Daily Archives: April 9, 2008
At The Journal News, Rick Carpiniello describes how the Opening Day ceremonies at Shea Stadium brought back memories…of anger.
Carpiniello writes…
“Yes, anger. It was in the building, and it was palpable. Part of it was because the despised Philadelphia Phillies were in the house. Part of it was because the Mets had lost two in a row coming into the home opener, and nobody waits for the other shoe to drop like a Mets fan. But part of it, a huge part of it, is the hangover from 2007, a nasty taste and odor that just won’t go away. You can scrub and rinse your mind, but you can’t wash that away.”
…just like regis, i was at the game yesterday and wanted to write about my last opening day at Shea experience and share my pictures…but i was too angry to do so…
…yesterday, i was fortunate enough to attend opening day and wanted to share my experience, for better and for worse…i have been to the last couple opening days, and this one was a bit different from the rest…it wasn’t the last game at shea, but being there for its final season sparked many memories such as my first game with my dad, and spending many a sunday in the mezzanine…seeing citi field looming in the background was strange…it felt to me like shea was that old car i didn’t want to sell for sentimental reasons, but citi is the shiny new ride i need to move on to…it was definitely bittersweet…
…in the pre-game introductions, Johan Santana, Howard Johnson, and David Wright received the warmest ovations by far…Scott Schoeneweis, not so much…the fly-by missed the stadium altogether as well, not sure how that happens…
…i won’t revisit much of the in-game action for obvious reasons…the crowd was charged by Carlos Delgado‘s home run, but after Oliver Perez came out of the game the fans became mutinous and deflated by the course of events that followed…the mets had their chances, and the crowd got behind them, but failing to score runs will quiet even the most enthusiastic fan…
…sitting in the cheap seats is always an interesting experience, but i was a little surprised by all of the fights that broke out…most of the people i encountered were very upbeat, and excited all day, but i personally witnessed three altercations and the vibe was more like that of yankee stadium than what i am used to at shea…i would not want to be a visiting team’s fan at shea stadium that’s for sure, and the geniality that fans once showed has certainly diminished…here is a slideshow of some of the “action” thanks to my zoom lens which came in handy from the upper deck, row o…
…the rick astley song was booed instantly, and i’m not sure that they even finished playing it…the whole thing was embarrassing yet funny at the same time…here’s a video i took of it…i vote for “don’t stop believin’” because that might keep people from leaving the games early…zing…
…i’m not a big fan of the new subway/lirr entrance which was a madhouse after the game…
…however, overall it was a great day to be a part of…the shea family was honored as they should be, and it was exciting to be watching baseball live and in person again after a long winter…let’s go mets…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Shea Stadium |
Tyler Blezinski of Athletics Nation recently conducted an interview with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle to gain insight on the A’s expectations this season.
Slusser on the possibility of the A’s trading RHP Rich Harden this season, as quoted by Blezinski…
“Yes. The only caveat is if the A’s do make a super strong showing in the first six weeks or so… The Yankees have already made some noises about him, and the Mets are likely to. The first club that makes a realistic offer (i.e., doesn’t want a big discount because of Harden’s injury history), he’s probably gone.”
…of course the Mets are rumored to be interested in harden, what A’s pitchers haven’t they been linked to…
…despite slusser’s comments, i don’t see how the Mets could pull off a deal for harden…the A’s would most certainly demand Fernando Martinez be included in any deal for harden, and frankly it hasn’t come to that, yet…
Harden, who is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in two starts this season, was scratched from scheduled start last night due to back soreness, but is expected to make his next start versus the Indians on Saturday.
The 25–year-old Harden will earn $4.5 million in 2008, after which his contract contains a $7 million team option for 2009.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Rich Harden |While standing on top of the plate yesterday, Phillies 2B Chase Utley pulled off a rare hit-by-pitch hat trick. 
In a chat for ESPN.com today, Utley was asked by a reader, “Hugging the plate a little too close yesterday don’t ya think?!”
Utley responded:
“As far as hugging the plate, yes, and that’s not gonna change!”
…that was ridiculous…i mean, honestly, he made the umpire look like an idiot by not attempting to move out of the way…he knew he was over matched by two left-handed pitchers so he pulls a Roger Dorn…i say bush league…
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
During an appearance today on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike in the Morning, Utley said he could have avoided being hit by at least one of those pitches.
…in other words, the umpire needs to take note of how ridiculously close utley stands to the plate…if you notice, in the aerial shot, his front elbow actually hangs over the plate at times…which is not allowed…and if the umpire is not going to enforce this, well, then the pitcher should, by drilling him over and over again – like Pedro Martinez used to do with Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano…
…i hate suggesting these sort of tactics, but if the umpire will not do his job, allowing the pitcher a fair opportunity to throw a strike, then the pitcher and catcher must take matters in to their own hands…this is not about macho or ego, it’s about owning the paint on the plate…it’s age old…
By the way, in the interview, Utley also referred to Oliver Perez as Odalis Perez.
