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by Derek Felix

Final Subway Series thoughts

June 30, 2008 in MLB, NY Mets, NY Yankees

With the Mets recovering from a brutal two losses at Shea thanks to Oliver Perez’ best outing of the season for a 3-1 home win to gain a split of the four-game weekend series, here are some quick final observations:

-Perez responded to Jerry Manuel’s criticism by fanning eight Yanks and only allowing three hits. Most notably, the southpaw didn’t walk a batter. Still, you have to wonder if he can do this consistently. The Amazin’s sure hope so.

-It’s amazing to think that the one under Mets are three behind the Phillies for first in the division with the Marlins very much in the mix. Even the Braves with all their rash of injuries are still hanging around. This is a very important week for the Queens club as they head for four at wildcard leader St. Louis before a huge four-gamer in the City of Brotherly Love. We’ll se if they’re up to the challenge.

-Jose Reyes is a baby. Plain and simple. His reaction to an E6 which Carlos Delgado should’ve had was bush league. Isn’t it about time the 25 year-old shortstop acted like one? It’s classic overreactions such as that and his shenanigans in the first inning Manuel managed in California which keep him from being the winning player he should be. And don’t forget how many times he gets caught napping while on the bases. It’s inexcusable. Does he want just be a good player who has ups and downs or a great one who impacts the game and is universally considered as one of the game’s best? The choice is his and a large chunk of the Amazin’s future depends on it.

-I realize that Perez had great numbers versus lefties but could Joe Girardi actually try to play to win? He had a chance to go for the sweep and instead, played into the Mets’ hands by not putting his best lineup out there sitting out Robinson Cano, Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu. Would it have killed him to at least keep a couple of those lefty bats in there? They still would’ve been more of a threat than who started. Sometimes, playing by the book is overplayed. Rolling the dice can pay off.

-It’s nice to see Derek Jeter back hitting the way he can. Slowly but surely, the career Yankee shortstop and team captain is getting his average up near .300 and playing better which is good news for his team.

-I’ve been an avid supporter of him and his defense in center continues to improve. But unless Melky Cabrera starts swinging a better bat, the Yanks need to consider sitting him out a few games or recall speedy former Staten Island Yankee Brett Gardner, who continues to excel at Scranton/Wilkes Barre. He has 34 steals and hits a high enough average and plays solid enough defense to get a look. The Yanks don’t have enough speed and he could provide an added dimension.

-David Robertson’s major league debut was rocky giving up a key insurance run to the Amazin’s in two innings while permitting four hits and throwing 33 pitches (22 strikes). Still, it was important for the kid who dominated Triple-A to get his feet wet. And to do it in a scrutinized series isn’t bad for what’s coming up later this week.

-When he hits ‘em, there are few batters more fun to watch than Delgado. Sure. He’s not what he once was. But the three dingers including that two homer, team record nine RBI performance Friday in the Bronx was one to behold. No matter who came it against. The Mets are a much more potent lineup if the veteran first base slugger is knocking a few out of the park.

-David Wright really is the Mets’ best player and sure looked dangerous at the plate everytime he faced the Yanks this weekend.

-Billy Wagner sure knows how to make those ninth innings interesting. Alex Rodriguez nearly tied it but his drive fell just shy of the warning track. Still, the Met closer’s curve which froze Wilson Betemit to end it was a thing of beauty.

-The Pinstripes now trail the first place Rays by five and a half (six in loss column) with the Red Sox half a game out. It’s going to be a real challenge in the second half.

-Can Johan Santana come up with anymore excuses for why he can’t do his job every fifth day? Just saying.

-Can’t believe I’m ending with this but the Giambino actually looks thinner.

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by Derek Felix

The blame game

June 16, 2008 in MLB, NY Mets

Copyright Getty Images

Willie Randolph was still managing the Mets tonight in Los Angeles against the Angels. But for how long? 

The Mets have become the biggest story here in NYC. They finally have all the back pages as many of their diehards have craved for so long. Only thing is it’s not for how well their team is playing on the field and certainly not for the unnecessary distractions off it.

Just call it the circus in Flushing. For years, it’s always been the Yankees who perfected the art not knowing how to handle situations. Joe Torre had to deal with so much garbage. Well, now it’s former bench coach Willie Randolph who’s on the hot seat never really knowing day to day whether he’s staying or going.

Truthfully, it’s not all the former Yankee second baseman’s fault that his team has underachieved headed into a three-game set at the Angels two under .500 at 33 up and 35 down. Does the manager have a responsibility in this mess which has the Amazin’s trailing the Phillies by six and a half entering tonight? Of course. Ultimately, his ballclub hasn’t played the brand of baseball needed to make fans forget last year’s dreadful September collapse.

