YA GOTTA BELIEVE….THIS:

Our manager has reduced the best leadoff hitter in the game to the worst #3 hitter in the game.

Our #1 pitching prospect has been relegated to #1 in mop up duty.

Our best clutch hitter bats 8^th, and leads the team in home runs.

Our cleanup hitter has one home run all season & our “All Star” 3^rd baseman has one home run at home. Yet a guy I never heard of hit his first two career home runs in one game…in that same home park.

Our closer, like all the ones before him, can’t close. It should be more like Pray-Rod.

Our All Star Centerfielder had surgery in January for an injury that started 7 months prior.

And the worst thing of all that ya gotta believe? David Wright is now just an average baseball player who is a strike out machine and who never comes through in the clutch anymore. His inexplicable demise, for me, is the most disheartening realization of all. David Wright, Oh, David Wright, for wherefore art thou David Wright?

Hernandez's # - To Retire, or Not to Retire?

It seems like every month there is a debate about whether or not the Mets should retire Keith Hernandez's number. Turn on Francessa on a slow sports day, and you might hear a heated discussion about Mex's merits. Check out Metsblog, and you'll find some very opinionated fans who according to the poll, overwhelmingly believe (84%) that #17 should hang on the outfield wall at Citi Field.

Below you will find some of the more colorful comments in response to Cerrone's post

FROM SheaHeyKid24: Look, Keith was a very good player and influential leader, but I think those voting “yes” are in the “lets retire more numbers cuz our wall is empty” corner.

Surely, Mets fans are smarter than this, no SheaHey?

FROM 1-18-31-7: ...Retiring #17 over all of the other players from that 86 team would be a complete joke.

Really? All of the other players like Rafael Santanna? Come on dude, you're killing me with that one.

FROM kjclinks: If Ozzie Smith is in soley for his defense (and no one questions him at all); then Keith should be considered for a little bit of everything.

This is a great point and probably one of the best arguments for Keith getting into the HoF. Nice job kjclinks.

FROM mets9268: Keith was a game changer.

I like that one. Game changer. No question Keith was a game changer for the Mets. Just think about what that team was like before he arrived. They had nothing going on and were an embarrasment. In fact, Hernandez himself said he did not want to go to New York because they were plain awful. Yet, his presence in the clubhouse not too mention his tenacity helped give the Mets a new identity. And let's not forget that he was arguably the best clutch hitter this team has ever had. I say you have to retire his number. He was an awesome player and I wish we had someone remotely resembling him on the current roster.

You can get Keith's retired numbered shirts here at www.theprintmen.com

For a great take on Hernandez and what he meant to the Blue and Orange, check out Ed Leyro's fantastic post on Mets Merized Online.

Omar Burning Up the Hot Stove

I don't know about you Mets Lifers but I'm sure getting fired up for the 2010 season. With the recent signings of Alex Cora, Chris Coste and Heny Blanco, Omar Minaya is proving his mettle yet again as a brilliant GM. How did he ever pry Chris "I'm Still a Phillie" Coste away from Philadelphia? Stroke of genius that's how. And just in case us Met fans weren't satisfied with one back up catcher, he got us another one just a day later in Blanco. Woah! Two backup cathers in two days! I can't believe it! I hear he's even thinking about signing another cather to play full time. Imagine that? Three catchers in one off season to go along with the two we already have? Just awesome! Minaya is on such a hot streak he better try his hand at the tables in Vegas.

He is just burning up the hot stove! So much so that I'm already forgetting about 2009...and 2008...and 2007. That's what I'm talking about. All you knuckleheads who are criticizing our great GM and this awesome ownership should just go shut your pie holes. In case all of you forgot, Jeff and Omar promised us they will be 100% committed to putting a a championship caliber team on the field for 2010 and boys and girls, I gotta tell ya, they are putting their money where their mouth is.

Fired up I'm tellin ya!

