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by Derek Felix

Only time shall tell Amazin’s fate

September 28, 2008 in Articles, MLB, NY Mets

He wanted the ball on short rest from Jerry Manuel and got it saving his team’s season. Johan Santana pitched one of the greatest games in Mets history yesterday going on three days rest to shutout the Marlins 2-0 helping the Queens club tie the Brewers for the wild card due to Milwaukee’s 7-3 home defeat at the hands of the Cubs.

Now it comes down to another Sunday late in September at Shea just like last year against the very same Florida team who still can spoil the final ever regular season game at the old ballpark. However, that wouldn’t be possible without the former Twin two-time AL Cy Young winner pitching like an ace earning every penny of his big contract for his 16th victory improving to 9-0 in 17 starts since late June.

The best aspect was that the 29 year-old southpaw demanded to pitch taking on the large responsibility for a flawed team which is real thin on pitching. Right away, you could tell Santana had superb stuff with his fastball hitting 94 on the gun and his bread and butter slider change biting out of the strike zone fooling batters.

This was the kind of special performance which can energize a team desperately looking for a much better result than the morgue Shea turned into last year. But wasn’t it John Maine who was utterly brilliant on a Saturday giving that team life before Tom Glavine destroyed it in less than one inning? Why will it be different this time? You might say because this Met team has a pulse and is much more together under Manuel wanting October so badly despite no bullpen to speak of.

They fight to the bitter end this time and don’t want today to be the last ever game played at Shea before they move into their new park next store at Citi Field. It’s not possible without Santana who has had exactly the kind of second half he needed turning around a so/so season into the NL’s best ERA lowering it to 2.53 and putting himself in play for the Cy Young. Though the field should be packed with contenders including Milwaukee rental C.C. Sabathia, who’ll be once again going on short rest trying to deliver the same sort of virtuoso performance to make Brewer fans forget that their team hasn’t seen the postseason in 26 years when they were still in the AL East.

Santana’s shall be a tough act to follow after how he dialed up 117 more pitches following a career high 125 in a win over the Cubs Tuesday to three-hit a dangerous hitting Marlin team. With his team up a pair in the fifth, he escaped a bases loaded two out jam by getting rookie catcher John Baker to line out to right fielder Ryan Church who was positioned perfectly preserving the two-run lead.

From that point, he only got stronger cruising through the next three innings by getting a few batters to chase that change which helped him ring up nine strikeouts.

“I just went out there and tried to finish it. I didn’t do anything crazy,” he later acknowledged. “I knew the situation we were in.”

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen, given the situation,” praised potential Monday sudden death starter Pedro Martinez.

At 104 after eight which was right around Manuel’s limit, there was no doubt that he wasn’t coming out of such a crucial game. Not with the hardest three outs to get. Especially if you root for these Mets.

“You couldn’t have pulled him out. He wouldn’t have let you,” the cool skipper said while going on to add:

“How many did he pitch? How many did he throw? Wow, wow, wow, wow. I think if I had to describe that one, I would say that was gangsta. That was real gangsta.”

When it looked like he’d finish without any drama, a one out Josh Willingham double off the left field wall made things interesting again. Still a couple of outs to go. But then Santana made Dan Uggla look silly chasing three changes for out two.

One more. Even if you weren’t a Met fan, you had to be into it wanting to see him finish such a gem. He quickly got ahead of Cody Ross 0-2 before the count went to 1-2. One more pitch would do it but what would it be without making Met fans hearts race?

Then Ross put a really good swing on one of the few Santana pitches which got enough of the plate sending it deep making fans fear the worst. Could it possibly be? But much like Met great Mike Piazza’s home run swing off Mariano Rivera which turned into the final out of the 2000 World Series, Ross’ ball died on the warning track safely into left fielder Endy Chavez’ glove.

Game over. Met season saved and very much in play thanks to Lou Piniella, who wisely pulled Jason Marquis when the Brewers suddenly had them loaded down a run before Michael Wuertz got dangerous first base slugger Prince Fielder to bounce into an inning ending twin killing. In a previous match-up versus Marquis, he had a bases clearing double in the Brew Crew’s only win in three last week at Wrigley.

The Met season probably hung in the balance with that at bat. Instead, Wuertz induced the ground ball and the Cubs got insurance off struggling Milwaukee closer Salomon Torres highlighted by Kosuke Fukudome’s two-run home run and then tacked on one more for good measure.

“It’s obviously been a roller-coaster ride,” Milwaukee interim manager Dale Sveum pointed out after his team blew a five and a half game WC lead before passing the Mets only to have their five-game win streak stopped making Game 162 a must win. “But the fact of the matter is, when we started, if somebody said, ‘You’re tied after game 161, would you take that in spring training?’ Thirty teams would have done that.”

Now we get another riveting conclusion to a wild season which won’t soon be forgotten. The Mets will send out Oliver Perez hoping the good one will show up at the ballpark when he takes on fellow lefty Scott Olsen. They’ll honor their past before the big game and then start up less than an hour before Sabathia gets the ball against Cub no-name Angel Guzman, who’s subbing in place of Carlos Zambrano much to Met fans’ chagrin.

Such is the situation when the NL’s best team has nothing to play for and will probably sit out many regulars in preparation for Wednesday.

“I didn’t think about tomorrow, I thought about today,” Santana added while keeping perspective for why he had such success.

Now, it all comes down to this with a possible one game playoff at Shea tomorrow if necessary.

Martinez then appropriately shouted as he departed the one word which sums it up:

“Manana!”

Only time shall tell for these Amazin’s.

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

Mets need to take fans Home

September 27, 2008 in Articles, MLB, NY Mets

They’re not even my baseball team. It’s always been known that I root for the other New York team known as the Yankees, who this time weren’t good enough to make October. They just never got untracked and by the time they played their best ball, it was way too late to help the cause.

Sure. It’s nice that they’re still playing hard since they closed Yankee Stadium having taken nine of 10 after last night’s 19-8 drubbing of the archrival Red Sox in Fenway helped insure Tampa Bay’s first ever AL East Division Title. How cool is that? I sure hope the Rays do well in their first ever postseason as Joe Maddon’s gritty ballclub deserves all the kudos they get! More than you can say for Joe Girardi’s first season as Yankee skipper and his rocky relationship with the press which he caused by purposely lying about some of his players’ health status.

While the circus will be officially letting out of the Bronx Zoo Monday after a great 13-year ride, that other New York team is driving their fans nuts wondering if they’ll somehow make the playoffs or if it will be another September to forget. The last three days still can’t be explained unless you’re a Met fan.

I’ve never really cared one way or another since I was a little kid rooting for the 1986 Amazin’ Mets take this city on a wild ride nobody will ever forget. If you were around, you know where you were the day Bill Buckner let Mookie Wilson’s little trickler as legendary announcer Vince Scully called it get through his legs into right field allowing a disbelieving Ray Knight to score the winning run in one of the greatest two out rallies in World Series history. I can still see the WS MVP’s hands on his helmet. It’s just one of those defining moments which stands out along with all the unbelievable two strike two out base hits Davey Johnson’s destined ballclub strung together to shock the Red Sox and NBC.

Twenty two years later, here is another resilient exciting gritty bunch facing possible elimination from postseason contention today with their bread and butter ace Johan Santana taking the ball on three days rest against a Marlins team who openly has stated they want to end their season just like last year. The question is will the heavy rain forecast for today’s game at Shea delay making baseball’s most schizo fanbase wait even longer?

In such a topsy turvy roller coaster ride of emotions since the personable Jerry Manuel took over for Willie Randolph in June, why not? What’s another 24 hours for these Met fans who are living and dying with every pitch? The dying of course should be underlined considering the kind of stinging losses their team has inflicted making something which seemed so promising a week prior look so dire because now the Mets need help from Lou Piniella’s Cubs, who are getting ready for October resting guys in Milwaukee this weekend.

