second, and now
a little situation is brewing. But rest assured, safety is
guarenteed with Duaner on the mound, so far in this season anyways.
9:07 And what do you know?
Marcus Giles is the latest student to matriculate at Duaner Sanchez
Academy, get up and stretch, as we go to the bottom of the 7th, Mets up
4-3.
9:14 That was an eventless bottom of the 7th, but just showing yeah, the diary is still going on.
9:16 Duaner is cleaning up with his school, Langerhans down on strikes for the first out.
9:18 OK, that was closer then need be. 'Druw flies out to the wall of Duaner, not a proponent of the proposed education plan.
9:19 Adam LaRoche, he of the
big mouth has shown so far that he has more bark then bite, as he's now
0-4 today with a fly ball to left to end the 8th.
9:21 You know I was thinking
about the whole comment about the 14 straight titles. Technically
the Mets fans wouldn't remember the first few, after all, the Braves
were in the NL West the first few years of their little run. What
does that have to do with the Mets?
9:26 SNY showed a graphic
showing the Braves bullpen is 4-1 with an ERA of 4.91. I'm
curious about the Mets bullpen without Jorge Julio.
9:27 Endy Chavez, the center
field fill in for Carlos Beltran strikes out to end the 8th, cue the
Metallica, its time for Billy the Kid.
9:30 Jeff Francoeur flies out
to center for the first out. Cohen notes that Pedro Martinez
would be the 103rd member of the 200 win club, and would have the
fourth fewest amount of losses of any member with only 84, of course
there are still two outs to get.
9:31 GC says that Wagner is still missing his velocity, which is scary because he's still dealing at 95 and 96 mph.
9:32 Oh noes! Wagner hits Diaz, so the Bravos have the tying run on board.
9:34 Wagner looking just filthy striking out Betemit for the second out of the inning.
9:35 Old friend Todd Pratt in
to pinch hit. Pratt with his memorable home run to win the 1999
Division Series against the Diamondbacks, earning a place in the hearts
of the Mets faithful.
9:36 Pratt goes down on
strikes, and that's your ballgame. Pedro your winner, his 200th
career win, the second Met to win his 200th in a Mets uniform; the
other being Orel Hershiser back in 1999. The Mets improve to 10-2
on the season and have opened up a 5 game lead in the NL East.
There you have it, the Mets with another win, their second in a row,
this time against Atlanta. There are still 150 games to go, so
let's not start counting magic numbers yet, but it's good to be there,
just gotta keep going...
| | |
| Tuesday April 11, 2006: Mets at Nationals (RFK Stadium)
The Mets picked up their 1st road win and Brian Bannister pitched effectively, giving up only 3 hits over 7 innings to earn his 1st career victory in a 7-1 victory over Washington. Carlos Beltran cranked a 2-run homer in the 9th, went 2 for 4 and scored 2 runs. David Wright drove in his 10th run of the season and is tied for the 2nd most RBI in all of baseball so far. The highlight for me, I'm watching since I ordered the Extra Innings package for the season on Sunday.
Bannister definitely looked impressive in facing the Expos for the 2nd time in less than a week, especially since the veterans can pick up on a rookie pitcher the 2nd time around. Unlike his previous start, B40 didn't get himself into many jams, and his only mistake was a 7th inning home run by Alfonso Soriano. Bannister has definitely established that he's gotta stay fly as 20 of his 38 outs have come via the flyout, including 2 long ones to the track from Vidro yesterday. While he did not walk anyone on Tuesday and less than half his pitches have been called for balls, my main concern with Bannister at the moment has been control, more specifically, establishing himself early in the count. Several times in his first 2 starts, he's fallen behind 2-0 and 3-0. Now, the good pitchers can work themselves out of those jams and break those habits, however, the best hitters can recognize a pitcher's weaknesses and run him ragged. That being said, I do have the confidence in him and Rick Peterson that B40 will shake the habit.
Unlike Bannister's start last Wednesday, the bullpen secured the win, although it didn't come without some tense moments. Heilman is continuing to distance himself his shaky opening day performance with a perfect 8th inning and 1 strikeout. The unnerving moments came in the 9th as Willie Randolph brought Billy Wagner in to get some extra work and build up his confidence. Well, he was half-right. Wagner walked the bases loaded, threw 32 pitches (half of which for balls), but struck out Ryan Zimmerman to end the game, a little retrobution if you will for last Wednesday's game-tying homer. I'm doing my best not to panic, and I think that Billy just got into some trouble was b/c it wasn't a pressure-packed situation. I hope I'm right.