Who needs Roy Halladay when we got John Maine and Oliver Perez? Come on Mets fans, wake up! Roy Halladay....he's like 45 years old now. Washed up I tell ya! And you just wait, just wait, because I know Omar has another swift trick up his sleeve. That mad magician is going to bring us Joel Pinero. And when he does, I'm serious, I'll just explode with excitement. I'll probably pee in my pants. Where are those season tickets? Sign me up! Joel Freakin' Pinero - I'd like to see the Yankees top that signing. All those titles, the mega-star players, the money...Puh-lease people. The Yankees? Come on, we are the freakin' NY Mets of Flushing! The Steinbrenners? Shoot....We got the Wilpons and all that cash from the billions of billboards and ads at Citi Field. Man, I'm feeling it...we are just killing the Yankees next season and anyone else who comes into our parameters. You wait and see.

Believe? You bet'chya. We are taking it next season....and Omar needs another extension right now. Right now I'm telling you.

Phillies Still Trying to Get Halladay, Mets Still "Investigating" Bernazard

Fear not Met fans. While the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies are putzing around exerting all of their energy and resources trying to acquire average right hander, Roy Halladay, our beloved NY Mets organization is tending to more important matters.

While most teams in baseball are vigorosly exploring ways to improve their teams this year or for the future, the geniuses that run our club are ferverntly "investigating" the seemingly hunderds of not so pretty allegations about VP minion, Tony Bernazard. Who needs Roy Halladay when you have such stellar management "investigating" one silly little troll responsible for giving your club a bad rap? Besides, the Blue Jays were clearly smoking crack when they foolishly asked about the availability of Fernando Martinez. One can certainly understand why Omar, or Bernazard, or whoever is actually in charge of making those kinds of important decisions for this team, immediately hung up the phone. Like, duh!

So take comfort Met fans. Take comfort in knowing that your favorite basbeall team is taking their sweet time "investigating" the man everyone hates, while every other team in the league is investigating how to make themselves better.

Insult to Injury for Mets Fans: Mets Reject Jays' Offer For Halladay

As if this 2009 season wasn't bad enough...I nearly jumped through the screen when I saw that John Heyman reported that the Mets rejected the Jay's offer for Roy Halladay. I can't even believe Halladay was a possiblity for the Mets let alone, they turned down a proposal for him. According to Heyman's report, which apparently was not denied by Omar Minaya, the Blue Jays asked for Fernando Martinez, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and SS Ruben Tejada. If I'm Minaya, I'm like, where do I sign? I can't beleive we have the chance to get the best right hander in the sport and we're just gonna pass on him. For what? So he can go to the Phillies? Somehow, some way, Minaya and the Mets need to get back on the phone and make this happen. I don't care what it takes, just get it done.

Having Santana and Halladay at the front of the rotation might possibly be the greatest 1-2 punch in the history of the game, let alone in 2009/2010. And listen, I'm not thinking this move would get us back in the race this year, but I no doubt would be dreaming about the 2010 season like tonight if they pulled this off. The Mets could tank the rest of the games this year for all I care, I'd still be fired up knowing we have Halladay going into next season.

I never actually thought the Mets would even be at the table so I never really considered Halladay as a real option. I know Dave has been pulling for a deal and rightfully so, I just can't believe Minaya said 'no.'

Look, with Santana and Halladay pitching 40% of the Mets' games next season, we can realistically have a chance at winning 33% of our games with just two guys. Think about that! Plus, if we ever find a way to get back to the post season, and how could they not get in (I know, they are the Mets), think about those two guys in a short series? It would be ridiculous. We all know pitching wins games. Go get him! What are we really giving up anyway? Prospects? Come on, the fact is, this organization produces just about 2 good ball players a generation. I want to win a championship and I want to win now (or next year). Guys like Halladay don't come around often, and when he's made available to you, you go get him. Period.