Not only must Santana deliver another big performance on short rest for just the second time in his career but his team will be curiously watching the scoreboard hoping for Cubbies to cross home plate against Ben Sheets, who’s taking the ball despite questions about his arm in hopes of getting the Brewers to their first serious baseball in 26 years.

The Mets need a win and a Brewer loss to at least have destiny in their own hands for Sunday’s final scheduled regular season games. Somehow, they want to come out with two wins and hope Milwaukee splits so there’s at least a one-game playoff to be played in Queens due to New York winning the coin flip.

Cause at the moment, the NL East looks lost as the Phillies have played tremendous down the stretch winning 11 of 14 thanks in large part to NL MVP candidate Ryan Howard, who slugged a three-run homer and had an RBI double knocking in half in their 8-4 win over the majors worst team the Nationals. The same one which took the first two drawing a split of four against those Mets last week when things looked much more hopeful. Then, the division was realistic. Now, they’re two behind with two to play and the Phillies’ Magic No. is down to one. So, one win or a Met defeat will seal a second consecutive NL East to Charlie Manuel’s bunch.

How did the Amazin’s get into this pickle? Well, losing two to Washington and two of three to the hated Braves in Atlanta wasn’t exactly the recipe. It still pales in comparison to what’s taken place this week. Even if you were the most optimistic Met fan, you didn’t want to see the Cubs at Shea for four because that’s how good they really are. Piniella sat out star players in every game and still came away with a split.

Santana of course won his game tossing a career high 125 pitches in eight frames fanning 10 Tuesday to even up the series. Everyone knows what happened the next night where this team suffered their most excruciating loss of the year blowing so many golden opportunities to win the game in one of those final at bats. If only David Wright didn’t chase ball four with bright eyed rookie Daniel Murphy 90 feet away with nobody out. If only the bad Oliver Perez didn’t show up spoiling Carlos Delgado’s grand slam for what should’ve been a win. If. A word which might be repeated often by a frustrated fanbase dying to see their team come through erasing last year’s bitter memories.

Such a defeat had fans exasperated fearing the worst even leaving NY SportsDay colleague Joe McDonald to declare the Met season finished.

But with this team, you knew better. Under Manuel, despite not having any pen to speak of with no Billy Wagner, this team has always responded well to adversity. They showed plenty of heart Thursday never giving up coming back from three down against the Cubs with the kinda improbable two out eighth inning rally which made even this guy think maybe they’re destined for special things. How could one not when Carlos Beltran beat out an infield hit and then Ryan Church followed with another hit to keep it going?

Then, it was little used reserve second baseman Ramon Martinez who is of no relation to Pedro’s older brother and former Dodger delivering the big hit getting his desperate team a run closer. By now as I was driving home from a meaningless Lightning-Rangers exhibition game, I knew third string catcher Robinson Cancel would somehow come through because if Martinez, who entered with one hit the entire year could get a hit, so too would another journeyman delivering a tying single but not without dramatics. Church was a dead duck but even without sliding, he somehow eluded the tag touching home plate to miraculously tie the game 6-6.

Howie Rose’s excitement on WFAN was at a decibel level. You could feel the little kid in him coming out. Why not? This Met team has been fun to watch even for opposing fans. In the ninth, it didn’t matter that Murphy missed a sign bunting foul for strike three with Jose Reyes on first. The lightning rod of the Met offense swiped second a batter later and would come around to score three batters later when Carlos Beltran walked off after Piniella intentionally walked Delgado putting two runners on. It didn’t matter if Wright again came up small striking out because Beltran was the hero allowing his team to celebrate along with the 20,000 loyal fans who remained despite lots of wind swept rain.

There were the Mets saving their season because the Brewers a few minutes later responded with Ryan Braun’s first career grand slam in the 10th sweeping the Pirates to keep pace. You had to feel good though because they were still tied for the wild card and only a game behind the Phils, who dropped two of three to Atlanta.

Then came last night where the Marlins immediately scored a pair of runs off Mike Pelfrey beating him for the fourth time this season by a count of 6-1. The troubling aspect was it looked too easy despite all the runners the Mets left on base the first few innings against rookie Chris Volstad. They just couldn’t muster up enough energy to carry the momentum from such a magical come from behind win.

Why not? Because this is who these Mets are this season. The weirdest team in baseball. Where one day they look like a serious contender who just won’t die. And then the next, they invent tough ways to lose or lay a proverbial egg like last night putting their season on the brink with the Brewers winning a fifth straight 5-1 over the Cubs and the Phils taking care of business.

So, do they have another miracle in them? It’s not entirely up to them but you can bet they’ll try their best to take Met fans home.

Hopefully not for good.

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

More HB

September 17, 2008 in More HB

-Thanks to Milwaukee’s continued slide dropping a fifth straight falling 5-4 to the Cubs at Wrigley, the slumping Mets are still in playoff position half a game in front of the Brew Crew for the NL wild card. At this point, frantic Amazin fans will take it as long as it means October baseball. After giving a run back, Cubs closer Kerry Wood pitched out of a first and third jam by getting Brewer first base slugger Prince Fielder looking to move the Cubs within a couple of wrapping up the NL Central.

For Milwaukee who tried to get a ‘W’ for new interim skipper Dale Sveum, it was a blown opportunity as ace C.C. Sabathia was handed his first defeat and they wasted a two homer game from Fielder. A couple of weeks ago, it looked like they were a playoff lock and might even push the Cubbies for the division. Now, they’re fighting for their playoff lives against the NL East runner-up, the slumping Astros, fading Cardinals and possibly even the Marlins if they suddenly keep on winning as they did last night for a sixth straight win.

-Meanwhile, the Mets trail by half a game cause NL MVP candidate Ryan Howard slugged his major league leading 45th- a two-run shot on a full count with two outs in the eighth lifting the Phillies to a come from behind 8-7 road win over Atlanta. The Phillies’ first base slugger has caught fire this month doing everything he can to get his team another division title by hitting .396 with eight dingers and 22 RBI’s. In fact, the past four seasons, he leads the majors with 38 long balls in September. Still, the 2006 NL MVP has no clue as to why he heats up at the right time of the month:

“Maybe it’s just the pennant races are heating up. I’m just trying to go out there and do what I can to help my team.”

Whatever the reason, his teammates have to be very pleased because he’s coming up money. Last year’s MVP Jimmy Rollins has also come around at this key time batting .368 with a couple of homers, nine RBI’s, four steals and 11 runs scored. So, while Chase Utley and Pat Burrell remain MIA, Charlie Manuel can at least take solace knowing a couple of his best stars along with underrated gritty players Jayson Werth (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI’s, 3 R) Shane Victorino (3 hits, RBI) and even Carlos Ruiz (solo HR) are raking, he has to feel good about his team’s chances. Even if closer Brad Lidge made it interesting loading the bases on three walks before striking out pinch hitter Gregor Blanco to go for 37-for-37 in save opportunities in his first season with his new club.

-What can be said about the Mets when they couldn’t come up with one run against Odalis Perez in seven-plus innings? Not much. Apparently, they left their bats at Shea or are stuck in a time warp thinking it’s 2007 all over again. Thing is there’s still plenty of time to turn it around. But the best they can do is a split against baseball’s worst team after having scored one run in 18 innings. Not only did they not score last night despite a quality effort from Mike Pelfrey in which he went seven permitting one run which was enough to take a hard luck loss. But they also lost the services of surprise left fielder Fernando Tatis, whose diving attempt at a two out Perez double resulted in a separated right shoulder ending his season. Sadly, that missed catch led to a Nats’ two out rally as Willie Harris walked and then Met killer Christian Guzman’s ground rule double scored the only run of the game.

