preGame: Mets vs Reds (Game Two)

May 10, 2008 at 18:15 pm · 336 comments

by Mike Nichols

The Game:

The Mets (18-15) continue their three-game series versus the Reds (14-22) with game two of their day-night doubleheader tonight at Shea Stadium, starting at 7:30 pm.

The Lineup:

Check SNY.tv for tonight’s lineup, when available.

The Pitchers:

RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-2, 5.27 ERA) starts for the Mets. Pelfrey took the loss in his last start on May 3 versus the Diamondbacks allowing five runs on nine hits and four walks while striking one over 5.0 IP. Pelfrey is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA with Brian Schneider behind the plate and 0-2 with a 8.34 ERA without Schneider this season. He is 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA in two career games, one start, versus the Reds.

RHP Bronson Arroyo (1-4, 8.63) starts for the Reds. In his last start on May 4 versus the Braves, Arroyo lasted 1.1 inning allowing seven runs on seven hits with walking won in a loss. Left-handed batters are hitting .422 versus Arroyo this season. Arroyo is 2-2 with a 4.29 in five career starts versus the Mets.

How To Catch It:

Tonight’s game can be seen locally on and heard locally on WFAN.

The Bleachers:

For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.

…enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets

{ 336 comments }

Paperboy May 10, 2008 at 6:23 pm

They should have saved Schneider for the night game! omg f ire Willie!

>>Pelfrey is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA with Brian Schneider behind the plate and 0-2 with a 8.34 ERA without Schneider this season.

adropofvenom May 10, 2008 at 6:50 pm

Blah blah blah.

Did Raul Casanova suddenly teach Pelfrey how to not throw his breaking pitches for Strikes? And even if Casanova was the problem (Which he wasn’t and it would be idiotic to think the Catcher is responsible for a 7 run difference in ERA’s), he’s in the minors now. So Pelfrey should improve with Castro catching him by that logic.

MudvilleNine May 10, 2008 at 7:02 pm

What makes you think Casanova is in the minors now? He was DFA’d. Another team can claim him and he’ll be with them. Also I would say with Pelfrey its a confidence thing. He’s more confident with Schneider’s pitch calling then with anyone else’s so far. Why do you think Carlton only thru to knucklehead McCarver all those years? Do you think Seaver liked to pitch to anyone but Grote, Bench, and Fisk? Now I’m not comparing Pelfrey to Carlton or Seaver, far from it. Just pointing out how a pitcher is more comfortable throwing to a catcher they have confidence in.

adropofvenom May 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm

My bad on Casanova, but nobody is going to claim him, lets be real, he’s terrible. So he’ll be back in the minors in a matter of time.

You want me to believe that Brian Schneider, who has caught Mike Pelfrey all of 2 times, is he feels comfterable with? As opposed to Ramon Castro who is going on his 3rd year catching Pelfrey in the big leagues? Cmon. It doesn’t make an ounce of sense and we all know it. The stats just show what happens in extremely small sample sizes, flukes occur.

It’s a matter of Pelfrey being able to throw his breaking pitches for strikes, if he’s able to do so he’ll do well today. If not, it’ll be a long night. And it won’t make a damn bit of difference who is back there catching.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 7:16 pm

Schneider did have a rather distinct gameplan with Pelfrey that seemed to work OK. He was pounding, pounding, pounding away..

AlouIsNasty May 10, 2008 at 7:16 pm

I also think wanting Schneider to catch Johan and establish a solid relationship with the staff ace was part of Randolph’s mentality.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 7:19 pm

…and of course the difference in ERA is not representative of the effect, if any, that Schneider has. Not in a balck and white way, anyhow. But that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t possess superior skills in guiding a young hurler through at bats and innings.. Baseball IQ is big at the C position.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 6:55 pm

Someone else wondered the same thing about Schneider in the Game 1 postgame thread, and I thought it was a good question. Willie’s thinking is that in order to start Schneider tomorrow in the day game he had to start the day game today. I thought that made enough sense.

Of course, I am also trying to remember if Schneider was in the lineup last night before it got called. Because in that case he would have sat today’s (Pelfrey) day game, which would have seemed foolish to me under those circumstances…

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 6:56 pm

Never mind :)

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 6:58 pm

Also, I annoint this as evidence that I will agree with Randolph when he actually does something that makes a modicum of sense.

adropofvenom May 10, 2008 at 6:58 pm

Schneider was in the lineup yesterday FWIW.

You want Schneider to catch at least 2 of 3, so under that scenario he woulda been off for the Day Game Today and played last night and tomorrow.

the Straw May 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm

F Schneider….HHHHHamon is the best…not only will he catch a good game but he will also go 2-4 with a dinger!

MudvilleNine May 10, 2008 at 7:04 pm

You did know that Pelfrey was suppose to pitch last night right?

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 7:12 pm

If you’re referring to me, I remembered just as I posted, hence the “never mind.” But now you can reverse it to say:

“Of course, I am also trying to remember if Schneider was in the lineup last night before it got called. Because sitting last night to catch today’s day game seems foolish to me under those circumstances…”

MudvilleNine May 10, 2008 at 8:27 pm

I knew you knew, sorry. Its just a bad habit I’ve picked up from coaching kids. Its always that one time you dont remind them to tag up on a fly ball that they dont. So I just got use to stating the obvious.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 8:33 pm

…and I have trouble with short, concise, to the point statements. And it’s funny too because I talk like a normal human in person…

No worries, I didn’t take it to mean anything. :)

Metdamage May 10, 2008 at 7:46 pm

So the Mets should use their #1 catcher for their #5 starter and sacrifice any chemistry that Santana could build build with Schneider.

Brilliant.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 8:18 pm

That doesn’t seem like much of an issue to me at this juncture. I have a sneaking suspicion that when Johan is on the mound things more often than not will work out just fine. I don’t have any idea if it really matter who catches Pelfrey either, but testing a hypothesis is the way to prove it or disprove it, so if it came down to it (i.e., no rainout), yes I would have definitely paired Schneider with Pelf.

pgiro May 10, 2008 at 9:53 pm

Once again the Mets make a bad pitcher (Bronson Arroyo ,1-4, 8.63) look like Cy Young. Now matter how bad a year an opposing pitcher is having – when he comes to Shea and faces the mets line-up it’s like the perfect medicine. Mets score 12 runs in the first game and can’t touch one of the worst pitchers in the league so far this year. Once again the old story of win-one, loose -one. I almost get the impression that they are happy with that. A 500 team all the way. Good teams, teams with killer instincts do not allow a really bad team like the Reds to come back and win the second game especially with a pitcher with a 8.63 era. Different day, same ole story.

jose--jose-jose-jose May 10, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Dude, we can’t hit them EVERY TIME!!! We made Matt Belisle look like the crappy pitcher he is in the first game, and in the second game, we struggled to hit off of Arroyo.

But the problem is, people take it for granted when he hit off of guys like this, and every one in a while when they shut us down, people act like we can never hit off these bums. People apparently just like to be miserable and critical and remember what they want to remember.

ccmetfan May 10, 2008 at 6:30 pm

confused “one” with “won”? Seriously do they read what they write. It’s not a big deal but come on. Any way, LETS GO METS!

the Straw May 10, 2008 at 6:34 pm

so what is the lineup?