I mean what are we really talking about? Niese? Let's face it, he's not a can't miss prosepect, he's projected probably as a #3 at best - in fact, we'd probably sign for him to be just that and be happy about it. F. Mart? He looked pretty overmatched this year, I know he's still young, but come on, he hasn't exactly lit it up in the minors either. Besides, you can always find an outfield bat. Ruben Tejada? 17 years old. 17! He's at least 3 years away from the big leagues and...well...he's only 17. Oh, and by the way, we do have Jose Reyes at short, one of the two really good players this franchise has produced in a generation. Parnell? I like him, he throws gas, and I do think he'll be a good major leaguer. In fact, he might be the toughest one for me to give up in the deal. He has the potential to be a good closer but, we already have one, a very good one actually. Look, I'm a huge fan of letting the kids come up and develop into good home-grown NY Mets, but it so rarely happens, and I'm so tired of losing, that I, like Dave, would do whatever it takes to make this happen.

Again, Omar has to pull the trigger on this deal. He cannot let this go. If Halladay ends up going to Philly, the backlash would be so harsh on this franchise, that I truly believe it will take a long time to recover. Plus, if we can't beat the Phillies now, and the last two season for the matter without Halladay, then how are we going to beat them with him? Tell me, just how are we going to get to the post season with Roy Halladay on the Phillies?

And I really hope this isn't about money. Delgado and Wagner come off the books after this year. That's $24 million right there. Halladay I believe is due to make $14 million in 2010. That gives them $10 million to work with. If they don't do this, I will lose all faith in the future of this organization. If they don't know enough about the game, and the business for that matter, to get Roy Halladay when he's right there in front of you, then I don't know that they'll ever get anything. Memo to the Wilpons: Halladay is not Victor Zambrano.

Let's hope the movement becomes so big on this deal, much like the Mike Piazza trade in '98. We cannot let this die down. Blogs, the media, Boomer & Carton, even Francessa have to get on the horn and force the Wilpons' hand on this. Please make this happen!

Mets, Castillo, Pain and Blogs as Therapy

While I do write on this blog, I do not consider myself a blogger. And while I do write, I hardly consider myself a writer. Instead, I consider myself an unfortunate junkie of the NY Mets. So obsessed with this team for reasons I can never explain, I am a perpetual slave to their torture.

And so to counter that pain, I use this site as therapy. It gives me an outlet to express my frustration, to get things off my chest. To vent, as they say. Those of you who read this site may notice that I write more frequently after a crushing defeat. That's because I need an outlet to go off. (Dave, my counterpat on this aptly named blog, is a prolific blogger and the main engine behind it). My wife, while supportive of my silly addiction to this perennial loser of a franchise, isn't interested in my sulking. She'll listen sure, but she still can't relate and who could blame her? We're talking about a baseball team playing a game. There are a million other important things going on in this world right now that is more important than the Mets winning. But whatever it is inside me, whatever vice is gripping me, I cannot control it. I cannot get rid of it. And when the Mets puke one out like last night, it just knocks me out.

This morning, when I woke up (barely slept mind you) still dazed from the inexplicable "drop" by Castillo, I started to check out the blogs. I needed to find the community of die hard Mets fans who are relentlessly loyal and similarly tortured. There, I found the voices of agony, years of pain heartache, and misery all pouring out like one gigantic therapy session. "Hi, my name is Bryan, and I am a Mets Lifer." "Hi, Bryan." Many articles shared the same sentiment: We're fed up with this team, with this organization. We can't take the hurt anymore. This one was spot on.

And then I checked out Greg Prince's Faith and Fear in Flushing and read the most articulate, the most insightful and honest piece ever written about the Mets and their management. Prince is so dead on accurate about what has happened and what needs to happen in Queens that his piece should be given the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prizer for sports blogging. It is that good. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Get Orlando Hudson!

Not sure how you felt but it was a rather ho-hum moment for me when I heard Oliver Perez finally signed with the Mets this afternoon. Don’t get me wrong, I like Ollie, and he’s pitched well in some big moments but he’s still a #3, #4 starter with an ERA over 4.00. Not to mention, he’s mind-numbingly inconsistent and falls way too in love with the free pass. So while this move solidifies the rotation, Omar still needs to do something with the offense. Otherwise, we might be sitting in the exact same spot we were last September…and the one before that.