It was a half inning later that Harris would make the defensive play of the game robbing David Wright of a sure two-run go-ahead double ending the inning instead with a nice running over the basket catch. Now, I’m not a Met fan. But how come everytime I see highlights, Harris is always making some sorta defensive gem against them? You just gotta wonder.

-Congrats to Derek Jeter on breaking Lou Gehrig’s all-time home record with a single to left in the home first in the Yanks’ 6-2 loss to the White Sox. With this being the final homestand ever played at Yankee Stadium, Jeter will forever be the man who needed fewer games (more ABs) to beat out one of the all-time greats. With two hits last night, he’s up to 1,271 with still five games left with the finale closing out Sunday Night versus the Orioles. In as disappointing a season as his team’s had, at least Jeter continues to put forth the effort and give Yankee fans something to take with them as closing time approaches:

“It’s kind of hard to enjoy it because we lost the game. But this is something that is pretty special. I mean, I’d be lying to you if I said it wasn’t. Records are made to be broken, but this one at least will never be broken.”

At least for once the elegant Yankee captain admitted that it meant a little extra. It should. :-)

-I’ve heard a few Met fans call up WFAN and mock Jeter referring to most of those hits as singles and even a couple using “overrated.” Say what you will. But there has never been anything more ridiculous uttered about a shortstop who became the model of consistency and defines all the success the Yankees had when they weren’t a team full of superstars at every position. That’s what the Mike Lupicas of the world who’ll mention payroll till their death beds never seem to grasp. The old Yankee way saw them not always go for the top star and fill voids with underrated gritty performers such as Scott Brosius and Tino Martinez through trades when management actually let the real baseball people evaluate the farm and sell high.

Now, it’s become a circus where suddenly Melky Cabrera goes from starting center fielder to never to be seen again with only Brett Gardner getting every start down the stretch. This is really what you’re dealing with. I like Gardner and remember him here but why even have Cabrera back up if he’s not even going to get another chance? That btw opposes what Brian Cashman said at the time the struggling 24 year-old got sent down. I guess he’s already washed up.

-Kudos to the Rays for pushing across a run edging the Red Sox on Dioner Navarro’s walkoff to stay atop the AL East. That team has shown tremendous resiliency amidst all the injuries and pressure. What heart!

-You want a manager who should get axed. Look no further than what’s happened in Arizona where the D-Backs got out of the gate great but have fallen apart and now trail the Dodgers by four and a half on the verge of extinction. Bob Melvin had arguably the best pitcher in ace Brandon Webb and got Dan Haren along with a mostly healthy Randy Johnson. Plus they went out and got slugger Adam Dunn on the cheap to address the middle of the order. You would’ve thought it would be enough to stay afloat in such a poor division. Someone has to take the fall if they don’t put together a miraculous comeback.

-Is there any more dominant starter than the Giants’ Tim Lincecum? The former 2006 No.1 pick has been lights out on a subpar team with little offense posting a 17-3 record with a 2.43 ERA while pacing the bigs with 237 strikeouts. In his last outing, he went the distance three-hitting the Padres walking three and fanning 12 while throwing an unheard of 138 pitches. How did this happen? You mean a manager actually let their young pitcher stay in the game and finish it?!?!?!?!?! Well, it was his first ever complete game shutout. He had been going into the eighth a few times. Even more amazing is that on a team which has won 68 games, the 24 year-old has won five of his last six and six of his last eight decisions. In fact, his last defeat came on July 20 to Milwaukee giving up five earned including two dingers in five frames. He’s allowed only 10 long balls all year and just one since that outing.

Terrific Tim (Since 7/20)

10 GS, 6-0 Record, 72 IP, 44 H, 16 R, 14 ER, 1.75 ERA, 26 BB, 94 K’s+

+Struckout at least 10-or-more in five games

Note: Lincecum has eight games where he’s hit double digits this season.

Does it get any better than that? What happens when Chris “Mad Dog” Russo’s Giants figure out how to win? Just how special can this kid be? Keep your fingers crossed.

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

More HB

September 15, 2008 in More HB

-The big story today came out of Milwaukee where they axed manager Ned Yost with only 12 games remaining in their season. The Brewers just were swept and caught by the Phillies dropping a double header yesterday allowing Philadelphia to tie them for the NL wild card lead. Both are now 83-67 two and a half clear of the Astros who a day after getting no-hit by Carlos Zambrano were no-hit into the seventh by Ted Lilly falling 6-1 to the Cubs dropping both makeup games in Milwaukee due to Hurricane Ike.

Milwaukee dropped all four games to the Phils falling into a shocking tie for the WC by getting outscored 26-10. That was 11 defeats in their last 14 and was enough to cost Yost his job. He managed them for six years turning them into a contender. But after last year’s September dive saw them blow as much as an eight and a half game lead losing the division to the Cubs, they were once again falling apart at the wrong time of the year making you wonder if they’d once again miss the postseason. They haven’t seen October since 1982 and ironically hired former ’82 first round pick Dale Sveum, who had been serving as their third base coach.

He’ll try to save their season which won’t be easy considering the first three will be at Wrigley. Not long ago, it looked like they could even catch the Cubs for the NL Central but now they sit eight out knowing it’s wild card or bust. So, the change was made. GM Doug Melvin indicated that it wasn’t easy but explained further:

“The club is just not performing close to the way they performed earlier. We have 12 days left and we don’t know what could jumpstart the club. This was, I guess, the only thing we thought had a chance of jump-starting the club. … It’s tough when you have someone who has done what Ned has done for the organization, built the organization back where it hasn’t been in 15 years. I feel sometimes I quit on Ned a little bit by not allowing him to do it for the last two weeks. But in the end, the decision was made.”

Desperate times call for desperate measures. With rental C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets headed to free agency, it’s no wonder Melvin pulled the trigger. This is his team’s best opportunity to get back to October and compete for a World Series. Get in and they could go all the way. Fail and they’ll probably lose both their top two starters and have a very different look next year having sacrificed top outfield prospect Matt Laporta in the Sabathia deal. Suddenly, they’ll have to rebuild.

The Brew Crew better find their big bats and put their best swings before it’s too late or they’ll once again have collapsed. Only this time, it’d be much worse cause many took this team seriously and felt they could go all the way.

-Speaking of teams in trouble, the Mets are in danger of losing the first of four to baseball’s worst team Washington trailing 4-1 in the seventh. Somehow, they’ve managed only one hit against Long Beach, NY native John Lannan in seven innings while a Nats team that features ex-Mets Lastings Milledge and Anderson Hernandez have gotten four off struggling Pedro Martinez. Considering Jerry Manuel’s club just blew two to the Braves thanks to their pigpen, this isn’t the way to begin their final road trip of the season. If they don’t rally, suddenly a three game lead just a couple of days prior turns into half a game over the Phillies. Good thing the Brewers continue to lose making the WC a viable option.

-Congrats to Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter on tying Lou Gehrig for the most hits ever at Yankee Stadium. The Yankee captain tormented the Rays finishing 9-for-11 this past weekend including three hits in yesterday’s 8-4 win which saw him tie it in style by going opposite field for his 11th homer of the season. In what’s otherwise been a miserable final year at the House that Ruth Built with no October baseball for the first time in 14 years, the 34 year-old former 1992 first round pick gave fans something to cheer about Sunday using the short porch to greet former Rays No.1 pick David Price in the fifth for his 1,269th hit at the Stadium. Of course, it was bittersweet for Jeter who’s never missed October since he’s been here:

“It’s definitely special. They always say records are meant to be broken but this one, with the stadium closing here in a week, you know at least I know I tied for it.”

According to a scout who watched the Yankees this weekend in an interesting Kevin Kernan piece, some of Jeter’s teammates didn’t look like they were giving their all but also noted that wasn’t the case for the shortstop who prides himself on putting forth his best effort day in and day out.