There’s just been zero consistency for a team many expected to not only win the NL East but had going to the World Series. That’s why they play the games. If talent and highest payrolls always won, then the Yankees wouldn’t be first round failures since that colossal choke job against the rival Red Sox. You can spend all the cash you want on a few of the best players the league has to offer but it doesn’t always account for chemistry.

Last winter, Omar Minaya patiently waited playing a perfect game of chess before cornering the Twins for lefty ace Johan Santana. This was the big deal that would put the Mets over the top. The same way once the Yanks acquired Alex Rodriguez, it was over for the rest of baseball. Despite two MVPs to his collection and a record-breaking new contract, how has that worked out? It’s been eight years since the Bronx Bombers won a 26th World Series.

There’s no such thing as a guarantee in sports unless it’s Rafael Nadal on clay or the Knicks continuing to suck no matter who Jim Dolan brings in.

Are the Mets a colossal disappointment through the first 68 games this season? Undoubtedly. So too are their crosstown rivals who finally got to four over by sweeping the Astros over the weekend. Despite that, they still got bad news when ace Chien-Ming Wang sprained his right foot tearing a tendon while scoring a run in yesterday’s 13-0 win. He’ll likely be lost till September. What that means for New York’s postseason aspirations is a giant sized question mark.

It’s never too late for the Mets to turn around their season. Five in the loss column can be made up quickly. Especially with this much time left. All they have to do is put together a hot streak and the Phils could comeback to the pack. It would be nice for the Queens club to at least demonstrate to their fans that they’re actually capable of that. A couple of weeks ago, it looked like they were coming around but then came that awful four-game series in San Diego and three vicious losses during a mediocre .500 homestand against Arizona and Texas.

Pedro Martinez did his part tossing six solid innings to help the Mets win the second game yesterday.

After splitting a doubleheader with the Rangers thanks to a solid six from Pedro Martinez and the right move by the much maligned manager pulling his starter for pinch hitter Robinson Cancel who delivered the clutch two-run hit, the Mets headed West for six games against the Angels and the Rockies beginning tonight.

Despite taking two of three over the weekend, there was still a lingering question as to whether Randolph would still be managing them. Such is the chaotic nature of Met management letting the classy former player who grew up in Brooklyn hang in the wind. A published NY Post report indicated that Fred and Jeff Wilpon had given Minaya the authority to axe Randolph and his coaches if he felt it was warranted.

How nice. The owners have no backbone or common decency. Instead, they let their GM who hasn’t exactly done a good job this year bolstering a shaky pen or making the bench younger do all their dirty work cause they want nothing to do with it. It can’t possibly be that the $140 million they shelled out could produce such a mediocre club. Never occurred to them. At least Hank Steinbrenner is hands on even though he’s extremely irritating.

Where’s the accountability? If Minaya fires Randolph or say Howard Johnson, guru Rick Peterson or Sandy Alomar for that dreadful decision sending Brian Schneider which cost them a chance at a great comeback in the first game yesterday, who’s to say it’s going to change a team which can’t rely on Carlos Delgado or Moises “DL” Alou. Luis Castillo isn’t much better due to his knees yet was signed to a four-year extension.

Then there’s Ryan Church who was on his way to the All-Star Game in the Bronx before the Mets rushed him back from a concussion. You don’t ever do that under any consequence.

Will a new skipper automatically change Jose Reyes’ approach? What about the streakiness of stars Carlos Beltran and David Wright? Is it just Randolph’s fault that John Maine throws too many pitches to go more than six most nights? What about Oliver Perez’ continued Jekyll and Hyde act?

They also don’t have a complete game from Santana who makes too much money not to at least go nine once or twice and save the bullpen from wrecking a probable win as what transpired last week. Remarkably, Mike Pelfrey came the closest pitching into the ninth before Billy Wagner blew it serving up a tying three-run dinger. At least the Mets still won thanks to a Beltran extra inning blast.

The options to setup Wagner aren’t great with Pedro Feliciano and Scott Schoeneweis proving to be the best thus far. But both are lefties who can be taken yard. Aaron Heilman has struggled and Duaner Sanchez hasn’t done much better. Joe Smith’s been alright but is never a lock due to comman.

How can it all be on the skipper when this mess of a pen has repeatedly blown games? Isn’t that the GM’s responsibility?

How come a vast majority of the late inning options off the bench are all aging vets such as Damion Easley, Fernando Tatis or Marlon Anderson?

It sure seems like one person is being given a lot more leeway than the other. Why?