Yes, we got K Rod (thank you!) and JJ Putz (sa-weet!), but now more than ever, Omar needs to take advantage of this current buyer’s market. And with one stroke of the pen he can erase the worst mistake of his career – inking Luis Castillo to that obscene contract – and sign Orlando Hudson. (Can you imagine if Castillo was a free agent this year? He’d probably only get a minor league contract). Hudson would fit perfectly in the #2 spot behind Reyes. He hits .300, has a little pop, and plays a gold glove second base. Plus, he’s a gamer, and is a good guy in the clubhouse. Oh, and he’s already said he’d like to play for the Mets.

I know everyone’s been talking about Manny Ramirez and I’d love to have Manny here as much as anyone. He’d all but assure us getting to the playoffs and what Mets fan wouldn’t want that? But the truth is, he’s just way to expensive and signing him would put the Mets over the luxury tax threshold. Meaning, the Mets would have to pay a lot more dough than the $25M-$30M it would take to sign him. So I can accept the fact that they’re not getting into the Manny sweepstakes. I mean, let’s face it, the Mets already have the third highest payroll in baseball. So it’s not like they’re being cheap. They’re just not going to spend like the Yankees. For better or worse, I’m ok with that.

But, on the other hand, there is absolutely no excuse not to go after Hudson. He would come relatively cheap now; maybe $7M per, 3 years. Everyone would agree he is exactly what the Mets need. This is not the opportunity they should elect to pass up. Yes, the economy is down, real estate is bah-rutal, and consumer spending will be tight. But it’s not the like the Mets are going to lose money this year (in spite of Madoff and Citigroup).
Hardly.

And so to the Wilpons and Minaya, the perfect addition is sitting right there in front of you. Go get him! Failure to do so and Omar will have made two terrible mistakes on one awful contract.

Wright Just Fine with K-Rod or Fuentes

In an atricle from the Associated Press, on MLB.com, David Wright talks about the Mets' need for a 'facelift' and makes his pitch for K-Rod or Brian Fuentes to come to Queens.

Clearly, everyone, including Wright, knows what this organization needs to do. Priority #1 is getting a closer. Then you sure up the rest of the relief corp with Juan Cruz RHP from Arizona who throws gas, (71k's 52 innings) and Joe Biemel LHP, from the Dodgers, and you have yourself a formidable pen. Plus, dump the remaining posion and Wright has himself that facelift he referenced and Mets Lifers can rejoice - if for no other reason - in not having to watch Blowenweis or Heilman serve up anymore victories for opposing teams.

And so Friday, free agents are open for business. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what Omar is going to do.

Ugly Philly People

Ah, and so the taunting begins. Yes, Mets fans, as the sign being held by these 3 victims of the ugly stick says, deal with it. The Phillies are World Champs. I wonder if this means Citizens Bank Park will finally draw more Phils fans than Mets fans. 

I also wonder if the Mets' bullpen will get a share of the Phillies' post season earnings. You know, I mean, they were after all, a big part of Philly's success. 

Go Giants! 

 

MEMO to the NY METS

Are you actually going to do this again? Are you seriously going to whimp out for a second straight year and forever be known as the definitive choke artists in all of sports? Are you really going to allow yourselves to be the signature punch line for years to come?

