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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

Random Thought

June 29, 2008 in Random Thoughts

The other day, I gave my view on the weekend Subway Series between what’s still a couple of mediocre New York teams which have disappointed until proven otherwise. Here’s another one on what’s taken place thus far with one game left later this afternoon:

-It’s hard to believe the Mets dropped the next couple after blowing the doors off the Yanks at the Stadium to sweep all three for the first time in the history of the series. They had the match-ups and momentum but that proved to mean zilch when somehow, they couldn’t solve Sidney Ponson allowing him to escape two bases loaded situations while a more desperate Bronx Bomber attack got to Pedro Martinez to win by an identical nine-run margin Friday night at Shea.

I like Pedro and always have. He’s easy to root for. Hopefully, he gets it together because when he decides it’s over, it will be a sad day. This is a great competitor who’s improvised despite injuries and has worked very hard to become one of the best pitchers this game’s seen over the last decade. I wish him the very best.

Now, for yesterday’s Yankee 3-2 win over Johan Santana with Andy Pettite outpitching the former Twins’ two-time AL Cy winner. Not that Pettite isn’t still a good starter. He has gotten it together after a dreadful first six weeks. He did what he needed giving his team a chance limiting the Amazin’s to two solo homers in six innings which also included a 79-minute rain delay.

Still, one would’ve expected Santana to rise to the occasion and shutdown the Bombers. Sure. He pitched well enough to win working six and K-ing eight looking flat out dominant at times. But the one frame where he lost the strike zone cost him two runs which the Yanks manufactured. And his balk of A-Rod to second allowed Robinson Cano to drive in the winning run. So there is some responsibility for why he’s now a .500 pitcher.

Not what the Mets are paying him for. This isn’t all on the likeable southpaw from Venezuela. It’s also on the talented Jose Reyes, who continues to baffle fans with his up and down play. Oh. The 25 year-old shortstop has turned his season around getting the average close to .300 and hitting for more power and stealing more bases. But sometimes, his lack of baseball instincts are alarming. How was it possible in a two-run game that he managed to get picked off second by Pettite with David Wright at the plate killing a potential two out rally?!?!?!?!?!

There’s just no way he should be going anywhere as WFAN radio man Howie Rose pointed out immediately when the inning ended. You have your most dangerous bat who had hit two Pettite pitches hard forcing Melky Cabrera to come up with a tough running catch near the track. You don’t go in that spot and take the bat out of Wright’s hands.

So, was it any shock that Wright ledoff the home sixth with a solo shot to cut the lead to one? Of course not. Instead of maybe tying or putting his team ahead, he made it 3-2.

From there, the Yankee pen of Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth (pitching bandaged up) and the impeccable Mariano Rivera closed the door to give the Pinstripes at worst a split of the four-game weekend series.

For the Mets, it proved costly as the Phils finally figured out how to win again for only the second time in 10 games beating the Rangers and gaining a game in the standings. They lead the Queens club by four (two in loss column).

Now, they’ll send out jekyll and hyde lefty Oliver Perez this afternoon trying to salvage the final game at Shea. That should be an advantage over Darrell Rasner if we’re going by paper. But these days, you can’t figure out much. Either Perez will be very good bouncing back from an abysmal outing that saw the lowly Mariners tattoo him or he’ll have a repeat performance and it will be a slugfest becoming a survival of the pens.

The Yanks meanwhile are seven over and need to keep winning just to not lose ground to Boston and Tampa, who almost never lose. They finally recalled promising relief prospect David Robertson. He was lighting up Triple-A Wilkes Barre/Scranton. We’ll see if he makes his major league debut later on.

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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

More HB

May 26, 2008 in More HB

-First off, let’s just wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day out there. Yeah. It’s a bit late cause I was at a great barbecue here in Shaolin VG style. Thanks go out to Nick for putting it together. Whatever ya’ll did yesterday, hope it was as much of a blast as I had. Great food. Awesome people. Dope music. And freestyling! :-D

It’s always worth noting what this day really means. Many of us might be able to kick back and enjoy ourselves but for a precious few who put their lives on the line, they are the true definition of heroes and what makes our country great. So a big thank you to all our troops for making so many big sacrifices. Without you, we wouldn’t be around to celebrate.