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by Derek Felix

Random Thought

June 12, 2008 in Random Thoughts

It’s hard to put into words what’s wrong with the Mets. Even not being a fan of theirs, I can’t even believe how brutal some of their recent losses have been. That Billy Wagner blew a third consecutive save after Johan Santana had his best Met performance fanning 10 in seven frames is just unthinkable.

You would’ve thought the Amazin’s would get so much momentum from last night’s Carlos Beltran 13th inning walkoff. And for the first seven innings, you would’ve been proven correctly. Then Santana left having thown 116 pitches for the vaunted Met pen. Joe Smith gave half the lead back on an eighth inning Mark Reynolds two-run triple which some on WFAN felt Beltran misjudged. No matter.

Wagner entered looking to atone for another poor outing last night in which he served up a second straight three-run home run which forced extras before Beltran’s bat rescued the Queens club from a five-game skid. Once again, the lefty fireballer couldn’t finish the job allowing two runs to score including a Conor Jackson RBI fielder’s choice which extended the misery.

Unfortunately for Met supporters, this time their team wouldn’t be so lucky as the D-Backs escaped a bases loaded two out jam in the home ninth due to great defensive gems and then pushed across the winner on a Miguel Montero sac fly.

Arizona closer Brandon Lyon tossed a second straight scoreless inning inducing Chris Aguila into a game ending 5-4-3 double play to give the D-Backs the series and send the Amazin’s to a sixth defeat in seven back to three under.

Afterwards, a frustrated Wagner who never minces words harshly critiqued himself saying, “I suck right now.”

What a bad time for Billy The Kid to go into a funk.

So, can the Mets get it turned around? Who knows what to think anymore? They’ve become way too hard to predict and their inconsistencies continue to prove costly.

Are they really this mediocre? I still have a tough time buying that. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

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by Derek Felix

A day in the life of a frantic BCS Mets fan at Park Slope

June 12, 2008 in Berkeley Carroll, NY Mets

Copyright Getty Images

Carlos Beltran connects for a walkoff two-run homer in the 13th to snap the Mets' five-game skid and restore a little order. 

It’s not often you get entertained by frantic Mets fans. But that’s precisely what happened down in Park Slope at the Berkeley Carroll Athletic Center last night.

So there I was recovering from a tough workout cooling off downstairs as BCS Rob came over into the office to see how his Mets were doing. This is one of the quintissential good guys of many quality people who work in a nice location keeping things under control during the school year, etc. The guy’s always around on the job making certain things are in order. He takes it very seriously as does the head of the place Catherine.

If I don’t know last names, sorry. At least I’m getting the first names right after all this time. I’ve only spent the past couple of years scoring the school’s basketball games. Usually, I’m pretty good with names as I have a dope ass memory. But it took some time to remember the hard working security guard who’s usually there in the afternoon to greet you. Sometimes, it happens to even the best of us. It’s like I would have a block thinking so and so was someone else. Isn’t that the most embarrassing thing when you completely mess up and the person looks at you like you’re lower than dirt? :lol:

In any event, Rob has plenty of time to kill at nights as us people come and go from the gym or pool. When there’s nobody around, a decent amount is spent watching YouTube videos. Just yesterday, I showed him my first ever edition. It wasn’t much. Just one of my VG Shaolin homies P.J. rapping over a cool beat for nine seconds. Yeah. I just felt like adding one. I really need to upgrade so we can have some decent videos this summer. Oh. You bet your ass D Flex will be part of that shiznit!

So, who’s D Flex exactly? Well, ask my Stanford buddy John “JPG” Giagnorio and he’ll tell you that’s my tag name. See. I can freestyle for real. Amazingly, the name’s caught on. We even got my homies home calling me by it. Heck. Even Rob and pool instructor Frank refer to me by that code.

To be perfectly honest, I at first thought it was silly and kind of shied away from it. However, the more I rapped, the more JPG called me it. So I accepted it and realized it was pretty freaking cool. Now I’ve got players who finished highschool laughing their asses off at my renditions. They must be thinking wtf is this dude on? Sometimes, I don’t even know! ;-)

Bottom line: I have fun. Cause if you don’t, life will pass you by in a blink. My advice to anyone of the younger generation is quite simple. Live while you can.

I really do enjoy messing around with lyrics. Just go check out my Xanga and you’ll see what I’m getting at. It’s fun to freestyle and crack people up. But I’m a much better writer than rapper.

So, Rob likes YouTube. Well, who doesn’t? I mean heck. There are a lot of crazy videos out there. Some which are a complete utter waste of time like the one I linked above cause there really wasn’t anything of substance. But you occasionally discover talented individuals such as SupaDupaFlyGirl. And yeah. The name fits because she’s really hot and entertaining. This chick I think lives somewhere out here if you can fathom that. She’s not just a face though but a very smart person who knows how to have fun and utilize all her skills. I happen to think this is one of Liz’ best. It’s like a Charlie Chaplin satire.