Woodside20 May 10, 2008 at 6:41 pm

A win tonight could bring the Mets record back to certain level of respectability. Let’s seize the opportunity to beat up on this weaker NL teams!

Woodside20 May 10, 2008 at 6:43 pm

the

G_Lunt May 10, 2008 at 6:56 pm

Hopefully Pelfrey can come through for the doubleheader sweep.

LGM!

the Straw May 10, 2008 at 6:59 pm

Reyes
Anderson
Wright
Beltran
Church
Delgado
Easley
Castro
Pelfrey

OrangeNBlueSince82 May 10, 2008 at 7:18 pm

Reyes
Chavez
Wright
Beltran
Delgado
Easley
Anderson
Castro
Big Pelf

Nate W. May 10, 2008 at 7:18 pm

they said Delgado was hitting 5th in SNY.

If that is the lineup, it would make sense to split up the lefties with Easley or Castro. But with the Reds pen it really doesnt make a lot of difference.

Anderson in LF?

jose--jose-jose-jose May 10, 2008 at 7:22 pm

Nobody is there!!!! Aww, damn, I woulda wanted to stay.

jose--jose-jose-jose May 10, 2008 at 7:22 pm

…it looks like 2003

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 7:24 pm

Keith should get a new barber. He looks like he got scalped, or like a dog with mange.

the Straw May 10, 2008 at 7:25 pm

thats odd. the original lineup on SNY had Church in their.
I wonder if it was a late scratch or a typo.

Nate W. May 10, 2008 at 7:33 pm

in their what?

the Straw May 10, 2008 at 7:43 pm

*there

gipper91375 May 10, 2008 at 7:49 pm

Late scratch. “Not feeling well,” according to Gary

C Dubb May 10, 2008 at 7:40 pm

Gary just said that Church was a late scratch because he wasn’t feeling well.

Did anyone else notice in Game 1 that Church was about to puke after Delgado grounded into the double play? I forget what inning it was, but it was with Church on first. As the players were leaving the field, they put the camera on Church and he was starting to heave, doubled over. I was thinking maybe he swallowed his tobacco (enough to make me heave just thinking about it).

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 7:45 pm

I did that once. Nasty. 1st and last time I ever tried the stuff.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 7:31 pm

NO MOUTHPIECE!!!!! i feel something good is gonna happen

nymets883 May 10, 2008 at 7:32 pm

is this game not gonna be shown on mlb tv?

shea_guevara May 10, 2008 at 7:34 pm

Hey, am I stupid? Because I have SNY on right now and all they’re showing is boxing.

nymets883 May 10, 2008 at 7:34 pm

Never mind, i just couldnt find it on mosaic.

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Keith just said that Pelf doesn’t have the mouthpiece in. Didn’t keep him from giving up a lead off double, but maybe it is a sign of him getting assertive?

And can’t believe the Reds are playing for 1 in the first inning, against Pelfrey. And some of us think WR is odd!

jose--jose-jose-jose May 10, 2008 at 7:43 pm

Yea, Baker is just the worst. He’s absoultely horrendous. I like Willie and I think he’s a solid manager but if you put him next to Baker, Willie comes out looking like a genius!

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 7:37 pm

nice start. You can always count on Pelf.

now just give up some more quick, leave early and go find your mouthpiece.

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 7:43 pm

28 pitches in the 1st. That should get him deep in the game!

Figgy better not do his in between start tune up work yet.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 7:45 pm

jose looked awful there

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 7:47 pm

Uh oh. Gary just went on about how bad Arroyo has been, as Reyes wiffs on a nasty sinker.

I smell a no hitter coming!

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 7:48 pm

perfect game at this rate

AlouIsNasty May 10, 2008 at 7:50 pm

great now we have 2 jinxes going

WrightsRight May 10, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Bronson Koufax…

…best cure for a slumping pitcher is facing the…

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Great. Guy has an ERA of almost 9, and he Ks the side.

On the bright side, there aren’t enough people in the stands to boo, no matter what happens!

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Arroyo is really struggling. Sure looks like it. He will dominate us and Pelfrey has just become (once again) an automatic loss. He needs to be sent down after this game if he has another poor outing.

Zug May 10, 2008 at 7:54 pm

…And somewhere in the snow covered hills of Minnesota, Livan Hernandez sits by his fireplace, sipping Johnny Walker and laughing as he sticks pins in his Mr. Met voodoo doll

HITorDIE25 May 10, 2008 at 7:59 pm

Everyone calm down and quit acting ignorant. Its the 2nd INNING!!

gipper91375 May 10, 2008 at 7:59 pm

Beltran really plays a great CF.

jose--jose-jose-jose May 10, 2008 at 8:03 pm

Right you are

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 7:59 pm

Pelf almost looked like he was getting POd that inning, and doing something about it. Need to get this guya mean streak. Maybe they should steal his dog or something on days he pitches!

I_Need_More_Cowbell_Please May 10, 2008 at 8:02 pm

they hid his mouthpiece

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:05 pm

Maybe his dog ate his mouthpiece. That would make me mad.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:08 pm

maybe they stole his dog and his mouthpiece, then made the dog eat it

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 8:21 pm

Maybe they just asked him what he’s got between his legs… that usually does the trick if you wanna piss someone off.

the Straw May 10, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Bases loaded for HHHHHHamon….here we go!!!

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:09 pm

i missed the darth vader march…

ugbmets21 May 10, 2008 at 8:09 pm

OK I KNOW THEY PLAYED A GAME ALREADY TODAY, BUT WHT IS WILLIES PROBLEM WITH THE B LINEUP I MEAN WE SCORED 12 RUNS LET THE THEM FN PLAY IM SICK OF HIS SH*T

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:11 pm

alou and castillo can’t play both games of a dh

church is sick

and i guess he just wanted to give castro some time

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:14 pm

Dude, relax, Church is sick. You don’t want Schneider playing 18 innings in one day. Alou and Castillo (who everybody hates) are old. What else would you do?

jcervone7 May 10, 2008 at 8:16 pm

There’s not a manager in baseball that would use the same lineup in both ends of a doubleheader.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 9:34 pm

ugbmets21, you are hurting the cause of Willie detractors everywhere. I think you are a covert Willie operative.

gipper91375 May 11, 2008 at 2:57 am

Seriously.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:10 pm

Ramon was so impressed with that fastball, he genuflected.

the Straw May 10, 2008 at 8:11 pm

Castillo and Alou are old and crippled….Church is feeling under the weather…Schneider is not going to catch both games.

What the hell do you want from Willie???

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 8:11 pm

1st and 2nd O outs, 1st and 2nd 1 out, bases loaded 1 out, bases loaded 2 outs= 0 runs. He we go again.

the Straw May 10, 2008 at 8:13 pm

Calm down darryl – it was Ramons first at bat of the season and the pitcher….take it easy. Castro will hit a bomb his next at bat.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:15 pm

if he doesn’t then i’m gonna boo him

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:17 pm

You should boo him so that he will succeed. (For new people, that sort of incredible logic was displayed in the first game thread).

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:20 pm

good point…i’ve started using it at home too, you know booing my toddler when he falls…it works there too!

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:29 pm

you should consider booing your wife when she is cooking or changing a diaper or something.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:16 pm

Wow. Delgado plays some D

JohanMartinez May 10, 2008 at 8:18 pm

No mouth peice 4 big Pelf …could be a good sign.