Please, for the love of God, do not go down without a fight again, like last year. Stand up like men, stand up for your organization, for your fans, for yourselves and put forth an admirable effort. If you lose out to the Phillies by a game but go on a 9-3 run, then tip your cap to them, but please, for crying out loud, do not go down like this for a second straight season. It is downright humiliating for your fans – who are ridiculously loyal by the way - to have to endure this kind of embarrassment again. How many more times do I have to hear that obnoxious Phillies fan call up WFAN and talk about how you are a sorry bunch of chokers, and how Greg Dobbs and Shane Victorino are more clutch than David Wright and Carlos Beltran? If you are not sure how to play hard, with energy, with absolute conviction that you’re going to will yourselves to win, than please, watch those Fightin’ Phillies play. Maybe you will learn something from them. Because when the chips are down, and their backs are against the wall, those guys go for it and with a vengeance. They thrive off it. Those are the times when they shine, when they rise up from the carnage like gladiators and unleash a barrage of clutch hits and crucial saves. Down 7-4 in the 7th inning with 12 games left? Bam! No problem, they’re coming right at ya and shoving it down your throats. Losing 7-0 in the 5th? That’s nothing…they storm right back and steal the game, ripping your guts out in the process. Down by 3 in the 9th? Piece of cake. They patiently and methodically stage a rally and before you know it, your 3 run lead turns to a 3 run deficit, leaving you bewildered yet again and your fan base in another pile of puke.

If it sounds like I’m jealous, I am. I am so jealous that the hated Phillies, perennial losers in the sport, fight tooth and nail and never give up; that they never wilt under pressure and actually feed off it like it’s oxygen. You guys on the other hand, react to pressure as if it’s kryptonite.

So how much longer are you going to allow this team to whoop your meek buts into sissy mush? When is it enough for you? When does humiliation – of historical proportion mind you - finally get to you and make you do something about it?

I beg of you, pick yourselves off the mat and grab a big ‘ole serving of pride and determination on your way up. Dig deep down within your souls and come out swinging. You have 12 games left to do something about it. Are you going to rise to the occasion or are you going to bend over again and say ‘thank you Phillies, may we have another?’

The Mets Way

Is anyone really surprised with the way the Mets’ brass handled Randolph’s firing? This is the same organization that held a sing-a-long contest and played a Rick Astley song at the final home opener at Shea, knowing full well that the song was chosen as a joke. This is the same franchise; that had Broadway stars sing show tunes for a half hour before a game with their hated, cross town rivals; that allowed the Baha Men (you read that correctly) perform “Who Let the Dogs Out?”at the 2000 World Series. This is the same organization that signed off on the Kazmir-for-Zambrano trade.

I’m no apologist for Randolph, as I wanted his head more than a month ago, but as far as I’m concerned, the handling of his ousting was just par for the course for this Mickey Mouse operation. The only thing appropriate about it was the location and its close proximity to Disneyland.

Agghhhhhhhhhh...Aghhhhhhhhhh!!!

"Aghhhh……aghhhhhhhh!!!"

Why are we so pissed off? Why are we so angry? I'm dropping this one Kinison style!

We're so angry because:

• The Mets traded one of the greatest right handed pitchers in the history of the game in Tom Seaver - "agghhhhhh"
  
• There wasn’t a Wild Card in the 80’s - "agghhhhhhhh"
  
• of Terry Pendleton - "aghhhhhhhh"
  
• Lasorda brought Hershiser in from the pen to close out Game 4 in ’88 - "aghhhhhhhh"
• We had to watch John Franco blow saves for 14 years! - "aghhhhhhhh"
• We had to watch his successor Armando Benitez for 4 even worse years. - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Kenny Rogers walked in the season-ending run while Rickey and Bobby Bo played cards in the clubhouse - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Timo Perez failed to run hard in Game 1 of the 2000 World Series - "aghhhhhhhh"
• The 2000 World Series Champs seemingly shared the anabolic needle like it was a “j” at Woodstock - "aghhhhhhhh"
• "Who Brought the Dogs Out" was a theme song in 2000 - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Robby Alomar was a bust
  