Aside from watching YouTube, Rob AKA Mr. Met because he’s got so many damn newspaper pics of his beloved Amazin’s loves to follow his favorite baseball team via the MLB official site. Let’s just say I was in for a treat as he and BCS maintenance worker Tony both rooted on their team hoping and praying that Mike Pelfrey would be allowed to complete his best start in his young career.

Here you had the young righthander pitching the lights out shutting down the D-Backs outpitching 11-game winner Brandon Webb. Even more surprising than the Mets 3-0 lead which all took place in the home fourth on a Carlos Beltran two-run single and RBI fielder’s choice was that Pelfrey had K’d eight leaving Rob and Tony ecstatic. Every time I spoke to Mr. Met, there was a look of concern on his face due to Pelfrey having tossed 109 or 110 pitches entering the ninth inning. Loose translation: He wanted no part of the Met bullpen even if it meant normally reliable closer Billy Wagner.

So of course once the leadoff hitter got on, Willie Randolph came and got Pelfrey which was the appropriate move because you have to do what you can to win the game. And the former first rounder had probably never tossed that many pitches. Everyone knows how much the Mets have been struggling having dropped five straight before last night including the pen giving up six of Arizona’s nine runs (eight unanswered) in a dreadful 9-5 loss at Shea sounding off even more alarms.

Here they were again three outs away this time with Billy The Kid in a save situation hoping to atone for that Tony Clark three-run bomb which helped the hapless Padres sweep four over the weekend in San Diego. As if to make their worst fears realized, a D-Back double had runners in scoring position with one out. As I sat there, all I could think was, ‘No way is he going to blow this. He’s one of the better closers in the game.’

But there were Rob and Tony panicked out of their minds waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is what I love about Met fans. Sadly, I can’t say I blame them much given their team’s recent track record. No need to remind anyone. Besides, I’m a Yankee guy. We’ll just leave it at that.

Wagner had gotten the second out but went 3-2 on Arizona slugging third baseman Mark Reynolds. When mlb.com took long to tell us what had happened, we all were thinking the same thing wondering. Just before Reynolds at-bat, Rob predicted the doom and gloom of a tying three-run home run. I just sat there thinking it can’t happen. But this is how Met fans are trained to think. A minute later, there he was saying:

 ”My God. They tied it.”

At that point, I just gave the dude a pat and got out of there. Who the heck wanted to see what would happen next? It was sort of comical in a sad way. The worst was realized. Even if the game was only tied and the Mets would eventually go on to win thanks to Beltran’s two out 13th inning two-run walkoff bomb on ironically enough a Reynolds error, here you had a couple of glaring examples of what’s wrong with the team in Queens. They each expected Wagner to give it up and Rob even reiterated that he called it.

Who would ever believe that this is what a team which many picked to win the NL and challenge for the World Series would do to their fans as we approach mid-June. It’s no longer early. Yes. The Mets gained a game on the Phillies, who had a rare second defeat in a row thanks to a Dan Uggla grand slam walkoff in Florida. They’re six and a half out with 98 to go two under .500 (31-33).

Hey. The Yanks are back at .500 (33-33) trailing the Red Sox by seven. Who would you rather be? At this juncture, both New York teams have been major disappointments playing inconsistent ball. However, only one kind of fan is flooding the WFAN airwaves in full panic mode even after their team showed some guts and pulled one out.

You guessed right.

That’s how you tell the different between the two New York baseball fans. I got a good appetizer which made for a fun entry.

Who would’ve thunk it?

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by Derek Felix

Random Thoughts

June 9, 2008 in Random Thoughts

These are a few of the things floating around my head as a new week begins: 

1.How if you’re the Mets do you lose all four games to the hapless Padres in San Diego? They’d entered playing a better brand of ball taking their last three series and starting to look like the ballclub many expected them to be. Then, somehow they lost not one, not two but three consecutive 2-1 games to a team which had a brutal record in one-run games. To top it off, closer Billy Wagner couldn’t hold a two-run lead serving up a two out pinch hit three-run jack to veteran Tony Clark in the eighth which made San Diego an 8-6 winner sending the Amazin’s reeling back to Shea two under .500 (30-32). Now instead of building on two of three at San Fran, they trail the red hot Phillies by seven and a half. The Phils just got done sweeping the Braves to increase their lead to three and a half over second place Florida with a three-game series beginning tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Mets will try to rebound when they return to Shea Tuesday and play host to struggling NL West leader Arizona. They could use some home cooking to get this turned around.

