Tools For Transplanted Mets Fans

One of the best/worst things about being away from the NY Metro area is also being outside the broadcast area of WFAN. Thank goodness for the internet, this actually works out in the favor of us out-of-market baseball fans. Why? Because if we really have a hankering for Schmuck and His Lap Dog, we can listen to the simulcast on wfan.com. But if we just want the highlights, such as the Willie Randolph Report, WFAN posts those clips online too for downloading. What I like to do is tune into the simulcast at my desk at work occasionally, and download some clips onto my iPod for my commute in the car. One bit that's definitely worth a weekly download is teh Paul LoDuca report. LoDuca is surprisingly candid, and gives a nice perspective on the viewpoint from the clubhouse as well as from behind the plate. Best of all, the interview is conducted by Beningo and Roberts, so the interview is a Francesca Free Zone. Go here to get all of Joe and Evans interviews.

Here's another tool from a guy who's not a tool. Visit my friend and fellow transplanted Mets fan Dave's blog, Mets Guy In Michigan. Oh, and check out his new banner, created by Yours Truly!

Lets Go Mets!

Mota's Back. Boo Him, Too

The columnists are right. We Mets fans are hypocrites if we don't boo Guillermo Mota when he returns tonight, a day after we booed our brains out at Barry Bonds. True, we booed Bonds even before he became the focus of a steroid controversy, but I'd like to see someone look me eye and with a straight face say that last night's boo-fest was not steroid-related.

We made fun of Giambi and Sheffield and howled when Rocket and Pettite were on the front cover of the Times for steroid-related news. Just because Mota is wearing orange and blue does not exonerate him from his actions. And it's all well and good that he apologized, but he still cheated.

I expect a mixed reaction tonight if he pitches. I don't think he'll get a standing ovation or anything like that, but I also don't think he'll get booed very much, if at all. More telling will be a month down the road, and how the crowd reacts to his performance.

Personally I'd like to see him run out of town, along with Ramon Castro.

Who Let The Dogs Out (Reprise)

How do you top a three game sweep of the Fish? How do you overshadow the arrival of Barry Bonds as the story of the game? How do you chase A-Rod's cheating ways from the back covers of the sports pages?

With an amazing, Amazin' win in teh 12th inning. Down by a run, Jose Reyes redefined teh meaning of a manufactured run by drawing a walk, drawing a balk over to second, getting sacrificed to third and then drawing another balk to score the tying run... off Armando freakin Benitez! How is that night the highlight of the game on Sportscenter? Because Carlos Delgado immediately followed Reyes' balk job with a long homerun into right-center field... his second of the game... off Armando freakin Benitez. Good things come in twos, off transplanted ex-Mets. How sweet it is!

Things I Learned From Yesterday's Broadcast

-Carlos Delgado is "The Puerto Rican Mr. T" and Paul LoDuca is "Eddie Munster."

-When you can't think of a good nickname for a player you call them "Hitman," i.e. Derek Jeter, Damion Easley and Josh Phelps.

-"It's only a matter of time" before the necklaces some players wear during games get caught on a spike and cause an injury.

- After looking at their website, I still don't know what Universal Express is, but according to Tim McCarver it was "appropriate" that David Wright hit his homerun over their sign.

-Endy Chavez is God.

Mets Win, 10-7. Lets Break Out Those Brooms!

Who Are These Guys Calling Themselves The Yankees?

Wow. Even though I knew they were having a bad year, when Ron Darling read off the starting lineup for the Yankees I thought to myself, "Boy, this is a tough offense." Then the game started and from the very first play we saw what makes our Mets special. Johnny Damon rips what should have been an easy double down the left field line but our man ENDY races over picks up the ball spins and fires to Easley in time to nail Damon sliding into second. Oliver Perez, who looked very excited in that first inning, barreled down to throw 7 1/3 beautiful innings, marred only by a Hideki Matsui two run shot into the loge seats in right. But of course the Metropolitans had a homer of their own to match it - not by Beltran, Delgado or Wright, but how about ENDY! ENDY! ENDY! Billy The Real Sandman Wagner comes in to close the door in the ninth and how sweet it is.

But my favorite play of all, perhaps the most telling for me, was when Jose Reyes pretended to drop a line drive in order to try and turn a double play. In fast motion I have to admit it fooled me, but on the slow mo replay it was the funniest thing I've seen on a baseball field in a long time. Jose Reyes places teh ball on the ground, lifts up his hand, and then reaches down and grabs it again. You HAVE to scour the internets for a clip of this. Man, I love this team. They are so loose, and yet so professional too, and they win. Can you imagine that happening on even the Mets teams of 1999 and 2000? Those teams always pressed against the Yankees and Braves. Wow, I am really excited for game two today at 3:55 on FOX!

