Waiting for Baseball Season to Start

Spring, unlike any other season, has the ability to get you excited about what's to come. I could dive into a Freudian rant of the effect of season change on the human psyche, but what it really comes down to is the fact that baseball season is about to start.

It begins with spring training and the anticipation that Opening Day is right around the corner, but for Mets Lifers it's different this year. We have a new stadium for the first time in a millenia that is literally one of the best baseball stadiums on the planet. That newness is bound to create even more buzz around the Mets than usual and is sure to spark a new energy in the home game crowds.

But on the negative side of the coin, there's also the anticipation of what's to come this season. The past two years have been as enjoyable as a knife to the gut. Fantastic spring and summer months have led to dismal and depressing fall season that has seen the Mets miss the playoffs by mere inches each of the last two years.

What will September hold for the Mets this year? Will we be able to enjoy a season with the dark cloud that is September baseball waiting for us?

So there you have it. Spring and the start of baseball season are bringing both the positive and negative sides of anticipation to Mets Lifers everywhere. Sports Illustrated has started the season by giving the Mets the ultimate kiss of death by picking the Mets to win the World Series.

Can the Mets break the SI curse? Can they overcome their failures the last two seasons? Will they give us something to cheer about late in the season? Will I have to write another 600 posts on the BLOWpen?

The anticipation of those answers and my love for the game of baseball are what makes the start of baseball season, and spring, such a great time of year.

Let's go Mets.

Disappointing End to a Dissapointing First Half

Baseball cliché: Momentum is only as good as your next day’s starting pitcher. Today, the Mets exemplified this old adage perfectly.

Fresh – or evidently not so fresh - off their thrilling 17 inning victory, the Mets went out and quite frankly, laid an egg. Dave Williams, in his first start since last season, was atrocious, giving up 8 runs in 3.1 innings. He threw 41 pitches alone in the 1st, handing the Astros an early 3-0 lead.

As usual, the Mets failed to hit with men on base. In the first inning, with Reyes on third and Newhan on first, an no outs, Beltran struck out, Wright popped out, and Valentin struck out to end the inning after a walk to Delgado had loaded the bases. Just like that, the rally was over (a familiar trend) and the Mets were on their way to another disappointing loss in what has been a largely disappointing first half of baseball.

The Curse of 300

The Mets should trade Tom Glavine for a player to be named later. You think I'm kidding?

After a gem from Oliver Perez the Mets received. . . .hmmmmmm. . . . a pretty ordinary outing from Tom Glavine. Really, what are we to expect from the future hall of famer at this point in his career?

Going for the 300th win is always tough. I remember Clemens went a month or two without a win before finally notching his 300th win. It felt like 4 months before Gary Carter hit his 300th home run. The problem with any great milestone is the mental toll it takes. Anyone who says they're not thinking about it is lying. And it's obviously effecting Glavine.

But Glavine's career with the Mets is done. Does anyone expect him to enter the Hall as a Met? Does he ever act like he really wants to be here? Is there really any loyalty that requires us to hold on to him?

If there isn't a signficant change in his performance over the next month, I'd want Omar Minaya to trade him & Aaron Heilman to Atlanta for Rafael Soriano. The Braves could use another starting pitcher and John Smoltz would be thrilled to have his buddy back. Plus the Mets need some bullpen help.

I'd be happy to face Glavine in the playoffs.

But for now, I'm pulling for you Tom. I hope you can turn this around and make a liar out of me. I really do.

Oliver Perez is a Gamer

Oliver Perez is my kind of pitcher. He shows emotion on the mound. He's the first to high five one of his teammates after they make a great play. But best of all he knows which games need to be won.

Let me ask you this. If there was a must-win game this year, who would you want on the mound? I've lost all confidenc in Glavine's ability to win in the clutch. You could argue El Duque, but I would want Oliver Perez.

Look at who has pitched when the Mets beat the Braves. 2 of our pitiful 3 wins against the Braves are thanks to Oliver Perez. He's pitched well against the Yankees, and to shutout the streaking Yankees while going up against the Rocker, Roger Clemens, proves he has mental toughness to handle these situations. The most encouraging thing was when he was walking batters he was missing low in the zone which prevented him from getting lit up for home runs. Thank you Rick Peterson.

Sure he will give up 8 runs in 3 innings during one of his starts this year, but after last year's Game 7 of the NLCS and what I've seen this year Oliver Perez is in my mind the right pitcher for big games.

P.S. He does have a knack for getting some unbelievable plays out of his outfielders (i.e. Gomez, Endy, etc.)

Possibly the Funniest Injury Note Ever

Sorry Vernon Wells, but this is too funny not to share. Here's an injury note from KFFL:

Cathal Kelly, of the Toronto Star, reports Toronto Blue Jays OF Vernon Wells (groin) took a ball off his groin after a foul tip bounced off home plate and hit him (what are the chances?) Tuesday, June 12. Wells needed a few seconds to recover but stayed in the game (he's a gamer!). He was out of the starting lineup Wednesday, June 13.