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 8:33 pm

haha yeah i just noticed

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 8:19 pm

I think someone else noted that Pelfrey does not have the mouthpeice tonight. Wonder why?

I know they have talked about Pelfrey tipping his pitches. Do they think he was doing it with his mouthpiece?

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:19 pm

does it seem to anybody else that Endy has lost a step after the hammy injury last year?

ABQMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 8:21 pm

maybe, but if he bunts that a little harder, he’s safe

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:28 pm

true dat

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 8:24 pm

why doesn’t wright run his ass over? we need someone to do that once in a while

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 8:25 pm

Keith said it best. They don’t do that anymore.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:26 pm

I would agree with you if it was Brady Clark or Marlon or even Delgado, but not Wright. Too much injury potential for DW.

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 8:25 pm

Alomar has been a terrible third base coach since he took over for Acta. Wright should never have been sent there. He constantly makes mistakes. Someone else needs to coach third.

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 8:26 pm

that is true. but like keith said, they don’t do it anymore, well that’s just a shame. that’s good old fashioned tough nosed baseball. wish i could see that again

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 8:26 pm

A agree he has been shakey over there but it took a perfect throw to get Wright.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:27 pm

Do I hear a “Fire Sandy” movement starting?

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:30 pm

it does have a nice ring to it…

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 8:31 pm

obligatory i wish we still had keppinger post

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:33 pm

perfunctory acknowledgement of your obligatory post. Yawn.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:32 pm

Fire Marlon – he needs to make that catch

mrosey May 10, 2008 at 8:34 pm

I can’t believe Under Armour is now making Catcher’s Gear. They have come to dominate the Sport Apparel market.

Just thought I’d throw that out there.

jose--jose-jose-jose May 10, 2008 at 8:36 pm

I like the logo alot though. Much better than the giant “TPX” button like thing Ramon had to wear on his old gear.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:37 pm

Nice job by Pelfrey to get out of that jam. Dare I say it was Bannister-esque.

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 8:49 pm

ritualistic i wish we still had bannister post

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 8:58 pm

I wish we had Pelfrey’s heater with Bannister’s brain.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:58 pm

desultory concurrence with your ritualistic post

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 8:59 pm

unnecessarily verbose lol

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:08 pm

agreed. Just trying to elevate the comments section IQ for Keith.
Love Ya, #17

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 8:39 pm

80+ pitches through 4 innings. can we honestly expect even 6 from pelfrey? doubt it.

i sense a lot of unintelligent sarcasm on this thread. yeah the mets won this afternoon and they could win tonight, but the bottom line is that willie made some boneheaded bullpen decisions. he used an unnecessary reliever, and we will probably need 4 innings tonight out of the pen. whether the mets win or lose is irrelevant- willie can make bad decisions and they win and good decisions and they lost. he just seems very very prone to make bad decisions.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:45 pm

I’ll take “unintelligent sarcasm” over unfounded pessimism any day.

FYI, Willie used 3 relievers in the first game. You still have Show, Smith, Sanchez and Wagner for this game. They are arguably your 4 best relievers right now. How did Willie screw that up? or is that irrelevant to your opinion.

jscand May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

THANK YOU!!! Someone with sense.

Oh, and to add to that, it is possible to pitch both games of a double header…it’s not like they aren’t allowed to pitch. And Wilie kept his bullpen arms that are pitching the best available for this game. Sosa can certainly go another inning or two if needed, Smith can go two, and they have Wagner and Duaner and Show.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 8:51 pm

Not like Willie burned out Feliciano last year from bringing him into meaningless situations or anything…

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:00 pm

Wait, I thought we were discussing the DH strategy today, but if you want to bring up last year, I guess you have the right. Thanks for the reminder.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 9:10 pm

How does today not effect tomorrow? And Monday? And all the consecutive days we’re playing including that nice doubleheader @ATL a week from today? Today cannot exist in a bubble.

I sense a little hostility here; I’m pretty set in my opinion of Randolph, but I don’t have a problem if anyone disagrees. Sorry if that’s how it comes across…

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:16 pm

No offense, brother.
What I’m saying is that Willie had to use somebody to pitch the 8th in the first game. Heilman was done at 32 pitches and we were ahead by 7 (at the time, I think). Was Feliciano the wrong guy to use?
And I agree with you that he was overused last year, but so was everybody else in the pen last year. We all hope the starters go longer.

Willie has plenty of flaws, but to pounce on him for todays situation is overkill, IMHO

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 9:26 pm

Well it’s not the first day I’ve witnessed it to say the least; just the first day I decided to visit the comments so I guess it’s a release of sorts..

As far as the first game, Sosa was more than capable of pitching 2 innings and holding an 8 run lead, and I don’t have much faith in Sosa to do anything.. . It was pointless to use Feliciano, and now tonight Willie will undoubtedly go to Shoeneweis instead if there’s a key matchup situation, which is just bad managing IMO, pseudo-factually speaking.. ;)

Maybe there won’t be a situation like that, but in the first game we already know that we’re ahead 8 runs! That’s the time to pitch the scrubs. The burnout issue is just icing on the cake, and what happened last tells me that Willie doesn’t just have it all figured out in some way I am unaware of.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 9:27 pm

last *year*

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 8:45 pm

Which is usualy indicative of a BAD in-game manager. Willie is a BAD in-game manager. I see that as fact. I’m open to the suggestion that I’m undervaluing the other things he brings to the table, but I don’t see how anyone can dispute the aforementioned FACT.

Do we really want this man making the Game 7, tie-game, late-inning managerial manuevers? We already know what we’ll be getting…

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 8:50 pm

With all due respect to your use of FACT, I do not that word means what you think it means.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 8:54 pm

I know what it means; sure any managerial decision can be discussed more openly that 2+2, but that doesn’t mean that after decades of history and all the data available today that certain decisions aren’t just BAD. Might not be FACTUALLY BAD by dictionary definition, but then what is good? What is bad? How philosophical do you want to get?

Doesn’t seem necessary with something as obvious as Randolph’s incompetence.

darkstar73 May 10, 2008 at 8:57 pm

ok, you went from what is fact, to what is good or bad, which is the exactly point the other poster was probably trying to make. You can debate good or bad, but fact is fact, and saying Willie is a good or bad manager is not fact.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 9:02 pm

My point is that saying Randolph is factually bad as a game-manager is like saying DWright is factually great as a ballplayer. Good and bad are inherantly subjective, but delving into those type of semantics kind of strays from the meat of the discussion, don’t you think?

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:03 pm

Thank you darkstar, I could not have said it better.

KingWright May 10, 2008 at 8:43 pm

They just had two days off, the bullpen will be fine.

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

they have a lot of games coming in a row. i dunno, i didn’t see the bullpen usage earlier.

KEITH AND GARY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMENTS SECTION. WE LOVE YOU KEITH!

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 8:46 pm

Third time through the lineup for Pelfrey I hope doesn’t mean trouble for him.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

me too….this is usually where he self-destructs

side note: i never realized how much his stupid mouthpiece annoyed me…glad it’s gone

jose--jose-jose-jose May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Keith is a daily metsblog reader!!!! Ha, this is too funny, and he reads the comments.

Hi Keith!

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Hey Keith, help me get a job with the Mets. I’m a real funny guy.. And I’m asking ever so nicely..