Now to some other thoughts:

-I’m never going to say that I’m the biggest lacrosse guy out there but the men’s NCAA championship always is fun to check out. Congrats to Syracuse on winning their school record 10th lacrosse title by defeating defending champion John Hopkins 13-10 yesterday in Foxborough. They held off Hopkins’ star Paul Rabil, who connected six times to keep his school in it. That included an amazing goal which made it interesting late. That guy is some player. The Orange were simply better getting a hat trick from Dan Hardy along with two apiece from Brendan Loftus and Kenny Nims. For the school which missed last year’s tournament for the first time since 1982 due to three players getting suspended, it was sweet redemption. Big ups to them on taking the trophy in front of a record crowd of 48,970.

-Nice to see the Pistons bounceback taking care of the Celtics 94-75 in Game Four to level their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Series. They got a big performance from Antonio McDyess, who went for a double/double (21 and 16) in sparking Detroit to a convincing home win to send the series back to Boston tied at two. The 33 year-old veteran big man shot an efficient 8-for-14 from the floor while connecting on 5-of-6 from the charity stripe while grabbing seven of his game high 16 boards on the offensive glass. The Pistons as a team had nine offensive rebounds and only 34 overall meaning that McDyess nearly accounted for half. Not bad for someone who’s closing in on the end of his career. Richard Hamilton added 20 points and seven assists. Chauncey Billups also dropped seven dimes. The Detroit guard duo’s combined 14 were two better than the entire Celtic roster. Key reserve Rodney Stuckey also added five assists as Detroit spread the ball around. Jason Maxiell also came off the bench to shoot 6-of-6 from the field with 14 points.

The Celtics shot a dreadful 31.8 percent from the field misfiring on 45 of 66 shots. Yikes. The Pistons by comparison shot 36-for-70 connecting at 51.4 percent. Another huge difference was the assist to turnover ratio. Detroit had 27 assists to only seven turnovers while Boston dished out just 12 assists and turned the ball over 14 times. You’re not winning many games with those kind of numbers.

-It’s okay for the Pens to remember to play the game. They’ve now been outscored 6-0 by the Red Wings in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals. Guess we didn’t miss much last night. Wonder what the ratings were for that one?

-I’m glad the Mets didn’t axe Willie Randolph but if they don’t put together a decent record on this seven-game homestand, who actually believes Omar Minaya when he says the organization wants Willie around for the duration of his contract through next season?!?!?!?!?!

-The Amazin’s sure didn’t get the kind of start at Shea they needed giving up the last five runs in a 7-3 defeat to the first place Marlins, whose payroll is a major league low $22 million. Despite that, they’re 10 over .500 following a three RBI game from veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez. His two-run double sparked a four-run fourth off losing Met starter Mike Pelfrey, who dropped to 2-6. Though shortstop Jose Reyes went deep twice, he also committed a key error in the first leading to a couple of unearned runs. The Met leadoff hitter is the definition of an enigma. He can be brilliant at times offensively but also sometimes has brain cramps. Whether it’s getting picked off or booting a routine grounder, Reyes has not played to capability. So much of how the Mets perform is on the shortstop. When he goes, they do. Unless he becomes more consistent, the Met season could go up in flames. At three under (23-26), they find themselves six and a half out. It’s important for them to respond with two wins to take this series against the Marlins. Ace Johan Santana will try to halt the losing when he faces Andrew Miller later tonight. Oliver Perez will battle Scott Olsen in the final game tomorrow.

-Meanwhile, the Orioles snapped the Yanks’ five-game win streak defeating them 6-1 at Camden Yards Monday afternoon. Nick Markakis broke a scoreless tie with a solo blast in the sixth off losing starter Darrell Rasner, who fell to 3-1. The great Yankee pen headed by LaTroy Hawkins made certain of that by giving up five runs in the seventh. Aubrey Huff’s three-run two out blast off Jose Veras broke it open as the Birds moved a half game ahead of the Pinstripes putting them back in last place. The lone bright spot for the Yanks was Hideki Matsui, who had three hits and scored their only run on a Chad Moeller ninth inning RBI single. Baltimore rookie starter Garrett Olson worked seven scoreless while fanning seven to win his fourth. The Yanks will look to even the series when rookie Ian Kennedy goes for his first win trying to build on last week’s good outing. He’ll oppose four-game winner Brian Buress.

-In by far the biggest offensive explosion of the day, the Phillies scored 20 times and pounded out 19 hits in a 20-5 home rout of the Rockies. Second baseman Chase Utley hammered Colorado pitching for three hits including a three-run dinger for No.16 on the season and six RBI’s. The Phils scored half a dozen runs in the fourth and sixth improving to a season best five over (29-24) to remain tied with the Braves for second two and a half out.