Feel better soon Vernon.

Is Carlos Delgado Turning into Cliff Floyd?

Let's take a look at some quick statistics:
Batting Avg = .224
HR = 10
RBI = 39
OBP = .293
Walks/Plate Appearance = .077
AB/HR = 24.5

Now if I asked you last year who on the Mets is most likely to have this stat line, I would bet that 75% of you would say Cliff Floyd. Unfortunately, this is what Delgado has done so far this year. He's well off his career average in every category. Although, he has hit 10 homers which puts him on pace for about 30.

Cliff Floyd was at one time a feared hitter. Injuries turned him into a mediocre player at best, but Delgado hasn't had a series of injuries to set him back. But Delgado needs to get his act together before he becomes the next Uncle Cliffy.

Delgado is falling for the same tricks that Floyd did. He's become a sucker for any pitch low and inside because he's trying to turn on it to hit it into next week. Delgado is struggling to hit the ball the other way with power. I give him credit that he's trying to hit to the opposite field, but often times he's left with a ball that can barely reach the outfield.

After last year's NLCS, I became a true Delgado believer, but this year I feel cheated. There was such hope that if we got back to the playoffs Delgado would the "the man" the Mets needed to win a championship.

Right now I just hope he can keep his average above the Mendoza line.

I'm pulling for you Delgado. Read some of your notebook. Get that swagger back. I miss seeing you and Reyes do your little jive at the top of the dugout steps after big hits.

No better time to do it than against the Yankees. Let's go Mets.

No Love for Eddie Murray

The Dodgers just pummeled the Mets by scoring 18 runs and knocking 31 hits in route to a series sweep. So what's a team to do? Fire your hitting coach.

Poor Eddie Murray. The ex-Met is now in need of a job. The Mets are in need of some hitting.

Hmmmmmm.

I'd love to see Eddie Murray on the Mets staff, but only if he is required to wear a batting helmet with the regular hat still on underneath it. Then it would be like the old days.

Don't worry Eddie, you'll get back on your feet. Good luck.

The Pros Need to Grow Up.

As you probably know from last night's game, Brad Penny got aggravated with Shawn Green last night as he claims Green was stealing signs when he was on second base a few innings earlier.

Couple this with the moaning and groaning about A-Rod yelling "Ha!" in the Toronto's 3rd baseman's ear while running to third base, and we are seeing an awful lot of whining from these pros.

These are classic school yard techniques. Just because you're in the pros you think you're above them? What's the matter? You can't catch a pop fly because someone is yelling? Grow up, this isn't golf.

And as far as stealing signs is concerned, if it's that upsetting just throw a fastball high & tight the next time the guy comes up. Don't be a baby and whine about it after you just struck him out. Shouldn't that be enough vengeance.

If guys and girls on my company's softball team can deal with heckling during a rec league softball game, I think you millionaires can deal with some playground tricks.

By the way, major props to Shawn Green for stealing signs last night. At least he was making an effort to help turn the Mets bats around.

The Mets are LOST

Somewhere last week the Mets found their way onto Oceanic flight 815 and have ended up on the island from LOST. Nothing is right. Adversaries seem unsurmountable. The players are disoriented.

Something is not right with the Mets. It's like this team was transplanted back to the lineup from 1992.

The sad part is help is not on the horizon. The Yanks, Twins, & A's await us. So as we journey through this uncertainty that is the Mets season so far, I thought it only fitting that we look at how our cast of characters would translate onto LOST.

David Wright is Jack Shepherd: The only person with anything going for them is David Wright. He's our leader. We need him to guide us. But he's got to get some help from somewhere.

Julio Franco is Hurley: Hurley is the character everyone likes because they feel sorry for him. He's nice to have around, but doesn't really add anything. Sounds a lot like Julio. Instead of a weight problem, Julio has an age problem and it's almost as noticeable as Hurley's waistline. Sorry Hurley/Franco. It's time to go.

Paul Lo Duca is Sawyer: The resident bad boy is willing to stand up for himself and his teammates, but every now and then shows a sensitive side. Like Sawyer, I think Lo Duca needs strangle somebody to get his issues worked out, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Carlos Gomez is Jin: Jin is the only non-English speaking person on the island and is constantly lost with what's going on around him. That's pretty much what Gomez looks like at the plate, although I'm confident even Jin could draw a walk before Gomez.

NL East are The Others: That's a no brainer. Every time we think we've got them out of the way, they pop up to show us they're still around.

Alou is Walt: What happened to Walt? Why does he only pop up every once in a while? What's wrong with Alou? Is he can show up one day looking 10 years older?

Willie Randolph is John Locke: Willie is constantly struggling to find out what to do with this lineup just like Locke is constantly struggling to find the meaning of the island. Willie will try anything. He'll even bat Shawn Green 2nd! He'll bring up Ricky Ledee! These are desperate times. Willie needs to go kill a boar with his bare hands or something to get this team motivated.

Take a day off and let's bring our bats with us to the Bronx!