Tonight, the Mets will send Petey out against one of the men for which he was traded to Boston to, Tony Armas Jr. Hopefully, Pedro's in his " I'm not fuckin around today" mode after last week's incident. Jose Guillen, it's best you lay low for a while.
-JD | | |
| Marlins at Mets: First Game At SheaWith the pomp of Thursday night's win leaving town like the Expos were,
it's back to business on Friday against the Florida Marlins. The
Marlins as you well know, had the firesale that resulted in the Mets
acquisitions for Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca. That said,
while being a clique of rookies featuring Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle
Willis, you can't count them out. I'm more afraid of the Marlins,
then the Expos, at least they aren't synonymous with failure, despite
their best attempts ('98 and '06*)
*'06 still has a lot more ball to be played, 158 games to be exact.
So I went with my father to Shea tonight to catch my first game of the
season in the Queens stadium. Steve Trachsel got the ball and
pitched a solid, albeit slow paced game, 6 innings of 1 run ball is
nothing to turn your nose up at. Jorge Julio is working his way
up every Mets' fans shitlist though, giving up a deuce and probably
more were it not for an X to the N sighting, with X throwing a strike
to Wright at third to throw out Jeremy Hermida to end the inning.
When Julio loaded the bases for Cabrera (he eventually struck him out,
credit where it's due and all that), I said to my dad, "Well at least
we get to see Billy Wagner today..." Former Met Mike Jacobs
followed the K with a 2 run single, but X gives it on defense as the
Marlins discovered to end the rally.
D-Wright and Jay Rey providing
the offensive highlights going a combined 5-8 with 2 home runs, 6 rbis
and 1 steal (Reyes, obviously) in the Mets 9-3 win. Beltran and Delgado both chipped in an RBI on the day. As a
sidenote, Mr. Anderson got his first hit of the campaign with a second
inning single.
It was nice to be back in the park, especially with the knowledge that
the days are numbered on the building now with the revealed plans for
the New Shea. That's neither here nor there.
I don't proclaim to know much about baseball, I write about it here
from time to time, but I'm the last person to say I know what I'm
talking about, believe me. During today's game, I had two guys
sitting behind me, little league coaches from the way I heard them
discussing the game, strategy, if it can be called that, and so on.
My four biggest gripes:
1. In the third inning, Carlos Delgado hits a pop up to second, Marlins
second baseman Dan Uggla jogs a few steps and makes the catch.
These guys are raving about the distance he covered, uh three or four
steps, yeah, way to show the range.
2. In the fourth inning, Paul Lo Duca and his robust .333 batting
average step in. The guys are saying that Lo Duca looks
frightened up there. I'm thinking, OF WHAT? His apparent lack of
success and the fans getting on him? The pitcher who had given up 4
runs to this point in the game, one on a booming double to Trax?
Someone please explain that to me because I don't get it, I just don't.
3. Trax went 1-3 today with an RBI double, and he's been a decent
hitting pitcher throughout his career. I don't need to be
reminded of this evetrytime the man steps up to bat..
4. This is the biggest in my book, in the 3rd inning, Marlins right
fielder Jeremy Hermida slashes a single to right. Mr. Anderson
lunges and can't catch up to it, the balls in right, whatever.
These guys start going on about how Hernandez didn't reach for
it. Now I've stood there at second base be it in pickup games or
just fielding grounders, even once at softball, which was an abortion
we do not speak of. I would love to see one of these guys try to
do it, because it's very difficult. I would love to rant more,
but no one wants to hear my second base chavanist attitude.
-AA
| | |
| Expos at Mets: April 6, 2006After only one spring running diary, this is my first one in the
regular season. Hopefully Pedro can manage as well under an
abbreviated spring, with all kinds of ailemts, he makes his season
debut today against Ramon Ortiz. Yeah I know they're the
Washington Nationals, however they'll always be the Montreal
Expos. For the baseball fans, they are to the Mets as the Orioles
are to the Yankees, so they need to earn my respect and my calling them
the proper name....
7:00PM Gary Cohen is on with Keith Hernandez, officially making the terrestrial radio obsolete.
7:02 Pedro says he's not feeling well, talking about how he's not ready
to the weather, and so on. We can hope that it's just Pedro being
Pedro and he has a good outing...