Mets Win, 3-2. Met of the Game: ENDY!

Are You Ready For Ridiculousness?

Well, it's that time of year again, when the New York media goes batshit over a three day span when our beloved Metropolitans face the Evil Highlanders. This is a time period where I really miss being part of the energy of baseball. Interleague play has its critics, and it's hard to argue with them, but when it comes to playing your geographic rival, it really is what baseball is supposed to be about - fun. Perhaps teh coolest twist this year is the the Empire State Building is going to light its crown in honor of the Mets and Yankees this weekend, and then the winner of the series will have it all to themselves for a few more days. Here's your pitching matchup, folks:

Tonight: Andy Pettitte vs. Oliver Perez
Tomorrow afternoon 3:55 (on FOX):Darrell Rasner vs. Tom Glavine
Sunday night 8:05 PM (on ESPN): Tyler Clippard vs. John Maine

This is pretty good timing for some craziness, because life has gotten pretty crazy in the world of New York baseball this past week. As a nod to our crosstown rivals, you should be aware that:

Junkees reliever Kyle Farnsworth says that Roger Clemens shouldn't be allowed to leave the team during road trips when he's not pitching. "As far as a teammate and a player, I think everybody should be here whether they're pitching or not," he said. "You don't see guys who are hurt not sit on the bench. They're always there."

Juicin Giambi finally admits publicly that he took steroids, and that baseball as a whole should apologize to the fans for its drug problem, but that "That stuff didn't help me hit home runs. I don't care what people say, nothing is going to give you that gift of hitting a baseball." Ooooookee Dokey...

Now, back to the Mets. We'll work from the negative stuff first. The Mets have had some bad, bad publicity lately. There was a cover story in ESPN magazine about how the Shea Stadium clubhouse has basically been a free-for-all for drug runners. Transplanted ex-Mets outfielder Brian McRae (my favorite Irish Met) said that he couldn't believe how open the Shea Stadium clubhouse was compared to other parks around the league. Some Mets fans are annoyed that the Mets are singled out just because an ex-employee of theirs is in the middle of the latest steroid scandal. Well, it's awfully hard for the Mets to refute any steroid allegations, when we've had Guillermo Mota, Jorge Reyes, and now Lino Urdaneta, all suspended for steroid use. In fact, the Mets as an organization have had 10 suspensions levied against their players. According to the Times,

The only team with more positive tests is the Seattle Mariners (13). The Texas Rangers have had 10; the Colorado Rockies, the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics have had 8.

So, this is not good, obviously.

Also not good was the latest drama surrounding Lastings Milledge. Just days after I said I felt bad for him that his ill-timed injury allowed Carlos Gomez to get a call-up that he should have gotten, news breaks that he's the founder of a record label that's set to release a rap record called Bend Ya Knees with lyrics using the same language, and worse, that got Don Imus fired. The Mets are not happy. And the way that Carlos Gomez has started, I don't think it's a big stretch to say I expect the Lastings Milledge era to end, via a trade, before he's called up to the majors again. This could actually be good. He has shown his baseball talents are real, and the mets might be able to get someone really good for him.


Now for the good stuff, and there's a whole lot of good stuff. After completing a 3-1 series win over the Cubbies, punctuated buy an amazing come from behind victory in the fourth game when Carols Delgado and the Mets scored 5 runs in the ninth inning with their "A minus" team for a walkoff victory, the Mets now have a record of 26-14, and a game and a half lead over Atlanta, who just lost a four game series to the Expos. Jorge Sosa looks like the real deal, Jose Reyes hammy scare looks like no big deal, and Omar Minaya made a minor deal. Easley, Gotay and Gomez have all stepped up to make the most of their playing time due to the injuries of Valentin and Alou. El Duque's and Pedro Martinez's rehabs seem to be going well... what can we really complain about?

Lets Go Mets!

Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: Jorge Julio Traded Again

Less than two months after acquiring him from Arizona for former Mets prospect Yusmeiro Petit, the Marlins traded Jorge Julio to the Colorado Rockies for Byung-Hyun Kim.

Julio's record with the Fish was0-2 with a 12.54 ERA, including two blown saves, in 10 games.