2.He did pitch into the fifth yesterday and threw a much better ratio tossing 53 of 78 for strikes but I still feel this Joba Chamberlain move to the rotation is all wrong. The Yankee pen is just not equipped for it and what happens when Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes return?

3.It’s amazing to think that suddenly Jason Giambi has rediscovered his stroke leading the Pinstripes with 14 dingers including a go-ahead in their 6-3 win over the Royals. Where would they be without the rejuvenated first base slugger? Ditto Johnny Damon who has been unbelievable lately.

4.When you look at the Mets’ inconsistency, you no longer can say that it’s Jose Reyes who isn’t performing. The shortstop who bats leadoff has done his part heating up for the Queens club frequently hitting and getting on base. He’s hitting for power and stealing bases again. It’s the rest of his teammates which aren’t getting it done. Why is Carlos Beltran so streaky? How come David Wright’s hot streaks come and go?

5.A day later, I’m still extremely disappointed in Roger Federer’s performance against Rafael Nadal. Why was his energy lacking in such a big match? Sure. Nadal was too good. We get that but you don’t normally see him just mail it in. Once the second set was over, I knew where the match was headed. Pretty sad state of affairs for the 12-time slam champion who continues to fail at winning on the red clay at Roland Garros.

6.Who cares what Tiger Woods thinks about the NHL anyway.

7.Nice performance by Team USA finishing in a scoreless tie with Argentina in a men’s soccer exhibition where nearly 80,000 packed Giants Stadium last night. Freddy Adu showed off some serious ballhandling skills generating several great chances late and veteran Landon Donovan was sensational.

8.NL MVP race:

A.Chase Utley, Phillies

B.Chipper Jones, Braves

C.Lance Berkman, Astros

D.Albert Pujols, Cardinals

9.AL MVP race:

A.Josh Hamilton, Rangers

B.Carlos Quentin, White Sox

C.Manny Ramirez, Red Sox

10.Can anyone explain why ESPN/ABC continues to troll out Michael Wilbon for these NBA Finals?!?!?!?!?!

11.You know what’s sad about Hillary Clinton. Even after she finally conceded, the New York Senator still thinks it’s all about her when she was outclassed by Barack Obama.

12.You really could see what all the hype was about with Reds rookie center field prospect Jay Bruce.

13.Belated congrats to Chipper Jones on slugging career home run No.400 a few days prior. To think that the third base Atlanta Brave veteran did it while hitting over .400 is just remarkable. He’s going to miss a few games but when he returns, who doesn’t want to see him take a run at .400 a la John Olerud circa 1993?

14.When Daily News sports columnist Mike Lupica claims that the Yanks haven’t produced a starting stud through their farm system since Andy Pettite and Ron Guidry, I don’t know about you but Chien-Ming Wang isn’t exactly chopped liver. Though he has been struggling lately. Speaking of which, here’s a little trivia for Mr. Lupica. When exactly is the last time the Mets produced a starter out of their system who could win 18-20 games like Wang? You have to go all the way back to Dwight Gooden because they foolishly gave away Scott Kazmir.

15.I don’t know about you but when Chris Bosh buried his Raptors jersey out back in TD BankNorth before Game One of the NBA Finals, I had a good chuckle.

16.Jim McKay came before my time but from everything you read and hear about the legendary former ABC Wide World Of Sports anchor, he had the kind of memorable broadcasting career many could only wish to emulate. From all accounts on his unbelievable humanizing of the awful 1972 Munich Olympics tragedy which saw 11 Israeli athletes murdered by malicious terrorists, you can tell just how much McKay’s chilling details meant to the world of a terrifying ordeal. Watching the video the other day and seeing all the tributes to this man made me realize just how special he was. He’ll be sorely missed. :-(

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by Derek Felix

More HB

May 5, 2008 in More HB

-Nice response by the Mets this weekend in Arizona taking two of three. Ya don’t think Billy Wagner had something to do with it? Jose Reyes had a real good series going 5-for-11 with three extra base hits including two triples, three runs scored, two RBI’s and a  stolen base in each game. It’s the first time all season he’s had steals in three straight.

-Ryan Church continues to impress with four hits and his fourth homer in the series opening 7-2 win. The 29 year-old right fielder who was acquired with catcher Brian Schneider from the Nationals for Lastings Milledge is looking like a steal. He leads the team in hitting with a .318 average, four home runs, 22 RBI’s and 23 runs. Church also boasts a respectable .382 on-base percentage and has played solid defense which included a key toss out of Chris Burke, who was trying for third in a tie game with nobody out in the eighth Sunday. It was Church’s fourth assist of the season.