• Kazmir was traded for the wrong Zambrano - "aghhhhhhhh"
• The Marlins have won two championships in 10 years - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Generation K turned into Generation KO - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Beltran failed to swing - "aghhhhhhhh"
• We could really use Brian Bannister right now - "aghhhhhhhh"
• We have to watch those Giseppe Franco commercials in between every inning - "aghhhhhhhh"
• The organization held a sing a long contest and… - "aghhhhhhhh"
• they played that rick astley song - "aghhhhhhhh" talk about adding salt to the wound and this was our own organization humiliating us - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Tom Glavine puked all over September last season - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Delgdo forgets to cover the bag - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Delgado is hitting under .200 - "aghhhhhhhh"
• Delgado didn't come out for a curtain call - "aghhhhhhhh"
• The team can't hit with men on base - "aghhhhhhhh"
• They lost 13-1 to the lowly Pirates - "aghhhhhhhh"
• They are so freaking inconsistent - "aghhhhhhhh"
• We will forever be humiliated by the ’07 collapse unless a championship is won - "aghhhhhhhh"

That's why we're so angry!

Feel free to add any other reason I may have missed. I know there's plenty more.

The Chase

Forget the race for the NL East. Mets stink and I am bored by their apathetic play. I’m more intrigued by a couple of other chases that are kind of flying under the radar right now but I suspect will be big news come September.

First up is the home run race between Chase Utley and the NY Mets. Now fortunately for the Mets, Utley had a single game slump yesterday, going 3-4,with no home runs. And with Beltran and Anderson hitting solo shots (surprise) last night, the Mets took a 12-10 lead on Utley. So with 140 games to go, the Mets have a slight edge right now but if Utley snaps out of his one game slump, he just might win this thing. I’ll be glued to the tellie in September to watch this play out, and you know ESPN will switch to their In Game broadcast to watch Utley’s ABs.

Now this second race doesn’t appear to be nearly as riveting as the home run chase with Utley, but it is worth noting and does involve the gopher ball…specifically the ones served up by Aaron Heilman. With his 4th home run of the season allowed last night, Heilman is 8 behind the Mets’ season total of 12. Odds are, Heilman will lose this race (Unfortunately for Aaron, he doesn’t pitch in every game even though it may appear that way) but I for one, will keep a close eye on this as the season progresses (or digresses depending on how you look at it).

Anyway, don’t get too bummed Mets Lifers. As you can see there are still some really compelling storylines to this 2008/Continuation from 2007 Mets season.

METiocrity

Ladies and gentlmen, Mets Lifers of all ages, what we have here is a textbook example of a mediocre baseball team; nothing more, nothing less. They’re mediocre and have been since May of last season. I’m not exactly sure what their record is in that time but I know it’s right around .500.

The good news for you, if you do indeed accept this realization, is that you will free yourself from any silly expectation of this team winning a World Series. And thus, will avoid the inevitable heartache in September, not too mention the countless hours spent watching loafers like Carlos Delgado drop routine throws or forget to cover the bag. Is Carlos even in the game? I mean, I know he’s in there, I see him, but man, it’s like he’s invisible. Someone should throw a ball at him from the dugout just to keep him awake. Wake up, Carlos!

Speaking of loafers, how about that Luis Castillo? There’s a player, huh? I’m so glad we get to see him hobble around for the next 4 years instead of young guys like Rubin Gotay. I never thought I’d see a guy with a worse swing than Kaz Matsui but Castillo takes the prize on this one. Hey, at least he can bunt right? He’s really good at that. Don’t get fooled by his inability to lay one down just because he failed against the Phillies the other night, this guy is an awesome bunter. You just wait and see.

And I love Carlos Beltran talking smack in spring training, about being the team to beat and all. That was cool. I’m just wondering when Beltran is going to actually hit the ball. I know it’s early and you know, he’ll have his numbers I guess at the end of the year but in the meantime, we’re losing games. How about a hit with men on base? I know I’m looking forward to that. Can’t wait.

Look, this is all very simple. We can do all the analysis we want; dissect Willie’s moves on a daily basis, but the bottom line is that Beltran and Delgado are not hitting. Period! They have one home run each. Our 4 and 5 hitters have one home run. Hanley Ramirez hit two home runs in one game the other day. If these guys are not going to produce, then you are cooked. Done. Game over. Forget anything else you want to analyze, when the 4 and 5 hitters in your lineup are not hitting the ball, you have all the answers you need. It’s right there.