You may recall that the Mets acquired Jorge Julio (along with throw-in John Maine!) from Baltimore before the 2006 season for Kris Benson. The Jorge Julio era didn't even last two months, as he was traded to the Diamondbacks in May of last season for El Duque.

Transplanted Mets Fans: Watch The Mets on ESPN Tonight

Sure you'll have to hear Joe Morgan at best, or Steve Phillips at worst, but at least you'll get to see the Mets live and in color tonight. If you don't have the Extra Innings package, this is your first chance in awhile to see the Mets on TV if you're an out-of-market fan. A real nice pitching matchup too, as Jason Marquis (5-1, 1.70) takes on Tom Glavine at Shea. Gametime is 7:10 on ESPN.

The next national TV game is this Saturday, Yankees at Mets on FOX at 3:55pm. Then, Sunday night on ESPN at 8:05 is the Subway Series finale at Shea. This hopefully will be a fun weekend - the Braves are playing the Red Sox, so we can hopefully, simultaneously, build a lead against Atlanta while the Yankees get further buried behind The Sawx in the AL East.

But first, it's a four game set against the Cubs beginning tonight on ESPN. Welcome back, Cliffy!

A Good Time To Be A Mets Fan

So our team took three of four from the Diamondbacks, two of three from the Giants, and now two of three from the Brewers. That's a pretty sweet roll. David Wright is finally back to his old self, and even Carlos Delgado doesn't look like an automatic out anymore. We lost Jose Valentin to injury, but Damion Easley is beating the crap out of the ball. Moises Alou is down, but the Carlos Gomez era has begun and it looks pretty damn good one game in!

Ya gotta feel for Lasting Milledge right now. The guy silenced all the critics in Spring Training to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster but couldn't get a start because Green and Alou were both hitting over .400. So he goes back to The Big easy to "work on what he'll be for the Mets for the next 15 years." He hits well down there but goes down with a leg injury and is on the DL the first time there's an opportunity for a call up.

Now, of course this is highly unlikely, but what will the Mets do if indeed it does seem as though F-Mart, Carlos Gomez and Lastings Milledge all are the real deal? There's just three outfield positions, and it would kill you to trade any of them, or Carlos Beltran. These are nice problems to have, folks.

Transplanted ex-Met Cliff Floyd returns to Shea tonight. I'm sure he'll get a real nice ovation.

Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: Rickey Henderson

Head over to MetsBlog for a funny story about Rickey Henderson.

I'm sure he can still hit, but the last time I saw him play the outfield at Shea he looked terrible. I guess making up for the doubles he'd hit that he turned into triple with his speed, suddenly his lousy defense turned opposing hitters singles into doubles. But he was a funny guy, so you couldn't hate him too much. Except, of course, when he picked a lousy time to play cards in the clubhouse.

Most Valuable Transplanted Ex-Mets Prospects Who Got Away

According to Baseball Prospectus, Scott Kazmir is the most valuable ex-Mets prospect in the MLB (ranked #33 on the list of most valuable players overall), while Jason Bay comes in at second most valuable ex-Mets prospect (or #35 overall, depending on what matters to you). 

What is really great about this list is that there are no true ex-Mets on the list at all, and not even any ex-Mets prospects who rank higher than Jose Reyes (#7), David Wright (#8) or Carlos Beltran (#12).  Now, I'm not sure how much stock I put in these rankings, but it's still interesting.

A little.

I'm Done

I'm Done trying to stay up till a million o'clock trying to watch West Coast Mets games.  I tried last night and only managed to flutter in and out of consciousness for a few innings before zonking out entirely.  Then I woke up exhausted and miserable at 7:30AM, knowing the last image I saw before dreamland was a 9-3 deficit.  Forget it.  SNY runs a Mets FastForward at 6AM daily.  Sign me up for that tomorrow morning.  I'd rather go to bed at a decent hour and wake up early, easing into the day than the alternative.  And tomorrow is a day game (3:35 East Coast time) so I'll be good for some Gameday Audio then.  But I won't forget this strategy the second week of June when the Mets head to LA, or in July at San Diego.  By the way, why the hell did the schedule makers break up the west Coast trips like that?  Conspiracy, I tell ya!  Conspiracy!

Friggin Barry Zito.  Friggin' catchers named Molina.  Friggin Keith Hernandez talking about how great San Francisco is.  Friggin friggin.

Transplanted ex-Mets Update: ex Mets Around The Majors

As part of Tampa Bay's 3-2 win over Toronto on Saturday, ex-Mets 3B Ty Wigginton hit two game-tying homers. Hissecond homerun, to lead off the ninth, tied the score against Oakland closer Huston Street, who had converted eight of his previous nine save chances. It was the first home run allowed by Street in 52 games, dating back to last June 24. Starter Scott Kazmir allowed one run and five hits in six innings, striking out eight and walking three during a 105-pitch outing.