7:05 Here's a SNY feature, a mic on Mets utility player Chris Woodward during batting practice.
7:06 Ballplayers are great guys, I wanted, still do want, to be one,
but man they don't have much to say. Then again they have the mic
on them, it's not like they're gonna talk about stuff the average guy
wants to hear about.
7:10 Expos lineup looks solid, last night's hero, Ryan Zimmerman batting 5th.
7:11 Brandon Watson grounds out to Jay Rey and Pedro is crisp through 1/27th of the game.
7:12 Jose Vidro with a single, you know, I don't care, I think Soriano
is a better player, Vidro should be playing catch in left.
7:13 Petey gets Jose Guillen to hit into a 3-6-3 double play, well done by Carlos and Jose.
7:15 Ramon Ortiz, a pitcher with a championship under his belt with the Angels throws a strike to Jay Rey.
7:16 Reyes with a leadoff single, that's especially good as he's on both fantasy teams I run.
7:18 Paul LoDuca with a hit and run single and the Mets are onto a good start here in the first.
7:19 Here's Beltran who Cohen notes had the propensity for the home run during a Pedro start, 9 of his first 10 last year.
7:20 Beltran grounds into a forceplay, in comes Jose, 1-0 Mets.
7:23 While Carlos Delgado is up, I'd like to say what the hell is with
9/11 conspiracy theorists, I mean really. Coincidence, yeah, just
was on my mind.
7:24 And Delgado pops out to short, here comes D-Wright.
7:25 Keith suggests that Beltran try and steal here with two outs,
can't say I argue with the logic, and as I type this, he stole second
base. That's steal number one for Carlos on the season.
7:26 Whoa...Carlos trying for third, he's getting greedy now. And
greed is good, though kind of self serving at this point.
7:28 Carlos Beltran come on down, opposite field, broken bat RBI single for D-Wright, 2-0 Mets.
7:30 D-Wright sticks out his tongue, shades of his Royal Airness, if
he's baseball's equivalent well there'll be a lot of happy Mets fans
for starters.
7:31 C-Flo flies out and thats the inning.
7:33 Here's Private Pyle, Nick Johnson, notable for hitting a three run
homer off of yesterday's starter, Brian Bannister who was making his
big league debut...oooo big man.
7:34 Pedro nails Johnson, it was all a dream, fat boy!
7::35 A pop fly single by Soriano into no mans land and here comes Ryan Zimmerman.
7:37 Petey pwnz0rs Zimmerman for the first out, his first strikeout of the game and season
7:38 Crisp play by D-Wright with a barehand grab on that grounder. Shades of Robin Ventura in his prime...
7:39 Pedro is going to intentionally walk Brian Schnieder. I
understand why, but I still have to ask WHY? If he could actually get a
hit of Petey, they deserve two runs.
7:41 Oh noes! Ortiz with a dribbler that Pedro threw over Delgado's
head and down the line. 2 runs score and the game is tied.
C'mon Petey, you're better then that, have some respect for yourself.
7:42 At least I can put my reasoning behind walking Schnieder as a
feather in my cap because that was just awful, a 2 run single isn't
nearly as awful as that because there you'd have the hope they get out
of it before it's snatched away instead of just getting beat.
7:43 Petey K's Watson to end the inning. 2-2 ballgame.
7:46 Watson catches Nady's flyout and I think to myself, what player
willingly says I want the number 0. I know Rey Ordonez had it
prior to '98, but why? What's the appeal? Why one zero, let
alone two zeroes, is it because you're double the zero? It's just
silly.
7:48 Mr. Anderson grounds out to short, 0-9 on the season, 1-27 in his
major league career. This man wears the number 1, again, why,
that number stinks. The only guys who wear that are total douches.
7:49 And that's a 1-2-3 second, two in the books, 2-2 game.
7:51 Fuck the New York Times, I read the Post.
7:54 A leadoff walk to Vidro and a hit by pitch to Guillen, this is not
a good sign. And the first pitch to Johnson is saved by LoDuca from
going to the backstop. I think The Fuhrer may need to make an
appearance soon, or who is it now, Darren Oliver for some reason...
7:56 Pwnage, pure pwnage by Petey on Pyle with a called third strike.
7:57 And Pedro says "silly bitch, your weapons cannot harm me",
following up the strikeout with a Soriano flyout to left and Zimmerman
getting caught browsing. Onto the bottom of the frame...