-How about Melky Cabrera’s sudden power boost. With a two-run dinger in yesterday’s 8-2 Yankee win over Seattle to complete their first three-game sweep of 2008, the 23 year-old center fielder now has six homers in 103 at bats. Last season, the Melk Man hit only eight in 545 ABs. The switch hitter had a very good Spring Training and has carried it over so far. You just wonder if it’s legit. In this day and age, that’s what it’s come to sadly.

-The Yanks also have to be pretty happy with Darrell Rasner’s first start. He went six strong permitting only a two-run Adrian Beltre homer in the first while scattering five hits and striking out four to pickup his first win. Most importantly, he didn’t issue a walk.  Just maybe the 27 year-old from Nevada can give the staff a boost. 

-Roger Clemens is sorry because his personal life is in ruins and there’s virtually no way to recover that no matter what statements he makes.

-It’s amazing how well Oakland is playing. Despite retooling by unloading stars Dan Haren and Nick Swisher, here they are playing solid ball winning 19 of their first 33 games with the third best record in the American League. I criticized him but it turns out that GM Billy Beane does know what he’s doing. Greg Smith, who was one of the players acquired in the Haren deal from Arizona is off to a 2-1 start with a 2.54 ERA allowing 27 hits in 39 innings with 13 walks and 31 strikeouts. As evidenced by their 18 homers, the A’s don’t hit for much power which is why reclaiming veteran slugger Frank Thomas could be a wise move. He’s had success there before.

-Even with some questionable calls and non ones, the younger Pens were the better team. They just had too much speed, size and skill for the Rangers even if Jaromir Jagr turned back the clock with 15 points (5-10-15) in only 10 postseason games. If this was the last of him in the NHL, he’ll be sorely missed. No.68 truly is one of the most fun players to watch. He never complained about how many times he was hacked and didn’t take Oscar Award winning dives to draw calls unlike a certain superstar. He just played the game which is how it’s supposed to be. Too bad the NHL doesn’t seem to think so.

-Evgeni Malkin was the best player in the series and dominated the puck. The no-look backhander he scored on to beat Henrik Lundqvist was ridiculous. It’s the 21 year-old Russian who deserves all the accolades along with some endorsements. Though his slewfoot of Paul Mara was uncalled for. Pull that in the next series against a tougher Flyer team and he could pay the price.

-Has anyone ever complained more than Michel Therrien despite winning the series in five games? Apparently, he learned well how things are done on his club.

-He doesn’t always do the right things on the ice but we’re wishing Ranger Sean Avery the very best as he recovers from a lacerated spleen. The NHL needs more Averys in the game who are willing to mix it up. They’ve become a bland league with boring intermission segments and blah quotes from even their best players. That doesn’t get ratings. They need more colorful analysts who will speak their mind instead of being afraid of their shadows like the hypocritical league. Sucking up to stars doesn’t work. Neither does being serious all the time. We suggest they watch TNT’s NBA coverage cause it doesn’t get much better.

-He can say whatever he wants but until Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal in the best three-of-five at Roland Garros, the No.1 ranked Swiss player isn’t as good on the red surface.

-Anyone who doesn’t watch Spurs/Hornets will be missing a great series. Even if Bruce Bowen bitches about every call against him. Tony Parker against Chris Paul is worth every penny. And could someone please explain to me why the Spurs are boring? Why? Cause they execute in the halfcourt and play solid D unlike teams such as the Nuggets and Suns. Parker and Manu Ginobili are fun players to watch. Tim Duncan might not show a lot of emotion emulating a robot but he’s one of the game’s greatest players.

-Unless he performs up to expectations against the Pistons, Dwight Howard doesn’t deserve to be tossed around with the Duncans, LeBron’s and Kobe’s.

-It’s okay now to tell the Avalanche to cover Detroit’s Johan Franzen. Oops. Too late!

-Ditto the Canadiens and finding the Flyers’ R.J. Umberger. After the way Carey Price performed, maybe Canada really is jinxed.

-That four overtime epic between San Jose and Dallas was as good as it got. You talk about great hockey and awesome goaltending from Evgeni Nabokov and Marty Turco, it was the kind of game which anyone could enjoy featuring great skating, hitting and awe inspiring battles. So much for that magic 33 theory. Maybe next round!

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

Wagner scores big points

May 2, 2008 in MLB, NY Mets

Big ups Billy Wagner! It’s not everyday that a ballplayer calls out a teammate for not giving maximum effort but that’s precisely what the Mets’ veteran lefty closer did the other day calling out an ineffective Oliver Perez for not dialing it up a notch.

Instead, the talented southpaw enigma showed his dreadful side losing the plate to the tune of five walks and seven runs (2 ER) in a disastrous second inning against the lowly Pirates. His former club got the better of him taking advantage of porous Met defense turning three errors and one big mental lapse by Jose Reyes to destroy New York 13-1. Prior to the blowout defeat at Shea before another testy crowd (who could blame them), the Amazin’s had won three in a row including the last two from a banged up Atlanta team over the weekend.