You can even have all the credit 20 years from now…

KingWright May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Metsblog shoutout! Keith rules.

jcervone7 May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Haha, they mentioned us on TV!!

domosnacks5 May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Siiiiiiiiiiiick, Keith and Howie giving us some serious love.

C Dubb May 10, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Hi Keith. You’re excellent, too.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:49 pm

nice mustache keith!

kowalski69 May 10, 2008 at 8:50 pm

I LOVE KEITH

KingWright May 10, 2008 at 8:52 pm

Keith needs his own blog.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:54 pm

he’s waaaaay to lazy dude. it would be updated like twice a year, and it would only be about ribs and tootsie pops

KingWright May 10, 2008 at 8:56 pm

And it would be GREAT

gipper91375 May 11, 2008 at 3:02 am

RETIRE #17!!!!

metsfanatic May 10, 2008 at 8:53 pm

Gary even commented that we love Keith. Keith also said he loves Metsblog. Reads it every morning.

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 8:54 pm

thanks ron

i’m glad my checking account is somehow equivalent to a championship ring

i feel validated

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 8:54 pm

lol

Jova1931 May 10, 2008 at 8:54 pm

Pelfrey needs a putaway pitch. He walks people when he’s ahead in the count, and gives up bloops hits. It’s as if his fastball was straight, when it actually has a lot of movement. He needs to command his secondary pitches better to make his fastball that much more effective.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 9:13 pm

Yes. This is what makes him so frustrating to watch. It’s the way it happens.

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 9:00 pm

“hey its what johan uses”

will the marlins lose?

WrightsRight May 10, 2008 at 9:01 pm

when do we acknowledge that they might actually be good.

gomets6091 May 10, 2008 at 9:10 pm

when they win their 3rd world series in 11 years?

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 9:12 pm

amazing…why does god hate the mets?

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:19 pm

because some of our fans do NOT believe.

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 9:02 pm

when we forget that their #1 starter is mark hendrickson

gomets6091 May 10, 2008 at 9:03 pm

Im a moron and was posting in the Game One thread….let’s just say it’s been a long day.

Anyway, I didn’t know it was possible to love the Mets broadcast booth more, until Keith and Gary started talking about the Metsblog comments section last inning. Awesome moment. My dad always rolls his eyes when I mention Metsblog (lets just say he’s in the Buzz Bissinger mold) but that totally vindicated me

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 9:07 pm

This game is going to be Willie’s fault. Pelfrey had no business pitching to Hatteberg and Bako after giving up a hit to Keppinger with a lefty ready in the bullpen. Tomorrow is another loss with Perez imploding the way he has been. Losing two of three to the Reds is unacceptable.

MustacheFan68 May 10, 2008 at 9:08 pm

Hey Keith! Big shout out to you from your home town of Jupiter! We love you!! Hope you enjoyed your ribs!

gomets6091 May 10, 2008 at 9:10 pm

i can’t tell if this is either the best satirical post in Metsblog history, or the most pessimistic post of all time

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 9:11 pm

that, my friend, is what makes it art

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 9:13 pm

and your post is the most hyperbolic

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:25 pm

I’m especially enjoying the lexicon on this thread. Nice work.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:11 pm

Hold on there, Kreskin.
I still think we have to finish this game and play one more before you declare two losses to the Reds.

jcervone7 May 10, 2008 at 9:12 pm

I don’t get it. Why even watch if you hate the team so much?

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:08 pm

Que?

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 9:12 pm

Well, reference these posts tomorrow around 4pm and you’ll see that I’m right. Wllie and Alomar need to go!

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:21 pm

Will you apologize to the entire Mets family if you are wrong?

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 9:15 pm

wow heilman twice today… very interesting

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 9:15 pm

I love this team I’m just disgusted with the way it’s being run, the lack of intensity, the lack of consistent play and the predictable games like a picther with an 8.63 era only allowing 4 hits through six innings.

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 9:17 pm

im with you darryl. by the way, hows DJ doing?

Koko May 10, 2008 at 9:26 pm

And I love this team and is absolutely disgusted with all the arm-chair everythings on this site, the media, and the stadium. If they were any better you’d be doing it (in some capacity) by now.

How about this? Castro had no business striking out with the bases loaded. Wright had no business not running faster instead of being thrown out at home. Omar had no business signing a 40+ year old LF and a gimby second basemen that can only play a relatively small number of games. . . . .

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 9:19 pm

Heilman again? he threw almost as many pitches in the 1st game as Santana, didn’t he!

nice that they are making Arroyo look like Cy young. This team certainly akes things interesting (and does tend to lower to the competition)

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 9:19 pm

Not so good. Looks like his coach is going to become the savior to the New York Knicks.

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 9:21 pm

What this team needs more than anything is a walkoff. We’ve yet to have any late inning heroics.

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 9:23 pm

check that,, we have, but not lately

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:24 pm

Like Reyes play at the plate against the Phillies or Wrights game winning hit against the Nats?

mattygreen May 10, 2008 at 9:24 pm

there’s been plenty of late inning implosions, though

MustacheFan68 May 10, 2008 at 9:24 pm

Go Ryan!

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 9:24 pm

Arroyo in ‘08

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:26 pm

How many pitches for Arroyo, he’s killing us.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 9:34 pm

101

WrightsRight May 10, 2008 at 9:41 pm

Bronson Arroyo. Best. Pitcher. Ever.

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 9:26 pm

I would bet anything that Arroyo will get lit up like a Christmas tree his next start.

Oh, and now that I know Keith reads the comments, I hope he isn’t offened that I made fun of his haircut!

mattygreen May 10, 2008 at 9:26 pm

this willie will leave church in in case we need his bat in a late spot or let marlon “.194″ anderson keep hacking.

he trusts his guys/ gut!

mattygreen May 10, 2008 at 9:28 pm

yup it’s one and done for the team’s best hitter this season

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 9:36 pm

You guys can’t read. I guess you would rather just spew ignorance. Church ask out for this game, he’s not feeling well.

Koko May 10, 2008 at 9:32 pm

Isn’t that the same Marlon that Willie bashers wanted to replace Delgado with? What’s wrong?

Maybe Church asked for the night game off because he is tired.

But I guess that is too simple to be the explanation.

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 9:28 pm

just when you think this team is gonna turn a corner.. they fall asleep.

endy.marlon.fan May 10, 2008 at 9:30 pm

is it me?
or do the mets play well for their “good” pitchers
and simply just give up on the questionable ones?

theyre so SENSITIVE.

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 9:32 pm

Well, after checking the box score (I have been away since the 2nd inning), Pelf didn’t pitch too bad. Certainly good enough to be winning.

Can’t they borrow a couple of the extra runs from the first game?

Anyway, big rally in the 8th or 9th to take this one. Philly and Atl were kind enough to lose, so win here, and I think they are back in 2nd. Fla never seems to lose.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:42 pm

That’s the really sad thing. Big Pelf goes out there and pitches a pretty nice game and they can’t get more than one run for him. No mouthpiece from here on out big guy.

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 9:36 pm

Great. Now dirty is acting like a real member of th epen. Take a 1 run game and give up a couple to put it out of reach.

Then of course the tradition is get 2 back in the 9th and lose 4-3!

Hopefully it doesn’t happen, just tht I have seen it a few times lately!