It’s little surprise that Jeter who has struggled much of the season has gotten his average over .300 and even looks like he’ll drive in more runs than last year. He’s a battler. You wish you could say that for everyone on this underachieving bunch with lackadaisical play from younger talented players like second baseman Robinson Cano, who finally got benched for a lack of hustle in the second game yesterday. Pride needs to be restored in the Bronx when the new Stadium is unleashed next Spring.

-Are the Jets still Un4gettable and a lock to win the AFC East after that dreadful home showing versus a Tom Brady-less Bill Belichick Patriot team? More like forgettable as the game which they lost 19-10 in Brett Favre’s home debut was unwatchable. Had it not been for a fantasy hockey draft, I’d have dozed off. And can anyone explain Eric Mangini’s insistence on running Thomas Jones as much as possible including three straight times from the NE 2? Isn’t that why they got No.4? Bryan Schottenheimer’s playcalling was putrid making ya wonder if it was Browning Nagle or Neil O’Donnell behind center and not a future Hall of Fame quarterback.

-Say this for Belichick. He might be a cheater but he sure can coach totally outclassing his former SpyGate understudy yesterday. The Pats D played well giving them a chance and they managed the game well offensively not allowing Matt Cassell, who hadn’t started since high school to make any costly mistakes. A smart simple game plan. Somehow, Belichick will keep these Pats afloat.

-The Giants sure looked good yesterday in St. Louis handling the Rams 41-13 for their biggest blowout win in a decade. In particular, the three-headed monster run attack of Brandon Jacobs (15-for-93), Derrick Ward (8-for-58) and Ahmad Bradshaw (52 rushing, 18 receiving, 2 TDs) sliced and diced the Rams for over 200 on the ground. Eli Manning also had a solid day bouncing back with a 20-for-29 performance for 260 yards with three TDs including an easy one stepping up to elude the rush for a 33 yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. It was the kind of performance you’d expect from Tom Coughlin’s defending champs against inferior competition extending their NFL record road win streak to 12 straight. Best of all, Justin Tuck continued to play very well finishing with two sacks while also making the defensive play of the contest blocking and intercepting a Marc Bulger pass and then taking it back 41 yards for a score extending to 34-13 before a Bradshaw 31-yard scamper concluded the scoring. The Big Blue D sacked Bulger six times including one from the always chatty middle linebacker Antonio Pierce and a pair from overlooked Fred Robbins.

There’s much to like about this team even without Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan. The offense looks even more balanced with one of the best lines in the game and the D continues to flourish under Steve Spagnuolo. They get the Bengals next Sunday at home and they’ve looked awful so far. So, they should be 3-0 going into their bye week. We won’t really know how good this team is until the middle of the season when the schedule picks up with back-to-back games against NFC East rivals Dallas and Philadelphia, who are doing battle tonight.

-It’s ashame such a botched call by NFL referee Ed Hochuli ruling that he blew his whistle for an incomplete Jay Cutler pass on what replays showed was a fumble recovered by the Chargers. Instead, due to a rule interpretation where he blew the whistle early, they couldn’t reverse his call and watched as Cutler tossed a TD on fourth down to rookie Eddie Royal cutting San Diego’s lead to 38-37. Rather than kick the PAT, veteran Denver coach Mike Shanahan opted to go for the win. Much like the week before in which they couldn’t stop Jake Delhomme from beating them on the final play, they allowed Cutler to thread the needle to Royal again losing for a second straight week in devastating fashion this time by a point. Unfortunately, the Chargers and an irate Norv Turner pointed to that awful call going against them for the loss and they’d be right. But as Hochuli noted even admitting to the San Diego coach he blew it, there was nothing they could do:

“All we can do to fix it is put the ball at the spot that it hit the ground, which is why we moved it back to the 10-yard line and the down counts and it becomes third down.”

A tough break for the Lightning Bolts who lost star LB Shawne Merriman to season-ending knee surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his knee. Instead of being 1-1 tied with Denver for the division lead, they’re two behind and now host the Jets next Monday night. A must win.

Bad luck for sure. But their D hasn’t come through either which is why they’re in this 0-2 hole.

-Keep a close eye on the Bills who pulled out a hard fought 20-16 road win over Jacksonville handing them their second defeat. Trent Edwards followed a third down conversion on a deep pass to Lee Evans by tossing a seven-yard go-ahead TD to James Hardy with 4:10 left. The second-year QB out of Stanford was an efficient 20-of-25 for 239 yards and a score finishing with an impressive 119.8 rating. The Bills got great special teams play in their Week One home rout of Seattle with dangerous punt returner Roscoe Parrish returning a touchdown and punter Brian Moorman executing a fake field goal for a TD to Ryan Denney. With lowly Oakland coming up next week at home, they should improve to 3-0. Perhaps the Patriots will get competition for the AFC East but from an overlooked team which hasn’t been to the postseason since 1999.

-The Vikings got five Ryan Longwell field goals building a 15-0 lead while dominating the Colts for three quarters but that’s never enough against Peyton Manning, who again rose up and led his team to 18 unanswered including a last second 47-yard Adam Vinateri field goal giving Indy a huge win while Minny dropped to 0-2 despite 160 rushing yards from super soph Adrian Peterson. If only they had a real QB who could put it in the end zone.

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

More HB

September 12, 2008 in More HB

-A month ago, the Houston Astros looked finished. However, a funny thing happened as they started piling up wins even sweeping the Mets once and splitting a four-game series at Shea to take the season series. And we all know how well Jerry Manuel’s rejuvenated New York ballclub has played during the second half vaulting past the Phillies into first where they are up by three with the same 17 games left that they had a year ago when things unraveled. It ain’t happening because this team has too much character!

As for the Astros, as far back as Aug.26, they stood at .500 (66-66) trailing the Brewers by 11 for the wild card. Following last night’s 6-0 shutout of the Pirates in which red hot ace Roy Oswalt needed only 90 pitches to go the distance on a three-hitter, combined with a Milwaukee 6-3 loss to the Phillies, here they are only three back with still over two weeks to play.

Oddly enough, I recall messaging Chicago Cubs buddy John “JPG” Giagnorio about Houston as I noticed they were playing better. Of course, he laughed logically indicating there wasn’t enough time. However, baseball’s a funny game and sometimes, teams can come from nowhere getting hot at the right moment a la last year (Phillies, Rockies) and make a run. Of course, they need some help and given how the Brewers and Cubs have been playing, it’s no longer a laughing matter especially for the wild card leaders. At least Chicago still has a cushion to work with with their Magic No. down to 11.

The only good news for Milwaukee is that they won’t see Houston on their remaining schedule. Though three more against Philly and six versus the Cubs won’t be any picnic. It also means they better take care of business with the other half dozen they have versus the Reds and Pirates.

The Astros have won six in a row and 14 of 15 improving their record to 80-67. Due to the threat of Hurricane Ike, they’ll get the next couple of days off with the first two home games against the Cubs postponed. It’s just something Cecil Cooper’s club will have to deal with. Center fielder Reggie Abercrombie didn’t seem to mind after a multihit night with a pair of runs and an RBI:

“You can’t control the weather. You take these days off, let our bodies rest and come back strong.”

Somehow, they’re doing this without the services of slugger Carlos Lee (.314-28-100) who was lost just over a month ago due to a fractured left finger. MVP candidate Lance Berkman has been a constant force pacing the club with a .328 average along with 28 dingers and 100 knocked in. Along with those 28 homers are another 49 extra base hits including 45 two-baggers and four triples. Overall, that’s 77 extra base hits for the 32 year-old veteran first baseman. Hunter Pence has bounced back from a poor first half to slug 22 homers and drive in 75 lately hitting behind Berkman. Veteran shortstop Miguel Tejada isn’t what he used to be with the Orioles but has picked it up this month hitting .366 with a homer and eight RBI’s.