Heath Bell has an ERA of 0.46 for San Diego, and has allowed no runs and only one hit over his last 8 1/3 innings. Bell has allowed just one run on seven hits in 19 2/3 innings over 15 appearances. In November, Omar traded Bell and Royce Ring for Ben Johnson and Jon Adkins, neither of which made the big league team. Ben Johnson is on the 40 man roster, and may get a look if Moises Alou has to go on the DL.

Braden Looper allowed one run in six innings, helping the Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Sunday. Meanwhile, Jason Isringhausen earned his eighth save of the season, and the 257th of his career. Wow. Seemed like just yesterday he was pitching for the Mercury Mets.

David Weathers leads the Cincinnati Reds with six saves. Relievers just hang around forever, don't they?

Ex-Mets on The Mend:

Marlon Anderson was placed on the Dodgers' 15-day disabled list Sunday with irritation in his right elbow.

Rick White is scheduled to to come off the Astros' disabled list Wednesday. Relievers just hang around forever, don't they?

Jorge Julio came off the Marlins' disabled list Friday. Before his DL stint he had compiled the outstanding record of 0-2, with 19.06 ERA. "I feel right now like a new Julio," he said. The Fish will be the judge of that, and Henry Owens will remain the closer until the new Julio really shows up.

Cliff Floyd did not start for the Cubs yesterday due to back discomfort. He drew a pinch hit walk in the ninth, and was immediately pinch-run for, in the Cubs 4-3 win over the Expos. Cliffy is hitting .292 with two homers and 13 RBIs on the season. He's started 17 of the Cubs 29 games this season, 12 games in left and five in right.

###

Speaking of the Expos, here's a picture of the frat boy they have running around RFK between innings to play trivia games with fans. I'm guessing the hardest part of his job is finding people in the stands who aren't there to see the opposition, or who hadn't shown up thinking there was a soccer game.

How Many Logos Do The Arizona Diamondbacks Need, Already?

I might be the only one stunned by the news that Roger Clemens is going back to the friggin Junkees. I know he's a friggin Yankees lover and all, that he wants to go into the hall as a 'Skank and all that but still, please.

Here's a chance to write a storybook ending to your career, go back to the team where you had the most success, the team with the best chance of going to the series. With the seasons Beckett and Schilling and even DiceK are having, you could throw five decent innings every fifth day and still be a hero in Boston. Instead, you head to a last place team where you need to be a savior and there's a gd circus going on every day. Stupid jackass.

Thanks a lot, Willie, for trotting out your B-Squad on a day when you have your fifth starter throwing who could seriously use some run support. Plus, it would have been really cool to sweep a four game set in the desert for the third straight year. But, nooo. Now we have to head to that clusterf*** in the Bay. I can't wait.

Here's the real problem with the Diamondbacks. Their graphic design people are working on overdrive. Seriously, how many logos does a team need? It's getting to be re-god-damn-diculous. They should trade a graphic artist for a corner outfielder. Maybe they would be more successful then.




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How I Feel About Tom Glavine

I have an odd mix of feelings towards Tom Glavine:

On one hand, I am glad he is on the team, feel confident that the Mets will win when he pitches, and I'm definitely glad he's not on the Braves. I also think he gives us a better chance of winning postseason series if he gets starts.

On the other hand, I don't care if he gets to 300 wins, I don't care when he doesn't get credit for the win in a particular game, and I don't really like him all that much. His waffling about possibly returning back to the Braves whenever the subject comes up irks me, and his creature of habit tendencies annoy me too. I don't think I'll ever consider him a "true Met."

This is my dream:

The Mets win the large majority of Tom Glavine's starts this season, yet he finishes with just nine wins, one short of 300. The Mets win the division, and go on to win the World Series with Tom earning the MVP in either teh NLCS or World Series. In 2008, Glavine goes back to the Braves and gets his win. That win #300 happens in a Braves uniform, but on the road with little fanfare. The Braves finish in last place in 2008. Glavine retires at year's end and us Mets fans can say to Braves fans: "Yeah, your guy Tom Glavine... He was quite a pitcher, but he had to come to the Mets to get a Championship."

Mets beat Snakes 9-4, thanks to the bats of Damion Easley and David Wright, and an error by transplanted ex-Met Tony Clark.