8:04 Keith Hernandez is talking about bat size and how he used a 33
ounce bat. My previous bat was 34, and after swinging that for a
while the 33 ouncer which replaces it is amazingly light, which should
be good in the coming weeks, following Hernandez logic that "You want
to swing the bat, you don't want the bat to swing you."
8:06 HA-HA! Lo Duca with an infield hit, gotta love the hometown scoring.
8:07 Beltran hears the boo's after flying out to left. Poor guy,
I understand why, but Beltran is still a decent player and the most
productive CF since Jay Payton in 2000, and not counting that probably
'96. Yeah, Cameron was good in '04, but lets be real, the man
batted like .230 and struck out like crazy. Give him a break,
guys, it's not like he's Kaz who's just garbage.
8:09 Delgado caught browsing on a questionable pitch, that's three in the books. Still 2-2.
8:11 Ooo it's new Shea, shown in 3D on SNY. It looks amazing,
can't wait until 2009, though I will miss the piece of shit that is
Shea. It is a piece of shit, but it's our piece of shit!
8:13 Jeff Wilpon is talking about why there are less seats, which with
all the jargon, you know it's just because he wants to charge more for
tickets.
8:14 Pedro walked Ramon Ortiz, if you were to tell me that would
happen, I'd say that I'm dating Keira Knightley and A-Rod would come
through in the clutch.
8:16 Oh la-di-da, the Upper Deck is going to be called the Promenade in
New Shea. And Pedro gets out of the inning, onto the bottom of
the 4th....
8:19 Wow, throwing in on D-Wright to start the inning. Makes sense, Petey hit two of their guys.
8:20 And again, that's a little messed up, either hit him or don't. Ha! Pwned, D-Wright with an opposite field single.
8:22 Cliff Floyd is an American Revolution! Or rather an opposite
field single, getting ducks on the pond for X to the N, or simply X who
carries a robust .500 batting average into this plate appearance.
8:26 That was quite a play, X hit it up the middle and it bounced of
either Ortiz' foot or the rubber and bounced sky high and was
caught. However, it was called an infield hit so bases loaded,
despite some controversy. Up comes Mr. Anderson with his 1-27
career batting average with the bases loaded.
8:28 And Mr. Anderson pops out, 1-28 in his major league
career. I'm sorry, at least Ordonez could bat .200, this is
starting to get old.
8:29 This guy does it all, Petey with the go ahead RBI
single. Wow, for the second time this game, I am dumbfounded with
something Pedro has done. 3-2, Mets.
8:31 Cliff Floyd and Xavier Nady, come on down! It's a two run single for Jay Rey, make that 5-2, Mets.
8:32 Spos' catcher Brian Schnieder drops Lo Duca's pop up in foul
ground, ooo this is getting ugly fast. This is what I like to
call reality since you can take the Expos out of Montreal, but you
can't take the Expos out of the Nationals.
8:33 Boo comeupance as Lo Duca hits into a double play. 4 complete frames here, 5-2, Mets.
8:36 Pedro onto start the 5th, and other then a blip in the second he's
looked decent all things considered, especially as he considered it a
'spring training start'
8:37 Petey clips Guillen and he runs out to get him. Lo Duca and
the ump manage to hold him back. Carlos Delgado ran in between
him and Pedro which showed me something, it's good to see that just
three games into the season. Julio Franco manages to calm Guillen
down, which shows how respectable a figure he is.
8:41 Gotta love Jay Rey, just standing at short with his glove on his
head like a little kid. He has this expression like "Who gives a
shit, let's play." What a fun player.
8:43 Play resumed and Pyle takes it out to right with a 3 run shot, the
game is tied at 5. Bet Guillen feels like an ass now, with a tie
game.
8:45 Pedro dials it up to get Soriano on strikes for the first out.
8:46 Petey gets R-Zim to take a whiff, I think Guillen just agitated
him and after getting his bearings back after Johnson's shot, he's mad
now.
8:47 Petey gets Clayton to ground out to Wright and that's your
inning. Certainly dramatic, as the game is tied at 5 and Pedro's
not getting a Christmas present this year from Jose Guillen.
8:52: Carlos Delgado with my first called shot of 2006, a solo homer
and the Mets retake the lead 6-5. That's Delgado's second homer
of the season, a laser off the '69 championship banner.