If they’re to keep it going, they’ll continue to need major contributions from that middle of the order along with Oswalt continuing to dominate. With his nine scoreless last night in recording his 15th win, he’s now up to 32 and a third straight without a run surpassing J.R. Richard’s 1980 team record of 31.

“I’m feeling better than I did at the beginning of the year,” the 31 year-old much overlooked horse noted after tossing his sixth career shutout (second this season). “Seems like the fastball is running a little more, with late life. I’m kind of feeding off it.”

Oswalt isn’t alone as veteran southpaw Randy Wolf has pitched well since coming over from San Diego posting a 4-1 record in nine starts with a 3.81 ERA. Wandy Rodriguez has also pitched adequately and Brandon Backe, who struggled much of the summer has been sharper since shutting down the Mets.

The Astros couldn’t make this run without a revamped pen that includes ex-Phillie middle reliever Geoff Geary along with Yankee failure LaTroy Hawkins who have helped provide reliable setup relief for closer Jose Valverde (42 saves). The Hawkins story is one which is befuddling and just explains how bad a year it’s been for the Bronx Bombers:

NYY 33 GP  1-1 5.71 ERA .275 BAA  41.0 IP 42 H 17 BB 23 K’s

Hou 16 GP 2-0  0.00 ERA .114 BAA  13.0 IP 5 H 3 BB 19 K’s

Comical. How do you explain it? Hawkins did have success helping the Rockies make the World Series last Fall. Perhaps he just is more comfortable pitching in the senior circuit.

Whatever the reason, he’s certainly helped the cause with his new team and has made them worth following much more than his old one which is apparently still in denial about missing the postseason for the first time in 14 years (though 1994 technically doesn’t count).

-Just heard during WFAN’s Chris Carlin’s sports report on Boomer and Carton:

“There’s still a lot to play for.”-Joe Girardi

Apparently, Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.

-Speaking of which. Do we really need Hank Steinbrennerwhiner’s daily assessment on the Yankees as to why they’ve failed?!?!?!?!?! Try looking in the mirror!

-It’s a pity that Derek Jeter passes Babe Ruth for second all-time on the Yankee hit list with his 2,521 only trailing the Iron Horse Lou Gehrig by 200 and it really doesn’t mean a whole lot. Especially to the 34 year-old shortstop who’s been here almost since the beginning of the team’s run of playoff excellence. He’s never cared about personal achievements and obviously hasn’t taken much joy out of his place in Yankee history because he knows no October is a epic failure in this town even if the roster wasn’t put together well injuries aside.

The former 1992 first round draft pick (sixth overall) who helped start it all also knocked in career RBI No.1,000 with a solo home run a few games ago in a road loss to Seattle. He’s never been considered a power hitter slugging 20-or-more three times with 2004 being the last. However, since that first season that he started with a home run in a win over Cleveland en route to the Rookie of the Year and the first of four world championships in 1996, he’s now reached double digits in homers all 13 full seasons. In 1995, he batted .250 (12-for-48, 0 HR, 7 RBI) as a late September call up in 15 games.

Even though Jeter’s power numbers will never be in the same ballpark as some of the greats to play his position, there he is still with 205 long balls along with 275 stolen bases to go with a respectable career average of .316 and the 1,000 knocked in. Somehow, in a down season, he’ll probably finish with just as many homers and more RBI’s than last year. Figure he’ll also find a way to finish .300 which would be a 10th time during his career.

-Anyone who doesn’t feel bad for Billy Wagner doesn’t have any compassion.

-It’s hard to argue with the performance of Carlos Delgado who’s had almost every big hit for the Mets carrying them since Manuel took over. But will it be enough to win MVP over say Berkman, Albert Pujols or even Manny Ramirez?

-When I’m informed that Delgado’s average isn’t that high with runners on base a la Alex Rodriguez, sometimes the stats lie. Any Met fan knows the deal here. Seventh inning on. There’s nobody else you want up at the plate with it all on the line. How many big home runs has the once thought “washed up” slugger hit that either tied games or put his team ahead? I only wish Yankee fans and myself could say the same thing about our third base slugger in 2008.

-Who’s more unclutch on the Phillies? Chase Utley or Pat “I Can’t Field” Burrell? Sadly, you know someone will overpay the latter committing too many years.

-When you see how the Rays responded against Jonathan Papelbon and the Red Sox with first place on the line, that’s when you realize just how special that group is. They might still be without Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford but somehow, they still afloat and deliver the big hits to take the final couple of games at Fenway and leave two and a half up. That’s real managing! Try telling Girardi and the Yankees who make excuses and mail it in while lesser talented teams like the Astros continue to fight without a 100 RBI guy and Kaz Matsui missing time. I wonder if Met fans ever thought that Matsui would become relevant on other NL teams.

-Tom Brady might be done for the season but somehow, you know Bill Belichick is going to find a way to rally his team keeping them in this thing because they still have a guy named Randy Moss and a decent enough ground game to alter their philosophy and simplify things for Matt Cassell.

-T-Ho says he got too big for former Eagle teammate Donovan McNabb but that’s where he’s mistaken. He got too big for everyone else because of his selfish ego and pride which is why he plays on Dallas. Here’s hoping McNabb tosses four TDs and Owens drops a couple in their primetime Monday night match-up in Big D.

-At least his teammate Tony Romo has it together. That story about him stopping to help a couple change a tire coming home from from a blowout of the Browns is a great read and shows what a class guy the Dallas QB is. Here’s our fave part:

“Look, we’re driving a 10-year old car that is sitting in a parking lot with a flat tire in the dead of night. He could tell by that we’re nothing special. But here’s a young man making millions of dollars, and he’s got all this fame and glory, and he does this? But if I ever had the opportunity, I’d also like to thank two other people. His mom and dad. They obviously raised him right. …”-Bill White who along with wife Sharon praised the star quarterback

That sorta unselfishness from a star athlete is something we don’t always see. We need more Tony Romos.

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

More HB

August 30, 2008 in More HB

-The amazing Mets continued their clutch stretch play thanks to a two out ninth inning rally coming from a run down against shaky Florida closer Kevin Gregg. After he retired the first couple, ex-Marlin Luis Castillo kept it alive with a two strike single followed by a David Wright base hit. Gregg then hit the dangerous Carlos Delgado with the first offering loading the bases for Carlos Beltran. As unclutch a big name star in this town with only the chronicles of Alex Rodriguez worse, the $119 million center fielder drove the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a go-ahead grand slam which WFAN play-by-play man Howie Rose nearly orgasmed to.

Did we just say that? Well, I was in the car and he did. Sometimes, you get the impression the Met announcers think this is some sorta miracle that the NL’s highest payroll is winning these kind of big games and now up two games over the reeling Phillies with a month to go. Granted. The Mets have had their share of injuries but you want to talk about over the top. Rose and Co. have lost their minds. If they sugarcoated anymore, you’d think they were adding even more sugar to a batch of cookies.

Take nothing away from Jerry Manuel’s club’s resiliency. They deserve to be where they are atop the NL East. But why shouldn’t they be? The Phillies are very flawed as proven with that eighth inning implosion in which Delgado tied it with a homer followed by a couple of more big hits including by David Murphy. They just don’t have enough pitching and their big hitters come up pretty soft in big spots. Paging Chase Utley and Pat Burrell. Jimmy Rollins is no better. Ryan Howard’s hit or miss literally. Honestly, the two guys I’d fear in a big spot are outfield overachievers Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino as they always seem to be in the middle of a comeback.

As for the fading Marlins, they’ve always been a flawed team due to the lack of fundamentals in the field and at the plate. Have you ever in your life seen a more undisciplined free swinging team which struck out more than Fredi Gonzalez’ bunch? Unless the ultra talented Hanley Ramirez matures and Dan Uggla (soon to be renamed Uggly for his dreadful 2nd half and fielding), they’ll continue to fail in big spots. As for their pen, Gonzalez deserves plenty of criticism for sticking with Gregg when he’s continually choked away leads blowing game after game to put them seven out. How in the world did he not send out ex-Met Matt Lindstrom for the ninth when he needed only five pitches to record the final out of the eighth? Just call it a case of bad managing 101. When your team desperately needs a game as much as his did, you don’t always stay conventional and remain loyal to struggling performers.