-In the French Open first round, Roger Federer was a straight set winner over American Sam Querrey defeating him 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in abbreviated play due to the rain at Roland Garros. Eighth seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet pulled out with a left knee injury.

-Congrats to Gustavo Kuerten on a great career. The popular Brazilian who won three French Opens was never the same due to a bad hip. He was eliminated in the opening round by Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. It’s too bad because he was a fiery competitor who had lots of flambuoyance energizing crowds. Still, he had a great career and will be sorely missed.

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by Derek Felix

More HB

May 23, 2008 in More HB

-With the Mets being swept by the Braves last night, the pressure’s on for them to snap out of it this weekend in Denver against a struggling Rockie club which enters 11 games under .500 trailing Arizona by 10. A far cry from winning the NL pennant last October. Troy Tulowitizki is out two to three months with a torn tendon in his left quad. The shortstop who took the league by storm in his rookie season was off to an atrocious start hitting just .152 with a home run, 11 RBI’s while K-ing 17 times in 26 games. Most of Colorado’s problems have come away from Coors where they’re 8-16 as compared to 10-13 in the thin air. Unless they get it turned around soon, Clint Hurdle’s club will be out of contention.

-As for Willie Randolph’s club, losing four straight to the archrival Braves was stunning. They were outscored 27-9 and saw staff ace Johan Santana blow a 2-1 lead by giving up three in the seventh which allowed Atlanta to complete the four-game sweep at Turner Field. As usual, Chipper Jones was in the middle of it with a game-winning two strike opposite field hit. Mark Teixeira added insurance with a base hit to left center. In fact, the Braves pounded out 12 hits against the former Twin which were a career high. Just goes to show how things have been going for the Mets. They had taken two from the Yanks in an abbreviated series and were looking to ride that into Atlanta but instead got totally outplayed in all facets and now have lost six of eight entering tonight’s match-up between southpaw Oliver Perez and promising Colorado rookie Greg Reynolds. The Amazin’s are one under .500 trailing the surprising Marlins by four and a half. If they don’t snap out of it, their embattled manager could be replaced. Is it all his fault that this team doesn’t play consistent ball? Hardly. But it is the manager’s job to get the most out of his players. For whatever reason, that’s not happening. Instead, the September malaise of last year is hanging over them threatening to ruin their season.

-Meanwhile in the Bronx, the Yankees won their second straight to take a series from the Orioles. They pushed across the winning run on a two out walkoff Robinson Cano single which plated Hideki Matsui allowing them to outscore the Birds 10-1 over the last two days. Rookie Ian Kennedy finally pitched well working the first six permitting a run on four hits while walking and fanning four lowering his ERA to 7.27. Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera each worked scoreless frames as the Pinstripes found a way to win after skipper Joe Girardi got his first ejection of the season for arguing a strike three call to Jason Giambi on a foul tip. Girardi showed plenty of fire tossing his hat twice and kicking dirt to protest plate umpire Chris Guccione’s ruling. A couple of batters later, his team responded by winning their second in a row for the first time in two and a half weeks. Maybe that kind of emotion was what the Pinstripes needed. Though it did earn Girardi the night off when they host the Mariners for three beginning tonight. Veteran southpaw Andy Pettite will be looking to win for the first time in over a month against Seattle’s Erik Bedard. The Yanks still trail red hot Boston by seven and a half. The Red Sox have won seven straight and show no signs of slowing down. So, the Bronx Bombers must get it in high gear or face the prospect of a double digit deficit by June.

-AL 3 for MVP:

A.Josh Hamilton, Rangers

B.Carlos Quentin, White Sox

C.Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox

-NL 3 for MVP:

A.Lance Berkman, Astros

B.Chipper Jones, Braves

C.Chase Utley, Phillies

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by Derek Felix

More HB

May 7, 2008 in More HB

-Make it two straight losses for the Yankees, who were blanked by resurgent southpaw Cliff Lee 3-0 in the Bronx tonight. A year removed from an injury sidetracking him back to Buffalo to get fixed in Triple-A, the 29 year-old Lee has returned better than ever dominating opponents. He’s now won all six starts walking only two in 44-plus. The Yanks managed six hits in seven innings but couldn’t come up with the big one to bail out tough luck loser Chien-Ming Wang, who permitted a run in the first, fourth and fifth. He went seven falling to 6-1. The best chance Joe Girardi’s club had was a two out rally but Lee buckled down getting Hideki Matsui swinging on a wicked curve to end the sixth. The lefty fanned seven before giving way to 1-2 punch Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt with the latter getting the Yanks in order to save his second straight.