…thanks to Jason B for the heads up on utley’s comments…
Tagged Phillies |
In a post to Phillies Nation, titled Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Tim Malcom gives advice to the Mets and their fans.
…it’s a sad, sad day when a) Philadelphia can mock New York, and b) a Phillies fan is the voice of reason…
…Update…11:10 am…
Charlie Manuel, on being booed in Shea Stadium, as quoted by the New York Post:
“That’s OK. That’s fine. That’s good. As a matter of fact, we got a kick out of that…Jimmy, he definitely rises to the occasion here. It just brings out the best in him. It seems like he always plays a big part of the victory.”
…jeez…glad we can help, charlie…unreal…
To check out video featuring Willie Randolph’s post-game comments, game clips, postgame -discussion from Loud Mouths and Daily News Live, and, of course, an exclusive Post Game Extra with Ron Darling, Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez, click here: 
…i’m at a loss…it’s game six of 162, and i’m at a total loss…
…on one hand, i know that Willie Randolph cannot switch his 
message to one of ultimate fight, anger and win-now, because if he does that and the team loses just one game then what…he will not only seal his own fate, but he will seal his team’s fate as well…at the same time, his current message of turn the page, stability and long-season level-headedness may actually be having a worse effect, not just on the players, but on the fans as well…
Randolph, talking to reporters after yesterday’s game:
“There is really no correlation, it’s a new season, last season is over. We get to play these guys 18 more times. You’d like to get the first win, obviously, but, you know, if we go out and win the next 10 then it’s a moot point…Any time you play the division you want to play well, and beat the guys you want to beat. You know, we’ll get ‘em tomorrow…but, no, I don’t think there is any connection like that.”
…well, first off, there is a connection…sure, it’s not an in-print connection in the schedule…but there is an emotional connection, and he knows that…i need to remember that what he says in these press conferences is not necessarily what he believes…these press conferences are a show, whether we choose to accept that or not…it’s not reality, unfortunately…at least i hope, because of course there is a connection…and a person would have to be numb not to feel it…
…at any rate, i think my problem with his message isn’t the even-keel approach, because – unlike football, which most fans want to compare baseball to, and shouldn’t – in baseball that style is necessary for success…my problem, instead, is with the What If-approach…
…sure, what if the Mets win the next 10…or, what if they don’t…what if the Mets are in first for five months, then blow a seven game lead in the standings…
…i prefer the Carpe Diem approach, i.e. seize the day, not just in baseball but in life in general…which is not to say that every game is monumental…not every day deserves a speech from General Patton complete with buffet tables getting flipped over…however, from what i can tell, continually kicking the can down What If Avenue seems only to result in tired excuses, which eventually turns in to laziness…again, not just in baseball, but in life as well…
…what’s more, i had hoped to see this team play out of the gate as though they had no choice but to redeem themselves for what happened last year…because, you know what, they have no choice…they need redemption, otherwise a whole lot of people will be looking for new jobs next season…i hoped that the Mets would remember the Collapse, not brush it off, using it is motivation to start hot, emotionally and in the standings, to send a message to us, the Braves, Phillies, etc, that this year will be different…
…so far, that has not happened…
…that said, it is a long season, and that journey can certainly begin right now…
…Carpe Diem, willie…like you enjoy saying, “Get after it.”…
Tagged Willie Randolph |
Luis Castillo left yesterday’s game after the fourth inning with what the team described as ‘right knee soreness.’
Castillo told reporters he hurt the knee, which was not helped by the cold weather, while running down a pop-up in foul territory during the fourth inning.
…castillo told reporters that he will try to play today, but added that he may end up needing the day off…take it it, luis…take the day…
As was first reported by Adam Rubin yesterday at his blog for the Daily News, Pedro Feliciano did not arrive to yesterday’s game until the seventh inning - as he was excused for personal reasons by the team.
…from what i can gather, though, the deal was that he could travel back to Puerto Rico, but had to be back with the team, on time, for Tuesday’s game…however, feliciano’s flight was delayed, he was late, and now faces possible disciplinary action from the team…
…and it hurt, too, because he was needed late in the game…in fact, i joked about issuing a Missing Person’s Report for him…turns out, that may have helped…
…on a serious note, knowing feliciano’s struggles at home over the last year, i hope all is well back in Puerto Rico…
Feliciano has not pitched since April 2, during which he tossed just one inning with an 11–0 lead against the Marlins.
Tagged Pedro Feliciano |At Hot Foot, Gary Grund talks with Mets Triple-A GM Mike 
Schline about the Zephyrs, who says, “We have a lot of guys that can help the Mets. I like this team a lot.”
In a post to the Brooklyn Met Fan, Adam says, “BMF cannot wrap my brain around why the ‘08 Mets have looked so freakin’ flat thus far this season.”
…because they’re losing…if they were flat and winning, my guess is that you wouldn’t be concerned, adam…
At Faith and Fear in Flushing, despite owning a calendar and knowing there are 156 games left, Greg still cannot shake what happened last September.
Lastly, also at Hot Foot, Matt Matros writes of his experience watching opening day from his couch.