Precisely why managing by the book is vastly overrated.

Not surprisingly, the Marlins nearly tied it with a two out rally of their own scoring twice off Luis Ayala before he finally got Wes Helms to bounce out to short stranding the tying run at third and winning run at second. Does this mean the luster is finally off the ex-Nat pickup as temporary closer for the Mets? Who knows? Manuel is mixing and matching doing the best he can because he doesn’t got much no thanks to Omar Minaya. If the Mets do fall short, it won’t be for lack of heart cause they got plenty of that. But due to a pen which makes every Amazin fan squeamish.

Still, they should have enough to win the division. Especially with Jose Reyes playing well while Wright and Delgado rake. With plenty of contributions from unsung heroes such as Damion Easley, Murphy and even light hitting defensive catcher Brian Schneider who amazingly enough has gotten a couple of more big hits than A-Rod the past two months, they should score enough runs to support a superior staff led by Johan Santana, Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey. Now if only they could get Pedro back on track.

-I know it’s a few days late but what you saw from Joe Girardi’s Yankees those first couple of crucial games against the Red Sox was really how it’s been all year. They just never come up with the big hit or even the big pitches. It’s easy to point the finger at last year’s MVP along with Jason Giambi, who at least saved them the humiliation of a sweep driving in all three Thursday. However, it’s awfully hard not to get on Andy Pettite for his poor showing in such a big spot. To be outpitched by old and older knuckler Tim Wakefield is embarrassing. Even if a banged up Sox club didn’t hit every ball hard, there’s no excuse. Aside from that, who didn’t like that money showing by that pen in a Boston seven-run eighth featuring a Dustin Pedroia grand slam turning a close game into a laugher? Not like they couldn’t have used Kyle Farnsworth there?!?!?!?!?! Oh. That’s right. He was traded for the useless Pudge Rodriguez who looks about ready for retirement.

So, is there anyone out there who doesn’t believe the former Texas catcher didn’t cheat his way to an MVP season in 1999 and was still producing fairly well just a few years ago? I’ve always liked Pudge and he does belong in Cooperstown when it’s done but it’s very hard for me not to think he did something out of the ordinary to manufacture those numbers.

-Whoever would’ve believed that Carl “DL” Pavano would actually be 2-0 after two outings even outpitching Yankee killer A.J. Burnett last night?

-It’s not often you see Andy Roddick outslugged from the baseline but finding a way to persevere and pull out a well earned four set win over the other birthday boy six years younger talented Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Especially when the now 26 year-old American was dangerously close to being down two sets just a couple of points before reeling off the next seven games to assume control. Who knows. Maybe this big win gets the former 2003 U.S. Open champ going for a run and possible quarterfinal against No.3 ranked Serb Novak Djokovic. Who wouldn’t want to see that come down with probably Roger Federer waiting in the wings for the semis? In a year where the final tennis grand slam doesn’t have quite as much appeal on the women’s side with former champ Maria Sharapova sidelined and French Open winner Ana Ivanovic losing in the second round to a little known Frenchwoman, they sure could use the best players on the men’s side to go far.

-I don’t care about who Djokovic “hooked up” with at the Olympics in Beijing. What I want to know is why hasn’t he asked countrywoman Ivanovic out yet? At least it might better explain her poor second half bad thumb and all.

-When Osi Umenyiora went down during last week’s meaningless exhibition versus Brett Favre and the Jets, of course it was said not to be that serious due to the first MRI coming back negative. But anyone who saw the way the Giant sack leader landed had to know better. By the next day not surprisingly, he was done for the year putting a damper on Big Blue’s Super Bowl defense. There ya had it again. Just another reason there are too many NFL preseason games. How many times have you seen a big name star go down before the first real snap? Football more than any other sport can be brutal to its fans. This was just the latest example. Does it all end for the Giants now? Not really cause even if Michael Strahan doesn’t have his “heart in it,” they can move Mathias Kiwanuka back to his original position and get plenty from rising pass rusher Justin Tuck. I still think Steve Spagnuolo finds a way to keep his attacking D a step ahead. Especially with a secondary which should be improved with promising rookie Kenny Phillips. As much as we look at the D, the offense doesn’t have any injuries and should put up points. This is now Eli Manning’s team and time. I expect him to step up.

If there’s an area to be concerned over, it’s the kicking game where they don’t know if NFC championship hero Lawrence Tynes will be ready for next week’s opener versus the Redskins. Given how poorly Josh Huston has performed, they better get Tynes back sooner rather than later.

-It ain’t often they do something right but kudos to the Knicks for acquiring Patrick Ewing, Jr. from the Rockets in exchange for <gulp> all-time draft bust Frederic Weis. Where’s Ed Tapscott these days anyway?

-Is Chad Johnson plain crazy having his name legally changed to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco or just taken too many hits to the head? Here’s the link.

-Mike Lupica’s correct that the Yanks salvaging that final game versus Boston felt more like “saving face” than saving their season. However, the Daily News know it all columnist is quite wrong if he actually believes the best way for them to field a World Series contender in their new Stadium next year is to spend, spend, spend. That change in philosophy is what turned a once modern day dynasty into a colossal disappointment with little to no chemistry continuing to head the wrong way.

-Only in the NL West could the defending NL champion Rockies who improved to eight under .500 (64-72) thanks to a pair of Garrett Atkins homers and five RBI’s in a 9-4 road win over the Padres still be within six of the first place Diamondbacks. Who says history can’t repeat?

-I liked Barack Obama’s speech 45 years to the day after Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech in accepting the Democratic Presidential nomination in Denver. However, what the heck were they thinking turning it into that fake Washington cathedral stage?!?!?!?!?!

-And finally, here’s a cool sports video on YouTube I just can’t get enough of of Olympic triple world record gold medalist Jamaican runner Usain “Lightning” Bolt featuring hilarious commentary.

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

Somewhere

August 28, 2008 in Shaolin Freestyle/Poetry 101

Lately, I just haven’t felt like writing about sports. I’ve stopped covering games and just don’t have the passion to write about what everyone knows. The Yanks suck and have zero heart while the Mets are the polar opposite and resilient as ever evidenced by last night’s eighth inning comeback over the Phillies. Kudos to them as they haven’t played like dead men walking as opposed to what’s taken place in the Bronx in what will be a very quiet and sad chapter closing the only Yankee Stadium.
One of these days, I’ll get motivated again and give everything and more. I just don’t want to half ass it. For now, another lyrical writeup waxing poetic which is how it’s gone lately.