Finally, things seemed to be on the way up for Willie Randolph’s ballclub. Not so fast. Instead of making it a two-game sweep of the Pirates and four straight before a challenging West coast swing with stops at major league leader Arizona and the suddenly hot Joe Torre Dodgers (six straight wins), the Mets played sloppy ball in the field and hardly were competitive at the plate against no-name Tom Gorzelanny managing only one hit and zero runs despite five bases on balls in the first five frames.

Where’s Bob Uecker’s Harry Doyle Major League character when you need him?

“There was no get-up-and-go,” a fired up Wagner told reporters after the humiliation. “That can’t happen.”

To say he took Perez and a few lazy teammates to the woodshed would be an understatement. Billy didn’t mince words even indicating that his team was lucky to finish April two over .500 (14-12).

“It might be good if we worked on a little bit of everything,” one of the team’s most consistent performers noted. “Bullpen’s been shoddy. Starting pitching, we’ve had our ups and downs. Hitting comes and goes.”

The talkative Wagner has always been willing to put himself out there challenging teammates to play better. In the third year of a four-year $43 million contract, the 36 year-old who has six saves and 12 K’s in 12 innings while permitting just three hits has every right to be upset. He came here to win a World Series. Despite winning their division two years earlier, they haven’t been to one yet losing in gut wrenching fashion to the Cardinals and then collapsing last September.

With the key acquisition of ace Johan Santana, the Mets were supposed to get a tremendous lift and make the negativity of last year go away. However, that’s not what’s happened so far which is why Wagner sounded the justified alarm that his team needs to be better.

You could start with Reyes being Reyes on a daily basis and Carlos Beltran remembering that he was given over $100 million three years ago to be a big run producer. Not just a streaky player who goes from hot to ice cold making Met fans see the recurring image of the bat on the shoulder with Adam Wainwright and the Cards celebrating on their field.

As for Wagner target Perez, he’s only gone six once in his first six outings. Oh btw…that came in a 13-0 Apr.2 rout at Florida a month ago. It’s awfully hard to accumulate innings when you walk nearly as many batters as you strikeout. Twenty one walks in 29 IP just won’t get it done. Especially with a thin pen which Randolph has already overused.

Outside of Wagner, Pedro Feliciano and the coming along Duaner Sanchez whose role should magnify, who else can Met supporters trust out of that pig pen?

Fairly simple reply.

Wagner even admitted on The Michael Kay show during his weekly segment yesterday that he’s not the most liked teammate. No surprise there since many players today hate when a brutally honest and caring ‘mate tosses high heaters instead of soft lobs to the press if their team isn’t playing to expectation.

Today’s players are too pampered. These Mets feel they’ve accomplished something already when that’s far from the case. It’s about winning championships.

That Wagner spoke up shows his heart’s in the right place. He knows it should be much better. It’s not like anyone’s running away with the NL East. The Phils are still without MVP Jimmy Rollins and don’t have much pitching to speak of. Florida has dropped three straight and aren’t very deep pitching-wise either. The Braves are banged up and have dropped four in a row. Though they’re playing better, the Nats are still the Nats.

On paper, the Mets should have enough to take the division. Maybe that’s the problem. Paper doesn’t win you anything. A crisper brand of baseball will.

The same applies for what’s gone on across town in the Bronx. We’ll get to that story another day.

For now, we admire Billy The Kid and wish there were more players like him in today’s game. He clearly gets IT!

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

Hope you didn’t Vote for Pedro

April 2, 2008 in Articles, MLB

 Pedro Martinez is in disbelief as he leaves the mound last night at Florida after injuring left hamstring.

Hope you didn’t vote for Pedro before the Met season started. If you’ve seen Napoleon Dynamite, then you know what we’re referring to.

Good thing Omar Minaya came to his senses and acquired former Twins’ ace Johan Santana or his ballclub would be in a lot more trouble just a couple of days into the 2008 season. If you’re a frantic Met fan, last night was why. I’m a Yankee fan btw. So I consider myself lucky even if my team hasn’t won a World Series in eight years and hasn’t come close with A-Rod even making the wrong sort of history in 2004 to the hated Red Sox.

Being a Yankee fan isn’t that bad. Imagine rooting for the Mets thinking “Ya Gotta Believe” after Endy Chavez’ amazing catch in that Game Seven of the NLCS only to get beat by out of all people Yadier Molina and then rookie Adam Wainwright. Carlos Beltran still hasn’t taken that bat off his shoulders. The cardiac 83 win Cards went onto win it all making every Met fan sick.