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 9:37 pm

i just cant stand this. two steps forward, one step back. three steps forward, 5 steps back. this is not a .500 team!

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 9:39 pm

Sometimes your good bullpen pitchers have bad nights. None of these hits are hard but they are finding every hole.

WrightsRight May 10, 2008 at 9:41 pm

You’re right…it’s an 83-79 team.

UncleMuscles May 10, 2008 at 9:42 pm

Then dont watch… plain and simple…Met Fans Suck A**

Darryl Strawberry May 10, 2008 at 9:40 pm

Sanchez is obviously not fully healed or will never be. Once again Willie allows Hatteberg and Bako to face a righty when a left was available. After this loss and Cueto dominating us thoses two back to back 12 run games will be a distant memory.

WrightsRight May 10, 2008 at 9:40 pm

It is truly amazing (yet predictable) that the Mets can be completely dominated by a pitcher like Arroyo. Did this team do bong hits between games? With Einstein going tomorrow, this team has a very real chance of dropping two of three to these guys.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 9:41 pm

Or winning the series or sweeping. Man you guys are negative.

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 9:41 pm

its fair to assume we lose tonight. the marlins are up 11-0 and are going to win. we are going to be 3, i repeat, 3 games behind the florida marlins! THREE GAMES!

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 9:43 pm

Yeah I mean their magic numbe is down to like 120.

JDuelz (Athens, GA) May 10, 2008 at 9:42 pm

It’s a three run deficit, sheesh.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:44 pm

Did Reyes wake up from his between games nap yet? Nope not yet.

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 9:42 pm

Geez if your era is around 9 the best thing for your career is to face the Mets. That’s the 3rd time this year.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:46 pm

Is it just me or did anyone else look at the lineup for the first game and think maybe it could have been balaced better. Why play the entire A team for game one and the B squad for game two? Then of course theres that nagging feeling after game one that a twelve spot would be followed by not much of anything.

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 9:47 pm

Dang, called that one.

ANd Reyes is looking terrible now. wild swings at stuff in the dirt.

Stick a fork in Chavez too. He’s done.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:48 pm

Wasn’t Jose supposed to be getting an occasional game off here and there this season? Maybe this would have been a good spot.

WrightsRight May 10, 2008 at 9:48 pm

do the mets have advanced scouts or did they have to fire them all to pay for Santana? They are making Arroyo look like Walter Johnson.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:50 pm

Wagner in the 9th?? Getting harder and harder to defend Willie. Hope somebody asks him about this in the postgame.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 9:51 pm

Has not worked in a week.

KinersKornerman May 10, 2008 at 9:52 pm

understood, but we got a load of games coming up, including one towmorrow afternoon.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 9:53 pm

and he should be able to pitch then.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:50 pm

Okay Wags let shut em down and put up four run in the bottom of the ninth here. This team (and their fans) need to act like three runs against the Reds isn’t impossible.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:59 pm

I remember when I wrote this. It was a simpler time. A time of hope….

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 9:51 pm

not cool Mets.. this is what all the negativity has been about. They just don’t have a killer instinct. Not sure what was going on between games but they did a terrible job.. they should of just stayed in the clubhouse

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:59 pm

Sweet name Dr. Jones. I’m watching your marathon on USA on the commercial breaks.
PS
Cover your heart

kd bart May 10, 2008 at 9:53 pm

Congratulate Arroyo on a well pitched game. Any pitcher who can consistently get his slow curve over for strikes on 2-0, 3-1, and 3-2 counts, looking fastball counts, is going to beat you. The man was on his game tonight.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 9:55 pm

it kinda sucks that these mediocre players keep finding their game against the mets

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 9:55 pm

bad news bear ladies and gentlemen…damn

gomets6091 May 10, 2008 at 9:56 pm

ugh, just what they needed, errors.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:56 pm

Dr. Jeckyl, I’d like you to meet my good friend Mr. Hyde. Can we get any consistency with this team? Can anyone here play this game?

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Jeff Keppinger = Hit machine?
Wright, Reyes, Keppinger, Jacobs?
What’s so funny about peace love and understanding?

gomets6091 May 10, 2008 at 9:58 pm

are you high?

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 10:01 pm

If I were high I wouldn’t be picturing an infield of Wright, Reyes, Keppinger, and Jacobs. I’d be picturing myself riding in a space firebird next to a chick with awesome boobage.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:03 pm

Only problem is she would have Kepps ugly mug.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 10:06 pm

Gross. Funny but gross.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 10:06 pm

ah who looks at girl’s faces anywayz?

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 10:12 pm

That comment would make Keith himself proud. Mustache ride for all!

almar1965 May 10, 2008 at 9:59 pm

Consistency + Mets = Oxymoron

stumped1 May 10, 2008 at 10:01 pm

inconsistency + mets fan = moron

almar1965 May 10, 2008 at 10:04 pm

I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you were not referring to me with that comment…that being said, it is a very funny one!

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 10:08 pm

I am getting to like this place..

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 9:58 pm

and the other shoe drops

AzMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 9:59 pm

ya know, good for keppinger. At this point, maybe the mets will start paying attention to guys like him in their farm system instead of just writing them off as guys who can’t hit or play defense.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:02 pm

Or maybe as a large market team Kepp will become a superstar and the Mets can resign him. Uh maybe not, not much chance of him every being an actuall super star. Good singles hitter, that’s about it for his game counting his defense.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 10:03 pm

Singles count as hits right? You get to run around the bases and whatnot if you get on, no?

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:06 pm

Yeh hes fine nothing to dream about or say what a stupid trade. didn’t the Royals just release him?

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 10:08 pm

i mean i wouldn’t give him $24M over 4 years or anything

he has too much knee cartilage for that

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:11 pm

Right because he is the normal starting 2nd baseman for the Reds the last team in the Central right?

stumped1 May 10, 2008 at 10:03 pm

look at his last 3 years. nothin special there. this is 1 game, and hes still a utility guy for the reds for pete’s sake.

almar1965 May 10, 2008 at 10:06 pm

Maybe that has more to do with the Reds poor decision making with players. After all, they do kinda suck.

stumped1 May 10, 2008 at 10:07 pm

and the pirates, and the mets, and the royals decisions then, right?

almar1965 May 10, 2008 at 10:13 pm

I am just saying that just because he is a utility player with the Reds doesn’t necessarily mean it is automatically because he cannot hold his own. Maybe it is a front office decision based on his previous stints with other teams. Look at Nady. Based on his career numbers, he should be a 4th OFer on even the worst teams and since given as chance to be an everyday player he has been a good addition to the Pirates and previously to the Mets. Not saying that Kepp is an All-Star in the making, but notice that the teams you mentioned are all (with the exception of the mets) the dregs of the league.

I just feel that given the Mets needs at 2nd base at the time, there was no reason to give up on him so quickly. The Mets lately seem to overvalue 2nd base defense a bit too much. I don’t recall Valentin being an above average glove at 2nd in 2006, but he more than held his weight at the plate.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 10:17 pm

He’s no superstar, but I remember enough people who were crying for the Mets to give Kep a shot back when we had him, especially due to the lack of appealing alternatives we had at the time. Their treatment of him was very Heath Bell-esque in nature.

I always liked Kep; I was in favor of the Bannister trade, for example, so I will not second guess that. But Kep has always had the sweet contact rate and plate discipline; what wasn’t there to like for a guy that plays 2B? They just never gave him a chance to show what he can do.