-While the Mets dominate the airwaves in this city for their inconsistencies in the wake of a forgettable September, it’s the Yanks up and down play which has gotten lost in the shuffle. What exactly is this team which wins a few, then loses a few and never seems to be able to come up with the big hit when behind after seven innings? At 17 up and 18 down, the Bronx Bombers are an enigma which continues to lose ground to a much stronger Red Sox club. Only due to the Tigers scratching out two against stingy closer Jonathan Papelbon did Boston not increase their lead which remained at four and a half over the Yanks. Sure. They’re still without Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada which impacts the lineup. However, the good teams find a way to overcome obstacles. Right now, they’re very mediocre with the April excuse behind them. It’s time to step up.

-The final day of a six-game Western swing was a very good one for the Mets, who hammered Brad Penny for 10 earned in four and two thirds en route a 12-1 rout of the Dodgers, salvaging the final game of the series to even their record to 3-3. The Amazin bats awakened with four in the second including a two-run single from third string catcher Raul Casanova. Up five, they batted around for six more in the fifth. Even starter John Maine got into the act with a two-run single. Luis Castillo’s walk forced in a run. Following a David Wright two-run double, Castillo came into score on a wild pitch for an 11-0 lead. Right fielder Ryan Church continued to swing a hot bat taking ex-Yankee Scott Proctor deep into the Dodger bullpen tying Wright for the club lead with six dingers. He paced the Amazin’s with three hits and three runs scored. 

It all came in support of a sharp Maine, who came within two outs of a too rare complete game shutout. Matt Kemp broke up the shutout with an RBI single. After 117 pitches, Maine was done giving way to ex-Dodger Duaner Sanchez, who recorded the last two outs getting James Loney swinging to end it. Maine went eight and a third allowing one earned on four hits with two walks and four K’s improving to 4-2 on the season.

-Now, the Mets return home to Shea for a seven-game homestand beginning Friday with three against the Reds and four versus Lastings Milledge and the Nats before a fun three-game series at Yankee Stadium next weekend.

-Speaking of Milledge, he’s gotten out of the gate slowly. After taking the collar in three plate appearances in a 4-3 walkoff loss to the Astros, the former Mets’ 2003 first round selection is hitting .256 with one home run, 11 RBI’s, 15 runs and three stolen bases in six attempts. Not the kind of start the 23 year-old Bradenton, Florida native wanted in his first full season manning center field in D.C. There’s still plenty of time for him to get going but you’d have to be foolish not to notice the early returns on that trade so far for Omar Minaya. With Church becoming the Mets’ most consistent performer in their lineup and catcher Brian Schneider (.308-0-8, .395 OBP) playing well in 19 starts despite injuries, it couldn’t be going much better for the Mets.

If Church and Schneider continue to perform well, there won’t be much to complain about for Amazin fans when it comes to that deal. Come to think of it, nobody’s had much to say lately about it choosing to take our their frustrations on Oliver Perez, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Aaron Heilman, Willie Randolph and Jose Reyes.

The Mets are 17-15 and still a weird team to get a read on which is why they get plenty of criticism after losses from fans and media alike. It’s because they expect a team which acquired one of the best pitchers in the game to play better than this after how last season ended. The talk from Randolph that his ballclub is more relaxed away from Shea doesn’t take them off the hook. This is New York. Players here must have thicker skin and be able to shake off the booing and heavy criticism. With two last place opponents coming in with a combined record of 28-40, the Amazin’s need to send a strong message by winning at least five of the next seven going into that weekend series against their crosstown rivals. Anything less would raise eyebrows.

-Where would the Braves be without Chipper Jones? With two more hits in a 5-2 home win over the Padres, the 36 year-old switch hitting third baseman is now hitting .429 (51-for-119) with 10 homers and 29 RBI’s. Just amazing stuff from one of the most consistent star players of this era. Last year with his team missing the postseason a second consecutive season, Chipper finished at .337, 29 homers and 102 knocked in despite missing 28 games. With another 42 doubles and four triples, he had 75 extra base hits. Did we mention his OBP was .425 along with a .604 slugging? The guy is just a great player. He needs four more dingers to reach 400 for his career. He’s also closing in on 2,200 hits 32 shy after tonight. By the time he concludes his career, the man they refer to as Larry in Queens will be in Cooperstown.