I wrote a post on the eve of Opening Day about timely hitting. Unfortunately, the Mets have done anything but timely hitting. This alarming trend has to turn around if this team intends to contend for the NL East. Otherwise, they will remain a mediocre team.

I Am Thankful

I am thankful this evening, thankful for not having watched the debacle that took place at Shea earlier this afternoon. Fortunately for me, I took my 2 ½ year old daughter to see a Beatles cover band perform in Manhattan, which was a ton of fun and very kid friendly. When the show ended, I got in my car and quickly turned the game on. Mets were up 6-2 and I was already “putting it in the books” as Howie would say. My daughter then requested to hear some U2 (good taste) for the ride home; I obliged. About a half hour later I turned the game back on only to hear the score was tied up at 6. Ridiculous.

Anyway, as I got home, I turned the game on the tellie, and saw the Mets were down 8-6. Predictable. I proceeded to watch one inning and witnessed Delgado literally drop a ball thrown to him from Wright. That would have been the third out of the inning. Instead, that runner went on to score to give the Brewers a 9-6 lead. Embarrassing.

At this point, I was pretty tired, so my wife, like a good middle reliever, watched my two kids while I went to dose off. (Anyone with kids knows naps are tough to come by so when you get a chance to take one, you jump on it). When I laid down, I unfortunately, put the radio on, volume low, and listened to yet another pathetic moment in the game. With man on first and third, Luis Castillo grounded out to first and Clark was thrown out at home. Delgado popped out to end the inning with the bases loaded. This was the fifth double play in 5 consecutive innings, and the second time the Mets had 1st and 3rd with no outs and didn’t score…against Mota of all people. Awful.

So I am thankful I did not see every inning of this game. Disgusting.

Need Some Muscle

I’m not really sure a whole lot has been made out of this but do you realize the Mets have only three home runs as a team through their first nine games? Count’em, that’s one, two, three! This dubious number ranks them dead last in the majors. Compare that with Arizona Diamondbacks who have 20 home runs in 10 games, and you’re looking at a Grade A power outage in Queens. In fact, this number is so low there are actually 11 players who have hit more long balls than the entire Mets roster. 18 other players have hit three.

I’m not sure what the problem is; if the new stadium is having an effect on the ball carrying in left center, or if guys just haven’t found their groove, but this is rather peculiar. I’m not overly concerned right now, especially since we’ve won three in a row, but I would like to see a bomb today when Johan takes the hill at 1pm. Who knows, maybe it’ll be Santana who’ll end the drought.

Mets Lifer Shout Out

For those of you who are familiar with this site, you know from time to time we like to give big Shout Outs to Mets Lifers out there in the baseball universe. Last year we made special mention of the kid who caught Barry Bonds* “record-breaking” home run ball in SF, and the old man wearing the classic blue cap with orange logo in a sea of Phillie fans in Philly on that last Saturday afternoon (before Sunday Bloody Sunday, thank you Tom Glavine).

Today, I’d like to give a big shout out to another Mets Lifer, Nelson Figuerora. Figuerora, a life-long Mets fan and Brooklyn native, made his dream come true by pitching his favorite team to a victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.

This is a truly remarkable story. We’ve all dreamed of playing for the Mets but you know it never actually happens. How many times did you hit the walk off homer in your backyard to propel the Mets to victory or throw that last pitch to win the World Series in front of the Shea faithful? Or how many times did you dream about drilling Roger Clemens in the nose with your heater because Sean Estes was a little girl and couldn’t do the job? Sorry, I digress.

Seriously, when you really think about how extraordinary last night was for this kid, it is like something out of a movie…or a dream.

Mets Lifer honorable mention Shout Out goes to the entire Figuerora family and friends who were going nuts in the luxury suite throughout the game…Great to see.