8:55 I'll take advantage of this lull in the action to say, I tell you
I picked a hell of a game to start watching. Pedro, the bench
clearing incident, what a game. I feel bad for Will in Virginia
who has the game blacked out from the Expos broadcast.
8:57 Petey is going on to start the 6th inning against the bottom third
of the Expo order. Darren Oliver getting loose for the Mets and a
grounder to Delgado for out number one.
8:58 Pirates legend Daryle Ward onto pinch hit, a fixture on many of my
fantasy teams for a couple of weeks back in '04. Notable as the
only player to hit the ball on the fly into the Alleghany River in
Pittsburgh's PNC Park.
9:02 Here comes Jose Vidro, 1-1 with 2 walks. Pedro gets a fly
out to left.. Can I hear a Sori's Better! I don't give a
shit that he hasn't touched Petey today, it's the principle. Onto
the bottom of the 6th...
9:05 X to the N sighting: leadoff double off new pitcher Jason
Bergmann. Your final line for RAMOOOOOOONE Ortiz, 5 innings, 10
hits, 6 runs, all earned and 1 strikeout. Not a pretty day.
9:07 Even Gary says that Mr. Anderson has gotta start hitting. He
fails at sacrificing and strikes out instead, cue the Price is Right
loser sound. Where's J-Kepp when we need him?
9:10 Pinch hitter Jose Valentin grounds out for out number two, and the
Expos are going to the bullpen for Washington fixture Joey Eischen to
face Jose Reyes. With the pinch hitting, Petey's done today, and
his final line on an off day: 6 innings, 4 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned, 5
walks and 6 strikeouts. Not pretty, but should be good enough to
win if the pen holds up.
9:12 Keith says that Reyes is a better right handed hitter, making for
some questionable strategy as the plan was to turn him around and make
him bat righty.
9:14 Reyes down looking on a questionable pitch so onto the 7th inning.
9:16 Pedro Feliz with a 3 run double against the Braves today in the
league roundup in the Giants 6-4 win. It's phenomenal just
because Feliz got a start on one of my fantasy teams.
9:17 I finally get to see one of my favorites, Duaner Sanchez take the
mound here on the 7th. Apparently they'll need a new home plate
umpire, Ted Barrett needs to be attended to by the trainer. A
curious turn of events, and poor Duaner has to wait this out.
9:20 Still no respite, I always like to see the cliques that form
during the waiting for something to happen. It always sucks when
you can tell theres the one guy nobody likes on the team, like the
pitcher and catcher talk, infielders, and outfielders. And
sometimes, you have the guy whos all alone, nobody likes him, and that
has to just be a hopeless feeling.
9:22 Gary and Keith are talking about Jimmy Rollins hitting streak,
which was halted earlier today at 38 games. They bring up the
point that I've thought, that it shouldn't count if he did make it
because it was over two seasons, unlike DiMaggio's which was 56 games
over one season.
9:25 So how about those Nets? At least there's one decent basketball
team here in the greater New York Metropolitan area, the streak up to
13 games. Not bad, J-Kidd, Vinsanity and RJ playing great
ball. The bench is the key to the run though, so hopefully they
keep it up in the playoffs.
9:27 OK, this is getting annoying. Something has befallen the
home plate ump, which they will not get into. And umpire Rick
Reed will take over behind the plate, so they're going with three over
the rest of the game.
9:30 And we're back, Jose Guillen getting the boos as he steps in against Duaner.
9:31 Guillen is caught browsing for out number one. Sanchez with some gas at 95 mph on that last pitch.
9:33 The fourth Expo to get hit by pitch, today, as Sanchez goes inside
on Pyle. How about these guys make an effort to get out of the
way? Seriously, it's not like these are balls at guys heads.
9:35 Oh noes, Soriano with a hit up the middle and gets to second on
the throw. Second and third with 1 out, for R-Zimm.
9:36 Duaner gets a pop out, so just one out away from getting out of
the jam. Old friend Marlon Anderson coming up to pinch hit here
with two outs, and he'll be intentionally walked so it's up to the
slumping Brian Schnieder.
9:41 Duaner gets his man, a pop out to 1st and thats your 7th
inning. Gotta like what your seeing from him so far, the scouts
who said he isn't ready for big spots can blow me. I have faith
in this guy, definately more then Jorge "Armando Benitez II" Julio
*shudder*
9:43 Damian Jackson, known for his collision with Johnny Damon in the
'03 ALDS against the A's into replace Clayton at short. Eischen
still in against Paul Lo Duca leading off the 7th.