-Chauncey Billups going down tonight with a possible groin injury changes everything in that Pistons-Magic series. He’s the glue which keeps Detroit together. Tell ya one thing. Rashard Lewis (33 pts, 11-of-15 FG, 5-of-6 3′s) sure is shooting it well. Having Dwight Howard (20 pts, 8-of-13 FG, 12 Rebs, 6 Blk) inside definitely helps. I still think it comes down to the play of Hedo Turkoglu, who came to life in the fourth quarter scoring 10 of his 18 as the Magic outscored the Pistons 38-17 to win 111-86 getting back in the series. If the streaky shooter plays better along with Jameer Nelson, then Orlando should be pretty competitive. Who knows how Billups’ injury will affect him?

-Is there still an NHL playoffs going on? I wasn’t too sure.

-It’s not everyday that Rafa Nadal loses on clay but that happened earlier today when Juan Carlos Ferrero got the better of the Spaniard ousting him 7-5, 6-1 in Rome. It was only Nadal’s second defeat on the red surface in 105 matches. He did play with a blister but give Ferrero his due. This probably isn’t a good sign for Nadal’s future opponents in Roland Garros because it will make the rating three-time French Open champion even more focused and harder to beat.

-I just want to say it’s nice to know that Barry Zito is back in the San Fran rotation again. At least the $128 million man pitched effectively enough to keep his team in a game for a change, only giving up two earned to fall to 0-7. Will he make 20 losses? Hey. His ERA dropped below 7.00. We’re sure Scott Boras is telling Brian Sabean about that.

-Speaking of Boras, when he says Oli Perez is one of the best pitchers in baseball, does he actually believe that?

-Pirate center fielder Nate McClouth is hitting .333 with nine homers, 28 knocked in and 31 runs. Just wanted to make sure you’ve been paying attention.

-The special PBS aired on legendary singer Marvin Gaye was excellent and depicted what one of the most soulful singers went through where despite all his God given talents was never really satisfied. All due to his crazy father, who wound up killing him. It definitely told a sad tale of a man influenced by depression, sex and drugs. If you missed it, find the time to catch it.

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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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by Derek Felix

Final Opening Day at Shea a Dud

April 8, 2008 in MLB

Copyright Getty Images

Shane Victorino singles off Met starter Oliver Perez in the final home opener at Shea with CitiField looking on in the background. 

So much is expected of this year’s Mets. Especially with the key addition of lefty ace Johan Santana. If it’s true that the two-time AL Cy winner stablizes the rotation, then it’s also true that the Amazin’s bullpen still looks mediocre at best.

The latest glaring example came in their final home opener at Shea Stadium this afternoon in a disappointing 5-2 loss to the hated Phillies. The day didn’t start off badly as a packed house of better than 55,000 were treated to a nice opening ceremony which included the Shea family for the unveiling of their name on the left field wall.

Met first baseman Carlos Delgado connects for a home run off Jamie Moyer in the second inning.

The game itself also began promising with key veteran first baseman Carlos Delgado slugging his first home run of the season off the oldest player in baseball Jamie Moyer for an early 1-0 lead in the second. A Ryan Church fourth inning RBI groundout put them up a couple of runs.

With southpaw Oliver Perez throwing well for a second consecutive start, it looked like Willie Randolph’s ballclub would finally pickup a win against the 2007 NL East champs. However, he ran out of gas in the sixth walking a couple, balking and hitting a batter which forced the much maligned Met skipper to go to his bullpen.

Though second-year reliever Joe Smith got out of the sixth unscathed, the Mets weren’t as fortunate in the seventh due to a big error by Delgado. With the bases loaded full of Phillies due to Chase Utley getting beaned a major league record third time, Scott Schoeneweis induced a sharp grounder to Delgado but the first baseman made a fatal mistake. He tried for the force at second but instead his throw hit Utley in the back allowing both Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino to come around and tie the game.

Following a Pat Burrell deep fly out to right, reliever Jorge Sosa couldn’t put away Jayson Werth as the gritty right fielder served an opposite field go-ahead single to the dismay of Met fans. Once the inning ended, the boo birds were out.