“Somewhere”
by Derek Felix AKA D Flex

Somewhere you stand all alone
Smiling and laughing in your new home
You’re one of those cuties I used to know
And there ya are in your glory fully grown

Someone who’s clearly in touch with herself
And doesn’t need all sorts of wealth
Just fun, happiness and lots of health
Which explains why you smile even by yourself

Cause you’ve got it going on in more ways than one
That’s your beauty and why you’re in the zone
Nobody can ever rain down telling ya you’re done
Until you decide what you want cause you finally won

This is your entertaining kinda game
That keeps ‘em guessing in your domain
Cause lately you’ve been all in my brain
A couple of years later and still not the same

Somewhere you are like a shooting star
Living it up way too far
Driving your fancy car
While getting songs played on the guitar

You attract ‘em like magnets who want to stick like glue
Fantasizing of doing it every which way to you
While you call out as their wishful dreams ring true
But there you stand grinning cause they ain’t nothing but fools

You’re playing them better than ya ever had before
Yet they still get down on their knees begging for more
The next victim quickly knocks on your door
Then leaves knowing it meant nothing to ya

You always were smooth like butter on a roll
No wonder I wanted to take ya against the pole
At the time I didn’t know it was all just for show
And here we are later and it’s still taking a toll

Somewhere you stand in all your glory
While I ponder what’s been your story
Has it been everything and more without fury
Or is there something I didn’t envision making it blurry

Only you aren’t giving any warning signs
Instead just looking as good as ever feeling fine
Relaxing and taking it all in while sipping wine
If only God knew how much I wanted to make ya mine

Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard if I’d played along
Then perhaps I’d be hearing a different song
Instead the same tune plays in my head reminding me what went wrong
It’s why I still look around wishing for a new dawn

Finally there’d be a way to make things right
All these months later you’d still look out of sight
With the moonlight shining down on your face making you bright
Lighting up the night making me want to take you home tonight

Somewhere you’re sitting in your room
Cool and calm as ever in full bloom
Knowing full well in your world there’s never any doom
Where every night is perfect with a full moon

You always had such a nice way
Giving off the right vibes and knowing what to say
But there I stood older and confused on any day
Studying and admiring your eyes which could make it May

Enjoying the flirtation and that reassuring pretty smile
Always wishing I could stay for a while
Fast forward and here I am going mile after mile
Longing to run into you walking down an aisle

Knowing full well I already had my chance
But never really took it due to circumstance
Why does my conscience always take this sorta stance
Can still see you smiling and getting down while ya dance

Somewhere the party goes on
Somewhere it’s happening till the break of dawn
Somewhere you’re the center of it so well known
Somewhere I sit with my mind wandering totally withdrawn
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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

More HB

August 6, 2008 in More HB

-It was a mixed night for both New York ballclubs. Let’s start with the positive if you can call hanging on for dear life against the lowly Padres that as the Mets did in a 6-5 win to kick off a vital six-game homestand on the right foot. Most of the offense was supplied by resurgent left fielder Fernando Tatis, who slugged two home runs including a huge two out three-run go-ahead shot in the home sixth which put the Mets up 4-2. The Mets tacked on a couple of key insurance tallies including a Nick Evans eighth inning run scoring double which wound up being the difference due to the pen. Though Aaron Heilman wasn’t helped much by his defense as he attempted to close out the game with Billy Wagner on the DL, he still served up a three-run homer to Jody Gerut which suddenly made it a nerve wracking one-run game with still a couple of outs to get. Jerry Manuel opted for Joe Smith to get the second out and then lefty Scott Schoeneweis came on to pop out Brian Giles to deep center on one pitch notching the save.

-Still, it was an important win snapping a four-game skid and allowing the Mets to regain some momentum as they also gained a game on the first place Phillies, who dropped an 8-2 contest to visiting Florida, who pulled within a game and a half while the Amazin’s are two behind. They need to go at least 4-2 on this stand against the Padres and Marlins to feel good about themselves as the stretch drive nears closer.

-There was no such encouraging news for the other New York team as the Yankees again lost in Texas- this time falling 8-6 despite a Richie Sexson eighth inning grand salami which at least made the outcome respectable. Truthfully, the Rangers aren’t a bad team and in fact are just a game and a half worse now than those Yanks in that wild card race. AL MVP candidate Josh Hamilton did some damage hitting his 27th home run off an ineffective Andy Pettite, who lasted only five while permitting five earned. Struggling rookie David Robertson and Brian Bruney provided little relief allowing three more Rangers to come home highlighted by a Chris Davis two-run double in the seventh that was the difference. The rookie knocked in half his team’s output as Texas captured the first two of the four-game set.

-That combined with a damaging walkoff defeat the previous night where Marlon Byrd got the better of Damaso Marte for a winning slam has New York seeing red. Boston won as Jason Bay had four hits and four RBI’s in an 8-2 win over the Royals increasing their WC lead to 3.5 over the Bronx Bombers. Oh btw…with the Twins and White Sox deadlocked in the AL Central both with superior records, the Yanks will also have to jump over them as well with Texas hot on the trail and even Toronto lurking in the background. They better get it in high gear soon or it really will be first October in 14 years without the Pinstripes closing out the House That Ruth Built for good earlier than expected.

-The worse news is that budding young ace Joba Chamberlain left Monday’s game in the fifth with shoulder tightness and already will miss his next turn in the rotation. Following an MRI, he’ll be reevaluated by Dr. James Andrews later today. Yankee brass and supporters better keep their fingers crossed it’s not too serious as they can ill afford to lose the 22 year-old former No.1 draft choice for an extended period. Especially when their staff is so thin after Pettite and rejuvenated vet Mike Mussina. Are you putting a lot of faith in veteran Sidney Ponson and the unheralded Darrell Rasner? Speaking of Ponson, he’ll face his former team tonight trying to give the Yanks a much needed jolt. So, who gets Joba’s next start? Ian Kennedy? He’s pitched well lately in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. You’d think it would make sense to recall the rookie and give him another shot over say Japanese failure Kei Igawa or <gulp> Carl Pavano.

-I’m no genius here but good California buddy Brian Sanborn informed me that ESPN SC showed the replay of Prince Fielder getting into it with teammate Manny Parra over and over again. Why must they always show such replays of something negative when a younger audience just might be watching all their shows? Because if you know the biz as I have come to, it’s all about the most evil word in TV. RATING$. They don’t care just as you watch. When is enough enough? Sad to say but we all know the answer…

-Brett Favre’s back with Green Bay but won’t be for long. The question is if you were them, would you deal the legendary quarterback who’s meant so much to their franchise to the bitter rival Vikings? Tough question to answer. Personally, I think they should call the shots here for the reinstated 38 year-old future Hall of Famer. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. Don’t expect a happy ending made for Hollywood.

-Remember when the Phillies were supposed to miss former center fielder Aaron Rowand, who left for greener pastures in San Fran? Truthfully, he’s not performing badly but given how well the gritty Shane Victorino is swinging the bat these days, they aren’t missing Rowand all too much:

Aaron Rowand

Shane Victorino

-Who would ever believe that Evan Longoria would become the leader of the first place Rays during his rookie season after signing a big extension? What a player!

-Alfonso Soriano missed all those games yet still leads the first place Cubs in homers slugging his 20th on a three hit, four-RBI night in an 11-7 victory over Houston. If he hadn’t gone down, 40 homers and 30 steals probably would have been locks.

-Daily News columnist Mike Lupica had another good piece in yesterday’s paper on long time Yankee catcher Jorge Posada having to be reduced to spectator status the rest of the way after undergoing successful surgery on his torn right labrum and capsule last week. It’s a good read with some very solid quotes from the 37 year-old veteran who’s been a huge part of the team’s success.

-As I noted in another entry, I really enjoyed the festivities of the final Yankee Old-Timer’s Day Saturday but when WCBS play-by-play man John Sterling actually referenced the weather holding off due to a rainy forecast as, “Once again, the sun is shining down on the Yankees,” that even got me. Talk about being overly dramatic.

Gee wiz.

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

More HB

July 28, 2008 in More HB

-The Mets got a much needed complete game from Johan Santana, who tossed the club’s first CG of the season in an 9-1 blowout win over the Cardinals taking two of three at Shea before they hit the road for a big three-game series in Florida. The 29 year-old southpaw got plenty of support off the big bats of David Wright (20th HR), Fernando Tatis (2-run shot) and Ramon Castro (solo HR) as the Mets plated five in the sixth to put away a three-run game before Albert Pujols slugged his second dinger in two days in the seventh to break up the shutout. That was the only mistake Santana made as he went the distance on one run, six hits walking one and fanning five to improve to 9-7 lowering his ERA under 3.00. He also tossed a season high 118 pitches for his seventh career complete game.