Final Opening Day at Shea

I'm just about ready to head to Shea for the last Opening Day at our beloved, yet imperfect, stadium. Shea is like a second home for me, having been going there since the late 70's. And while I'll be sad to see it go, there is no doubt I am fired up for the new CitiField. It's not like we were overly successful in this stadium, winning just as many championships as the Florida Marlins, but in 40+ years. So hopefully, the new stadium will host more World Series than Shea.

Unfortunately, today, in what will be a memorable day in Queens, the 57,000+ fans in attendance will have to endure listening to a truly pathetic sing-a-long song by Rick Astley in the 8th inning. If there weren't enough things to be embarrassed about, being a Mets fan (see '07 collapse, or "Who Brought the Dogs Out" theme in 2000), but this is downright silly.

Anyway, let's hope for a Mets victory today, because if they lose, and I have to hear that awful song, my humiliation will be at an apex.

Some Things Never Change

New season, new pitcher, same result…Mets lose to the Braves...again. The first test of the season came early for the 2008 Mets and they failed. Johan did his part allowing one run through 7 innings, but the offense was nonexistent. John Smoltz mowed the Mets down for the first five innings and then Atlanta’s bullpen, which got hammered by the Pirates in the previous series, went on to close out the final four, allowing a run in the 9th, but it was too late.

It’s only 5 games into the season but the Atlanta Braves are better than the NY Mets. If you look at these two teams objectively, you will agree. Their lineup can flat out mash and if Smoltz stays healthy, that’s a big if, as he was wincing in pain before being taken out, the Braves are the team to beat. And until the Mets can prove they can beat them, I’m not going to think otherwise.

Time and time again we see them go down to Atlanta and it annoys the heck out of me. I thought for sure, with Johan taking the mound, this game would be ours. Unfortunately, the rest of the team didn’t show up. Poor fielding, bad base running and even worse hitting did the Mets in this afternoon. The only thing that’s amazing about this club so far is that Rick Ankiel has more home runs (3) than the entire team. Even Willie, in the post game report, was talking about the lack of power. By the way, Randolph already looks worried. Getting off to a slow start, I can’t say I blame him. I’m just as bothered.

If you’re looking for a silver lining, the Mets were 2-3 to start the ’86 season.

Tom Glavine is a Better Person Than You Are

In an interview Friday night with Kevin Burkhart of SNY, Tom Glavine said he was not devastated following his pathetic display of pitching; his last performance in a Mets uniform, on that fateful Sunday afternoon because he and his wife have seen devastation first hand from the charity they run for children with cancer. He said he understands the way people feel but he has a certain perspective on things at this stage in his life with kids and all.

Uh, thank you Tom. Thank you for your profound explanation, because we Mets Lifers really misunderstood you when you said you were not devastated. But now that you have so eloquently pointed out that there are more important things in life than winning baseball games (going out on limb here, but I believe that’s what you’re trying to say), we feel a heck of a lot better now. Please excuse us for feeling ‘devastated’ after our beloved team just completed the second greatest collapse in regular season history, which you contributed so greatly to, having spit the bit your last 3 starts against the lower rung of the NL.

But thankfully, you have a different perspective on life…like the way you downplayed your quest for 300 Wins. It must have bothered you to even broach the subject. I have a sneaky suspicion your family was gagged and hogtied by the media, forcing you to do those countless interviews on the feat. That’s the only reason that could explain your willingness to discuss it at every opportunity you got…you know…since there are more important issues in life than baseball…How guilty you must have been feeling about looking so self absorbed and single minded for discussing it a. And here I am thinking you were just obsessed with this individual achievement. Furthermore, thanks to your explanation, I now know you left your beloved Atlanta Braves for NY because you wanted to donate as much money as you could to charity. That’s the only explanation I could think of for going to the team who was willing to pay you the most. I thought it was greed that lured you from your comfy confines to the Big Apple.

So thanks again Tom, for enlightening us Mets fans. I for one, now have a whole new perspective on life. I know this guy in the picture above will too once he hears your interview. I’m sure even Moises Alou, once he reads your comments, will regret ever saying “he hates baseball right now” after that game. After all, it was just a game.