9:46 Take a walk, Paul, here's Carlos "0 for the season thus far" Beltran.
9:47 Carlos Beltran says "I'll take the number two to go", with a shot into the seats in left. 8-5 Mets
9:49 Beltran takes his time to go take a curtain call. Father
Time saves the day again as he tells him to take a curtain call.
Apparently Carlos is displeased with the boos and rightfully so, big
ups to Franco, and Omar for taking a chance on a 47 year old reserve.
9:54 CLIFF FLOYD IS AN AMERICAN REVOLUTION! RBI double to right, scores Wright and its 9-5 now.
9:55 X to the N sighting: intentional walk after C-Flo's double.
They know X gon' give it to 'em, and play it safe. Also they know
Anderson Hernandez couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat the way
he's going now.
9:57 Mr. Anderson hits a hard liner to left, thats a respectable out there. No shame there.
9:58 Duaner Sanchez up to bat, this should be good...er, maybe not, he looked like a dildo on that swing.
10:00 Duaner with a K, but a 3 run frame to give the Mets a cushion as we go into the 8th.
10:03 The Wikipedia up, Wiki Gonzalez leading off in the 8th and he tastes some Duaner heat, looking foolish on the K.
10:06 Brandon Watson is victim number three and as an encore he takes
Jose Vidro to Duaner Sanchez Academy, Strikeout 101. Duaner K's
the side in the 8th and just one inning to go.
10:09 Fraud, Felix Rodriguez is to pitch the bottom of the 8th, with Jose Reyes leading off.
10:12: Take three, Jose, thats his first triple of 2006 after 17 in
2005. Everytime he finds the gap, he's got three bases in his
back pocket. Like I say, this guy is just a lot of fun to
watch. Everyone talks about D-Wright, but you can't forget about
this guy either, this is going to be a great tandem, baseball's Thunder
and Lightning if you will.
10:13 Uh oh, Fraud threw at Lo Duca, and he's out of the game, pwned by the ump, thats rough.
10:!5 Expos manager, Frank Robinson has a beef, his guys have been hit
6 times in the last two games and the first ejection comes from the
first Met to be hit. Allow me to play Devil's Advocate and say
that you had a guy making his major league debut and was a smidge wild
yesterday in Brian Bannister and a creaky Pedro, who still, for all
intents and purposes is in Spring Training mode. So it's just
wrong place and wrong time for the 'Spos.
10:18 Jon Rauch into replace Fraud against Carlos Beltran. Alas
it seems the wheels may have fallen off of the Expos wagon, sucks for
them.
10:22 Rauch has a tattoo on his left arm of a cross, that's a bit
distracting. Ouch, now they're saying that he has a limit on warm
ups. I'd like to point out the humor in the fact that in years
past, we'd be the ones taking all this. An Expo is an Expo is an
Expo is now a National.
10:25 Beltran has a 4 RBI game today with his sac fly scoring Reyes. 10-5, Mets.
10:27 A little irony from Gary, the rules regarding beanballs and what
not, were developed while Frank Robinson was involved with the
Disciplainary Board.
10:29 3 hit night for D-Wright, Lord knows one of my fantasy squads appreciates this.
10:32 C-Flo takes a called strike three and onto the 9th where sidearmer Chad Bradford will be on to close it out.
10:35 Endy Chavez makes his Mets debut replacing C-Flo in left.
Here comes Jose Guillen to face the sidearming righty, and thats one
man down with a grounder to Jay Rey.
10:37 I love that Omar got Bradford, I was always fascinated with those
guys whos knuckles almost scrape the ground when they pitch. I
personally always thought that if you looked at their hands after they
pitched, they'd be covered in dirt.
10:42 Bradford gets Soriano swinging for out number two after a Pyle
single, and here comes R-Zimm as the last hope for the Expos.
10:44 The golden sombrero for Zimmerman to end the game and the Mets
win 10-5. They take 2 out of 3 from the Expos in the season
opening series. Pedro, your winner, and Ortiz your loser.
Through 3 games, Julio not withstanding this team is looking good,
hopefully they keep it up. I've been ignoring this thing of late,
however I will endeavor to write in it more often as the season
progresses.
-AA
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