-The Mets hope it’s a trend as they need their ace more than ever to deliver a big second half to hold off the offensive minded Phillies, who once again dialed up the offense with two five-run outbursts erasing an Atlanta 5-0 lead to win 12-10 and remain a game back. The Phillies got five home runs from different sources with Chris Coste, Shane Victorino (3-run shot), Pat Burrell (26th), Jayson Werth (2-run HR) and Jimmy Rollins (solo) all going yard to keep pace.

-Meanwhile, the Marlins blew 5-0 and 6-5 leads to the Cubs allowing four in the seventh at Wrigley to fall 9-6 for a split of the four-game series. Former Met Mike Jacobs two long balls in the second and third weren’t enough and neither was Dan Uggla’s 25th as Alfonso Soriano (3-run shot) and Derrek Lee (solo HR) combined to slug the Cubs back with the biggest hit coming courtesy of a pinch hit Mike Fontenot bases clearing double. The Marlins enter their series against the Amazin’s in third place trailing by two games.

-The Red Sox finally snapped the Yanks’ eight-game win streak by bombing Sidney Ponson for seven runs in the first four innings in what amounted to a 9-2 home victory avoiding the sweep and pulling within two of first place Tampa, who fell in KC 6-1. Manny Ramirez let his bat do the talking with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI’s and David Ortiz hit his first home run since returning and drove in three as the Sox took a two-game lead over the Yanks in the wild card. Trailing by seven, the Yankees did have one chance to get back in it when they plated two runs off Jon Lester in the fifth and still had the bases packed with nobody out. However, Alex Rodriguez lined out to third, Xavier Nady flied to shallow center and Robinson Cano grounded back to Lester allowing him to escape. For the first time since the break, the hot hitting Cano was held hitless in four at bats. Nady followed an 0-for-3 with another collar making him 0-for-7 thus far. He also stranded five. The Yanks as a team left 16 on base.

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

More HB

July 27, 2008 in More HB

-The Mets lost a marathon 14 inning affair to the Cards 10-8 at Shea. A game which featured 18 runs, 37 hits and a preposterous 55 runners left on base took over five hours to decide with more than 53,000 rooting on the first place club in Queens. Despite two Carlos Delgado home runs and Fernando Tatis’ tying dinger in the ninth off St. Louis closer Ryan Franklin, the Amazin’s fell short due to Albert Pujols going yard off the last man standing Aaron Heilman for a two-run shot for the Cards’ first homer of the night. The final Met reliever predictably ran out of gas in his third inning finishing with 57 pitches (41 strikes). Try explaining that to a few Met fans who still want to kill one of their best setup men for what was an understandable loss.

New York had plenty of opportunities for someone to be the hero in extras but stranded all seven runners including the bases loaded on walks in the 12th before Tatis grounded back to Kelvin Jimenez. They went quietly in the 13th and 14th allowing Brad Thompson to pickup the win in relief. That he hails from Vegas seemed appropriate given how crazy this game was which featured 16 pitchers (eight apiece) and 24 position players plus ex-Met closer Braden Looper as a pinch hitter for the opposition.

Met manager Jerry Manuel summed it up best:

“We had chances, we just couldn’t push it across. It was just one of those nights.”

Still, the Mets showed plenty of resiliency after falling behind immediately 4-0 as veteran Brandon Knight struggled before steadying the next four while teammates picked him up even getting the lead on Jose Reyes’ 12th dinger. The Cards cameback with a four-run sixth off three Met relievers to go back ahead 8-5. But the big bats of Delgado and Tatis made it a very long night and ride home for supporters who stuck it out.

-The loss dropped the Mets’ division lead to a game over both the Marlins (3-2 in 12 over Cubs) and Phillies, who used a seven-run fifth to rally past Atlanta 10-9. Greg Dobbs slugged the go-ahead pinch hit three-run home run which allowed the slumping Phils to overcome a nine-run Brave fourth in which they shelled ace Cole Hamels. He was charged with all nine with five unearned due to a couple of errors including by Chase Utley and himself. It didn’t matter because six Philly relievers combined to shutdown Atlanta the rest of the way tossing five and a third scoreless with closer Brad Lidge going 1-2-3 for his 23rd save.

The Marlins got two solo homers from Jeremy Hermida and a Jorge Cantu run scoring double which plated Hermida for a 3-2 extra inning win in Wrigley. They’ve taken the last two from the Cubs with the fourth game later today.

-Meanwhile up in Beantown, the Yankees ran their perfect post All-Star mark to 8-0 by defeating the Red Sox 10-3 at Fenway. Trailing on two early runs, they used a Bobby Abreu RBI single and a Robinson Cano solo shot to tie it. Center fielder Melky Cabrera then manufactured a run by beating out a bunt down the third baseline, swiping second and then coming around to score on Johnny Damon’s two out base hit in the fourth.

They broke the game open with a four-run sixth including a Derek Jeter RBI single, an Abreu RBI two-bagger followed by an Alex Rodriguez run scoring base hit. Though All-Star MVP J.D. Drew went deep for his 19th in the sixth, the Bronx Bombers poured it on with three more off Craig Hansen highlighted by the hot hitting Cano’s two-run double as they pulled within a game of the wild card while remaining three behind Tampa, who prevailed 5-3 in Kansas City.

Andy Pettite rebounded from a tough opening inning working six allowing three runs (1 ER) while walking three and fanning seven in improving to 12-7. Four Yankee relievers including new lefty Damaso Marte (0.1 IP, 1 K) held the Sox to one hit over the final three frames.

Also debuting in left field batting seventh behind Cano was Xavier Nady, who took the collar in three trips with a walk and caught stealing.

-The hottest Yankee has been Cano, who after a dreadful first half which saw him hit just .246 has erupted to go 18-for-35 (.514) with three home runs and 10 RBI’s. Interestingly enough, the 25 year-old second baseman has done his best work in the second half hitting .341 following the break the past three campaigns. To hear Damon tell it, the timing couldn’t be any better:

“The All-Star break came at a good time for this team. Robinson was able to gather his thoughts. He was swinging the bat well. He’s a big reason we’re on the streak we’re on now.”

The Yanks are clicking on all cylinders and will aim for the sweep and a tie for the wild card if Sidney Ponson can outduel Jon Lester later tonight.

-The Brewers won for the 10th time in 11 scoring two each in the seventh and eighth including a tying Ryan Braun homer along with a Bill Hall go-ahead single and run scored as they rallied to defeat the Astros 6-4 pulling into a tie with the Cubs for the NL’s best mark. Both teams are 60-44 with 58 left.

-The Rockies used a four-run fifth to get past the Reds 5-1 for their fourth win in a row pulling to 11 under (47-58) and remaining six behind Arizona, who took their second straight over the Giants 5-3 to stay a game in front of the Dodgers (6-0 over Nats). NL ROY runner-up Troy Tulowitzki had three hits including the game-winning RBI single for Colorado. For the Diamondbacks, ace Brandon Webb went seven innings of three-run ball allowing four hits while walking two and striking out eight for his 14th win. The former Cy winner who eclipsed 1,000 career strikeouts was overshadowed by second-year Giant star Tim Lincecum, who struck out career high 13 while allowing two runs in seven innings.

Webb talked briefly about the Giants’ 23 year-old former 2006 first round pick when they shared a locker room at the AS Game:

“He was a couple of lockers down from me but he didn’t say too much. It was more like, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ some chitchat here and there. It’s always fun to play in these kinds of close games.”

As for Lincecum, he didn’t talk much about all the K’s opting to discuss what his philosophy is on the mound:

“I’m more concentrating on the task at hand. I’m not out there worrying about my strikeout totals or anything while we’re in a game like that—especially a close one. It’s more, ‘Let’s get out of these innings, let’s get our bats going.’ That’s pretty much what I was trying to do.”

What an amazing talent. I don’t think the Giants will be trading this young hurler anytime soon.

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