It’s in the past anyway, but it hurts a little more to know that the guy we got for him could hit a little too, yet is now wearing a Braves uni and we have nothing to show for it…

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:30 pm

Alamar you don’t remember much about 2006 because Valentin was a defensive wiz that season. Unbelievable how good he was.

And don’t give me that crap about the FO not thinking Kepp could start at 2nd base for the lowley Reds. He just does not have the ability to be an ever day 2nd baseman? Allstar? You see that all the time, guy gets traded for nobody, released, released becomes a utility man for a bad team then starts for a team and becomes and allstar. Sounds like a good movie to me.
As for Gotay again another nobody that will get released by the Braves soon enough.

AndrewP May 10, 2008 at 11:09 pm

Respectfully disagree on Kep, but man are your right about Super Stache…he was a wizard with the glove that year.

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:02 pm

way to go mets bullpen

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 10:02 pm

not satisified with a split against two 6+ ERA pitchers

not good enough

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 10:05 pm

That’s all. I don’t think two wins today is an unreasonable request. Although some of the other things I’m saying are a tad irrational today.

stumped1 May 10, 2008 at 10:05 pm

because a 6 era means 6 runs every game? the guys their #2 for a reason. he has good games. lets not overreact here.

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 10:07 pm

“reacting” does not equal “overreacting”

today is a microcosm of the 2007-2008 mets

stumped1 May 10, 2008 at 10:08 pm

in the context stated, ya it does

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 10:04 pm

What in gods name is going on with this team? Wow,, looks like like during the break this team found “someones” bottle of zanex and had a party…

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 10:05 pm

No time for love Dr. Jones.

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:06 pm

This f**king team SUCKS!

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:08 pm

What team are you watching? The won that one a series in Arizona against the best team in baseball? The one that won the last two 24-7? I guess a lot of teams would like to suck.

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 10:09 pm

A rare spelling error from TRS86. I stand awestruck.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:53 pm

Surely that’s not the first one you have seen. I am a horrible speller.

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 10:12 pm

the team that is 72-72 over its last 144

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Because they SUCK!

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Man season’s almost over, we have already played 144 games? Are we in the race, did I sleep through the entire summer? It’s September? Wow that was a quick season.

almar1965 May 10, 2008 at 10:23 pm

They don’t suck. I think right now they are showing to be a team that is just inconsistent enough to be treading water, yet not playing on all cylinders. Now granted they could click and go on a tear and separate themselves from the middle of the pack, but I am fearful if (as in 2007) they think they can turn on the switch at some point, (I hope that is not the case).

With one of the toughest stretches coming up, Mets fans are hopeful that they can pad their win column the next 4 games or at least get this sputtering engine started.

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:18 pm

I;m watching the team that looks absolutely DEAD in the water. The one that let’s 12 run outbursts seem like distance memoeries in the matter of 3 hours. That’s the team I’m watching.

What team are you watching “The Real”?? The one that looks like a contender through rose colored glasses??? Are you on the Mets payroll.

24 runs in 2 games mean NOTHING whern your 2-3 over the course of 5 games.

Man up and call it like it is, this team is a $140 million .500 club and they SUCK for that.

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 10:22 pm

Not really sure what you are looking for here.

If we all agree they suck then what? I mean I guess we can all save some time and go about our summer.

But some of us would like to watch some more games and root for our favorite team.

You are free to pick a new team to root for however.

Hey why don’t you wait until after the World Series and then pick the winner. That way you won’t be dissapointed.

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:26 pm

WOW, you sound like a member of the team. You’re right, what am I thinking, I should be proud of my underachieving dead looking team. Let’s appreciate it for what it is and then come October then we’ll say they suck.

Call it like it is and maybe if enough of us do, then the team will finally hear and play like they should.

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Again, I don’t know what you want.

I would prefer that they were 34-0 or even 20-14 but they aren’t. But I’m not going to stop watching and rooting. I can say they suck 100 times a day but that won’t change anything or make me feel better. Plus I don’t think you can say a team over .500 sucks. You can call the mediocre.

If you pick a team to root for that doesn’t suck I think you will be much happier.

I don’t really think the team is going to read Metsblog and go, “You know what those guys said we sucked. We need to win more games so they stop saying that. I hate when they don’t like us on metsblog.com”

gipper91375 May 11, 2008 at 3:10 am

Dear Willie,

When, oh, when do we get to sip that oh so sweet champagne?

–Mets

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 10:06 pm

when is pedro coming back?

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 10:09 pm

2 weeks before his next injury.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 10:12 pm

lol….line of the night!

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 10:07 pm

This is the reason why there are never any miracle come backs for this team. Their bullpen just never gives them the chance. I know Wagner got some bad luck but he didn’t help himself either.

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 10:11 pm

Please everyone give a nice round of applause to your

2008 Mail it in Mets……

stickguy May 10, 2008 at 10:11 pm

this got ugly real quick.

nice to have the old bull pen back though.

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:12 pm

against one of the worst teams in baseball against 2 pitchers with a 6+ ERA, we tied 13-13 in total runs. Just not good enough

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:14 pm

This f**king team completely SUCKS!

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:19 pm

You know you have inspired me, I am going to start my own blog called the Insanelventingpost. I can get sponsers and actually make money instead of just suffering through your post.

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:23 pm

Don’t read it then jackass…the real jackass, since 86.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:24 pm

ooooooooooooooo you can call people names you bring a lot to this blog.

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:28 pm

and you can pretend like nothing is wrong with the team….WOW the real problem solver…since 86.

Is that what you do in you personal life?? Pretend like everything is OK until it’s too late???

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:33 pm

Since when did I say nothing was wrong with this team? Prove that. I however can prove over and over again that you think this team sucks. Good for you.

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 10:36 pm

Like I was saying above. Okay, if we all say they suck what does that accomplish?

I mean we can all vent our frustrations but to just say they suck, I hate them, etc. and argue with people who actually want to see the season play out a little more I ‘m not sure what you’re proving. Other than you can spell suck.

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 10:14 pm

“the mets did not have a baserunner after the fourth inning”

HOWEVER – nice to see billy wagner get PISSED in the dugout after one bad game – even though he is otherwise the mets MVP so far

at least someone has a pulse

GenerationQue May 10, 2008 at 10:14 pm

Well that’s enough of that. Now back to the Indiana Jones marathon. Bounce back tomorrow.

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 10:20 pm

yea I took a break as well..

gomets6091 May 10, 2008 at 10:15 pm

well that was awful. Hopefully the good Ollie shows up tomorrow. I’m out, I can’t take the negativity that’s gonna be on here for the rest of the night, so I’m gonna watch a horror movie to cheer me up.

stumped1 May 10, 2008 at 10:17 pm

i think ill watch a whorer movie to chear me up

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:17 pm

that’s funny,, he said the “good Ollie,” hahahahah. don’t count on it buddy. boras might as well retire

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 10:16 pm

i love the mets and i always will, but the collapse + this roller coaster season has taken all the fun out of following this team. if you guys get the chance, look up billywagner33 on youtube. he has some great video game recreated moments from ‘06 and the first half of 07: delgados 400th homer grand slam and beltrans walk off to erase a 7-1 deficit against the cardinals, chip ambres gw single, endy chavez’ homer off pettite, wright and delgados back to back shots against the yanks, marlon andersons go ahead homer against the padres, endy’s walk off bunt, the mets 5 run 9th against the cubs, endys nlcs catch.

what has been the defining moment of the 08 season? where is the fun? i dont know who to blame, but some things need to be shaken up. willie is not a great in-game manager, but this team doesnt seem to have that fire they had in 06 and in the first half of 07. anyways, like the dope i am, im going to follow tomorrows game … and the game after that … and the game after that.