But there was always the next year. Surely, the Team, the Time, the 2007 NL East champion Mets would be followed by “Your Season Has Come.” One of the most arrogant slogans ever thought of. Almost as if the Met Marketing Department figured it was their God given right to finally win a third World Series.

Did they thank God after the worst September collapse in major league history? You know how God’s always responsible when you win. What about when you lose? I still wonder what Joba Chamberlain was thinking when those gnats attacked him on that Cleveland mound basically finishing off the Yankees. How do you play ball in that?

If last year ended on the most sour note with delusional Met fans calling for Willie Randolph’s head (same guy who changed the losing attitude under Art Howe), then it had to get a whole lot better when Minaya hoisted the Twins for Santana. Though I do think Carlos Gomez will turn out good unlike King Lastings Milledge backer John Giagnorio. 

How could they go wrong with a two-time AL Cy winner who is now pitching in the senior circuit and won’t have to face DH loaded lineups which put a hurting on him for a career high 33 homers last season? The recently turned 29 year-old Venezuelan turned in an All-Star caliber performance in his Met debut going seven strong while allowing two earned on a Josh Willingham homer walking a pair and fanning eight on 100 pitches.

The 6-2 win which saw the Mets bat around in the fourth for all six runs including a bases clearing double by NL MVP candidate David Wright was exactly what the doctor ordered for Amazin supporters. Jose Reyes had a couple of hits showing no September hangover. Luis Castillo was on base three times and even swiped a base. Wright delivered the clutch hit which broke the game open off scrub Mark Hendrickson. How in the world was he the Marlin Opening Day starter?

The Met pen also came in and tossed two scoreless including Aaron Heilman retiring the Marlins in order with two K’s to finish off a crisp win making the NL favorites 1-0.

Just the way you would draw it up. If only that’s how baseball was. All it takes is a key player to feel a twinge like Pedro felt last night with his left hamstring in the fourth inning against the Marlins straining it before being replaced by Jorge Sosa. Though the Mets rallied from four down to tie, they eventually lost 5-4 on Robert Andino’s first career home run in the 10th off Matt Wise.

And so, they’re 1-1 trailing the Milledge and Paul Lo Duca Nats in the standings. Couldn’t resist. More on those Nationals another time.

This was supposed to be the year after where the exciting 36 year-old three-time Cy winner was healthy coming in and would team with Santana to form a deadly 1-2 punch of aces in a rotation which also includes John Maine and Oliver Perez.

If you’ve seen Maine pitch, then you know how capable he is. To think that Minaya got him as a throw in for Kris Benson (really Anna). Definitely one of his best deals. The 26 year-old former Baltimore 2002 sixth round pick has all the goods to be what many believe he can this year. No. I’m not going to say he’ll win 20 but why not 18 after winning 15 in his first full season making 32 starts? Certainly reasonable.

For some reason, Perez gets the nod tonight in the rubber match. Oh. He did win the same 15 as Maine and put up similar numbers K-ing six less batters (174 to Maine’s 180). Ask many Met fans who they’d rather have in a big spot. Maine or Perez? I don’t believe Perez would get a lot of votes.

If Pedro is out for an extended period, a Met top three of Santana, Maine and Perez is still formidable. They were able to stay afloat last year without Pedro or Johan last year. Sure. the NL East wasn’t great and they got to a quick lead which allowed them to relax maybe a little too much.

Now though, often injured Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey of an 8.14 ERA in Spring Training will be asked to fill those last two spots in the rotation. If Hernandez can’t go or Pelfrey struggles, there’s always the versatile Sosa who can go shift from the pen to starting. Nelson Figueroa could also get a look. Will Minaya bring in Claudio Vargas as mentioned on Baseball Tonight last night? Possibly.

Still, that doesn’t exactly instill much confidence. Can the Mets survive if the MRI Pedro underwent comes back positive? Sure. There’s still plenty of star power in Queens with Wright, Reyes and Carlos Beltran in the lineup and Santana anchoring the rotation. The pen is basically the same with Heilman and Pedro Feliciano setting up Billy Wagner. Plus Joe Smith a year older should help.

The Mets could use a few good swings from first baseman Carlos Delgado to jolt that middle of the order. If he can bounceback, suddenly their offense is very formidable. There’s no guarantee with the 35 year-old vet. Especially if that hip doesn’t allow him to turn fastballs.

So, does the Met season hinge on whether Pedro can comeback? Tough to say. Even the most optimistic Met fan couldn’t believe there wouldn’t be a DL stint at some point for Mr. Palm Tree.

Now though, once again some Met fans are pushing the panic button waiting for the sky to fall on their season. Can you really blame them anymore?

It’s a long season.

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