They apparently were just getting warmed up because the Phils sent eight more batters up to the plate in the eighth where they tacked on two more insurance runs off an ineffective Aaron Heilman. After Rollins singled home the fourth run, Utley doubled last year’s NL MVP in to make it 5-2.

Even against a shaky Philly pen, the Met bats went silent allowing ex-Yankee Tom Gordon to close it out 1-2-3 getting Jose Reyes to fly out to the warning track for his first save.

It was the Mets’ first ever Opening Day defeat in eight games against the Phillies. Their third consecutive defeat dropped them to 2-4.

Of course, the biggest second guess of Randolph was why he pulled Perez at 94 pitches with a struggling pen which blew up in the previous couple of losses in Atlanta.

Who knows? Perez did become wild towards the end and that’s always been the biggest criticism of the former Pirate who can dominate at times but leaves fans scratching their heads. He hasn’t permitted a run yet this season but didn’t go deep enough today to give his team a much needed win.

Mets fans take in the action at the old ballpark with a brand new one watching in the background.

It was their eighth straight defeat against the Phils. So, is it time for Amazin fans to push the panic button? Hardly. Their team can still rebound by taking the next two and win the series.

We’ll see what kind of early character they have early in the season.

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by Derek Felix

Joba the center of talk

April 4, 2008 in MLB

Copyright Getty Images 

Yankee setup man Joba Chamberlain's fist pump celebration of an inning ending K of Frank Thomas got plenty of talk on the radio the past couple of days. Did they forget it was the final Opening Night at The Stadium? 

Plenty has been said this first baseball week about Joba Chamberlain. Suddenly, the kid who came on the New York scene and took the Bronx by storm last year becoming a fan favorite has come into question for his antics on the mound. 

It started Wednesday on WFAN’s Mike and The Mad Dog show when Yankee supporter Mike Francesa and Yankee hater Chris “Mad Dog” Russo both agreed that Chamberlain’s pumping of the fists after getting Frank Thomas swinging was excessive. They felt that the 22 year-old kid from Nebraska should tone it down because it could be perceived as showing up opponents.

This topic has gotten old pretty quickly in these parts. What’s wrong with a player showing a little enthusiasm out on the field? I highly doubt Joba celebrates his K’s with who he fanned in mind. Is what he does really any different than Oliver Perez’ scissor kick to end an inning?

I’m of the opinion that showing a little emotion can be positive if it doesn’t push the envelope. What a Joba or Perez does is just a tad different than what Jose Reyes and former Met Lastings Milledge did after a meaningless home run in a blowout win where they danced on the field rubbing it in which fired up the Marlins enough to end their season.

It probably helped get Milledge traded to Washington for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider which should benefit his career. He needed a change as did the Mets.

New Yankee skipper Joe Girardi liked Joba’s enthusiasm but at the same time doesn’t want to irk opponents. So, will the gifted setup man to Mariano Rivera be asked to pick his spots in future situations? Quite possibly.

By contrast last night to end a scoreless eighth which he became the winning pitcher in thanks to a Bobby Abreu bloop RBI single, Chamberlain didn’t pump his fist opting to walk off the field instead.

“It’s unfair to my team to not bring 110 percent every time I go out,” Chamberlain told NY Post writer Brian Costello. “It’s going to be a topic of conversation, that’s fine because I am Joba Chamberlain. I am going to be who I am and if I didn’t show that, I’m not being fair to my teammates. I’m letting them down because I’m not being the person that I am.

“That’s who I am. That’s how I got here. I’m not going to change for anybody. I don’t care what they say or what goes along with it.”

Of striking out the Big Hurt on the final Opening Day Night of Yankee Stadium, he added:

“It gives you guys something to talk about. It’s no disrespect to anybody. It’s no disrespect to the game. It’s no disrespect to Frank Thomas for what he’s done in this game. He’s been very, very special to this game. He understands we’re all competitors and as a competitor you give everything you’ve got every time you go out.“

Not surprisingly, the classy future Hall of Famer didn’t make much of an issue out of it as the New York media.

Sometimes, I think these nerds forget that they were also once kids who had fun and did stuff which wasn’t by the book. Even if Kevin Kernan is still seething over Billy Crystal’s Spring Training day in Pinstripes.

Isn’t it about time they found something else to concern themselves with like whether Lord Isiah will still be coaching the Knicks with Donnie Walsh on board? Just saying.

It was the final Yankee home opener at The House Ruth Built. If you can’t get pumped up for that, then you may as well pack it in.

Time to move on.

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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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