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:19 pm

i couldn’t agree more, just not fun anymore. i miss 06′. and not because we won a lot, after all, we ended up losers, but it was just fun. not so much anymore

Two-By-Four May 10, 2008 at 10:29 pm

When you have high expectations mediocrity is disappointing. However, there were years I would have gladly accepted mediocrity but this is not one of the years. I know they have been rather insipid dating back to last June but this year is still early, the Phillies and Braves have treaded water along with the Mets and you can’t expect the Marlins to continue to play at their present level so there is reason to be hopeful even if the club doesn’t inspire you or isn’t fun to watch.

almar1965 May 10, 2008 at 10:33 pm

You make some valid points, but something is certainly wrong when the sliver lining is that the rest of the division is playing down to the Mets’ level (or should that be the Mets playing down to the NL East’s level)?

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Agreed 100%, there is no joy in Mudville. Sometimes I turn the game off to go watch paint dry or wait for a pot of water to boil. That’s much more exciting.

Remember 2006, how exciting this team was?? Maybe it was Cliff Floyd who brought the excitement.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:21 pm

Looked like the had fire in the Arizona series and the previous 2 games. I wonder…. do you think it has something to do with the fact that a team that wins looks like they have fire and a team that loses does not?

almar1965 May 10, 2008 at 10:31 pm

It is called inconsistency. This team has yet to find themselves as a team. Basically they are moving lateral, not up. Maybe the mix of players is not working? Who knows. But until they resolve whatever is preventing them from being as good as they are on paper, it will be an up and down season.

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:32 pm

NO, not at all. The team doesn’t look like they have fire in any of their wins either.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:55 pm

LOL

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:33 pm

i’ve read your comments for years, and i don’t think i’ve ever seen a more clueless, blind fan in my life. you are nothing but positive. first of all, people can have other opinions than you. all you do is go on here and argue and fight the people that have different oppinions than you. give it a rest already. and you really are looking at things through blurred goggles. we are all fans here, and we all love this team. but there is a reason why everywhere you look you can find negatives about this team. every sportscast, every blog, every newspaper article and obviously on this site. a million people making the same comments aren’t just out of blindness. there is obviously a problem with this team. in 06′ you never would have seen these comments. and there is a reason for that. bottom line is, you are clearly an optimist, and that’s cool, but you are in the minority. we are simply realistic and have fear about the team that we love. doesn’t make us “morons” or less of a fan than you. probably we are just preparing ourselves for the same outcome of last year, and if we are wrong we’ll be extremely elated. if we are right, then maybe it won’t hurt as much. in reality, we know it will still hurt, but that’s our defense mechanism. all i know is that you are the quintesential “positive” fan and just can’t hear it any other way. give it a rest man and start looking at things from a reality standpoint. this is a .500 team and will continue to be one as long as things stay the same. that’s a fact so just accept it. i have. it makes me want to cry, but i’ve accepted it. anyway, sorry for blabbering on and on, but I just had to get this off my chest. i love this team more than you can imagine. and i’ll be watching again tomorrow hoping for the best…go mets!

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 10:35 pm

amen

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:38 pm

amen II

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 10:39 pm

That’s fine to believe that but then why bother to even watch? You already know how the season is going to play out. Save yourself some time.

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:41 pm

i still care, and deep down i do have faith. and i couldn’t imagine a day that the mets played and NOT watching it. i look forward to it every day. i just wish it was a bit more fun. obviously i have faith that things will turn around, but as I said, in reality i know it wont’ happen unless something changes, ie. new manager, or a big trade or something

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:49 pm

I never respond that way to someone who says “you know i think this team was built poorly we don’t have the starting pitching we need to be consistant”
I respond to comments like “The Mets #@$#@$ing Suck and are a bunch of losers.”

As for being an optimist, not at all. I just want them to win and won’t give up until the last day.

dykstraw May 10, 2008 at 10:21 pm

duaner has looked awful lately. at least three games worth of awful excepting his nothing appearance on thursday. i am concerned.

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:21 pm

The Real homer

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:23 pm

I know, I am sorry. Sorry that I want this team to win. Are you serious? I have not even said we are good but to come on here like you and just spew ignorance is just clogging up the blog.

InsaneMetsFan May 10, 2008 at 10:34 pm

Man?? Ignorance??? The team SUCKS, sorry. I love the team too, but they suck. 88 win team tops, no playoffs. Does the word Suck bother you, then fine…The team is just not good!

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:43 pm

It’s all relative, this team is not performing up to their potential. They are still above average and in the race. Suck would be San Deigo at 12-24. A not good team would be the Seattle at 14-22. A team really underperforming would be the Tigers a 16-22 or the Yankees at 19-19.
I agree however, that I feel the Mets are underperfoming at least i hope that’s what it is. Other wise we are jut not as talented as we thought. Either way I am going to root like hell for them to win ever night.

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:40 pm

that’s what i’m talking about. all you do is argue and fight. give it a rest already. how can you possibly say that anyone is spewing ignorance? what a moronic statement

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:44 pm

What would you call the statement “This @#$#$ing team Sucks”
A quality comment?

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:52 pm

it doesn’t matter, that’s his opinion, leave him alone. personally i wouldnt make a comment like that, but if that’s his opinion than leave it alone. how do you know that people on here don’t think that YOU are “spewing ignorance?”

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Because I try to think before I post and bring something to the blog. Again, if you had been reading my comments on here for years you would know that I am far from an optimist but I do love this blog. I have seen the quality of post go down hill the last 6 months and drive off over half of the posters that I used to enjoy wasting time with.

This blog did not start as a venting post for irrational comments you know yourself that a year ago a post like “the Mets #@$#ing Suck: would have been pushed off this board.

Be negative all you want, that’s fine but be rational. Bring something to the blog that we all read. Tell me why they suck and back up your opinion with facts. That is what this blog used to be and I will keep hoping that the Mets and this blog return to their better versions.

Oh and by the way i do have the right to respond to anything anyone on here says, that’s what the Reply here button is for.

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 11:15 pm

you are right, you do have that right. as do those who post negative comments, yet you always call them out on that. which is what annoys many people on here. i too love this site and you are right, the last 6 months have been a bit testy. but don’t you think there is reason for that? i mean, it’s pretty obvious that something is just not right for the team that we all love. and as fans, we react. that’s what fans do. i don’t personally post comments like, “this team sucks”, etc. but when i post something that may be misconstrued as “negative” I usually have a reason or fact to back it up. but if someone doesn’t have any backup and just says that the team sucks, why do you ALWAYS have to fight them on that? it’s their right to do that, even if they don’t have something intelligent to say. i’m not trying to fight with you about this, just trying to back up some of the people here who you always seem to clash with. i mean, if I was at a bar and you were there, i’d want to hang with you over some jerkoff who was a rays fan or a braves fan. so we do all have the sort of fraternity relationship. i just wish we could all get along. maybe when willie is gone?

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 11:55 pm

You are right Mike and I don’t remember ever “coming at you”. However, as a Mets fan, baseball fan, and a fan of this blog I come here for rational conversations and not to read venting. It is his opinion that the Mets suck so I want him to back it up. That’s all. I am really defensive about my Mets, product of being a teenage fan in an Atlanta dominated area. When someone puts my team down without rational then I am going to come back at them.
I don’t respond to every negative comment and post quite a few of my own but my hope is that they are comments that are thought out and bring something to the blog. Not just random hate.

Mex_17 May 10, 2008 at 10:53 pm

The BS about “real fans” makes me laugh.

Believe me, anyone sitting through these Mets games, reading Metsblog, and signing up for account to post, is about as “real” a fan as you are ever going to get.

It the tone on Metsblog is negative in 2008, that means that “real fans” are disappointed in the team.

If all you want to do is wear rose colored glasses and spout rah-rah crap after every loss, you may as well shut down Metsblog and just read Randolph’s post game remarks. The sun will come out tomorrow, the champagne will taste even sweeter.

Who is more of a “real Mets fan”, people who post on Metsblog, or Willie “I’m a Yankee winner” Randolph?

Randolph never cared about the Mets before his contract, and he won’t care about them after he’s fired. Meanwhile, all of us “real fans” have been here and will continue to be here.

So yeah, I have a hell of a lot more respect for for opinions of anyone posting on here than I do for Willie.

miker94 May 10, 2008 at 10:56 pm

fantastic comment, i couldn’t agree more!

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 11:03 pm

I am not much into the real or not real fans. I would like to assume that everyone on here is a Met’s fan. We have all suffered. But again, I am going to reply when people come on here just to vent and have no intentions of backing up their comments.

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 11:05 pm

How come because I don’t want to give up on the season after 34 games I’m a pollyana? But because you’re pissed and want to quit you’re a real fan.

I’l learn to say suck a lot because that’s what real fans do.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 11:12 pm

Again it’s a product of the collapse. Many fans have not moved on. That’s their right to still be grieving but for this franchise to put it past them the fans are going to have to live and learn from it and move on. Even if you think they are playing like last year those games don’t count. The next 120 do, however. Give this team a chance to see the 2006 fans. The ones that willed the team to all the comeback wins of 06.
Right now, most of us, including me see a deficit and assume a loss. it’s hard for the players to assume anything any different right now too. We all have to move on.

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 11:21 pm

TRS86 – Wasn’t responding directly to your post so hopefeully you didn’t take it that way but I totally agree here.

I was CONVINCED the Mets were going to win the WS in 2006 and when they didn’t I was down. Then they were cruising in 2007 and I was like, “Ok this year will be the year.” And then when the event that shall not be named happened it was my worst moment watching sports.

I still have the hangover from last year. I live and die with everygame like it’s a football season. That’s hard enough with the Giants and a 16 game season. It’s totally unhealthy for a 162 game season.

I think this team is still a little shell-shocked from last year too.

But the sooner all of us get over last year and just look at this as a new season and not a continuation of last year the better we all will be. And maybe they don’t win this year or next or the year after but 2007 is over.

mets19 May 10, 2008 at 10:24 pm

Duaner hasnt gotten a batter out ever since he signed a ball for my cousin at the met game the other day! Im gonna try to convince him to destroy it.

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 10:26 pm

You need to blow it up like the Cubs did with the Bartman ball.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 10:27 pm

he means the ball…not your cousin

jose--jose-jose-jose May 10, 2008 at 11:06 pm

LOL… haha I think that was the funniest thing I’ve ever read khmustache. Props

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 10:39 pm

This team did not want to play this game tonight. They played as if they had a thousand other things to do. And thats a problem that will not be addressed… cause this team doesn’t do that type of thing. They don’t call meetings.

Makes me sick that during the collapse no one called a team meeting except for a player that joined the team in July..

Mex_17 May 10, 2008 at 10:43 pm

It wasn’t our night. Every ground ball the Reds hit found the perfect place to bleed through the infield.

Sanchez and Wagner pitched fine, just terrible luck, it happens. I’m 100% pro-booing, but even I was cringing when I heard a smattering of boos for Duaner.

I missed Keith talking about Metsblog, that’s hilarious.

Keith was the most clutch and intense player back in the day when the Mets actually won, he’s the type of guy this mopey Mets team desperately needs today.

He’s a great announcer too, he makes the game so much more enjoyable. (Ronnie is good too.)

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 10:54 pm

keith is really the best color guy in baseball. he’s not a homer, he teaches the game and he’s funny.

btw…i am also pro booing…the beer prices are enough justification for me

Mex_17 May 10, 2008 at 11:04 pm

I hate the Red Sox with a passion, but I like Jerry Remy as a color guy too. He’s the same as Keith, not a homer, and he knows when to be serious and when to be funny.

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 11:13 pm

i totally forgot about him…you’re absolutely right. i think those are pretty important aspects for a color guy, especially in baseball considering the pace of the game. i’d rather listen to keith (i am a homer after all) but remy is very good.

kjmcc0729 May 10, 2008 at 10:45 pm

you just have to tip your cap to Josh Beckett, he pitched a great game for the reds tonight.

it is curious though, why start all of the regulars with santana on the mound and the b squad with pelfrey?

and burkhart was making the point about schneider mentoring pelfrey, setting goals, etc. for his starts. pelf was not the reason we lost, but why not keep schneider with pelfrey? it shouldn’t really matter who catches johan.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 11:04 pm

I think it was because if Johan pitched another good game and still did not win he was going to demand a trade back to the Twins.

dr jones May 10, 2008 at 10:51 pm

The Marlins are a great example of a team that is hungry. The want it! The Mets clearly don’t.. They don’t want, not anymore. Who knows why? I hate this,,

The fans what it so bad and thats where the negativity comes from. Its an in balance between fans and players. you would see no negativity with fans if this team came out and showed some heart and guts. it wouldn’t matter if they lost cause we would know they played there hearts out. thats what stinks.. is they don’t.. It seems like losing is not a big deal to them.

Where has the pride gone?

Mex_17 May 10, 2008 at 11:06 pm

How are the Marlins in first place? What is their payroll anyway?

Why do I have the feeling that Delgado is making more in 2008 than the entire Florida roster…

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 11:08 pm

Close. The Marlins payroll is like $19 – $21 mil.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 11:08 pm

Don’t take this as another blame the fans post.
I do, however, think they go hand in hand. I would like to think that the 06 Mets fed of our energy and we fed of theirs. I don’t think they are seperate from each other. Obviously the fans are not responsible for the Mets doing poorly but are the Mets responsible for the fans not trying to push them through the game.
It’s a product of the collapse from last year, which is why I think eventually the players and the fans have to learn from last year and move on. Treat this team as a new team and try to do every thing we can to give them some energy then in return hopefully they can give us something in return.

blains2000 May 10, 2008 at 11:09 pm

uh oh. InsaneMetsFan is not gonna like that.

AndrewP May 11, 2008 at 12:19 am

I think it’s true what you say about the players feeding off the fans positive energy the same way we feed off their success. But I also think it is unrealistic to expect the fans to do what you ask, at least until the team provides some kind of catalyst for the change. The paying fans are the paying fans and the ballplayers are men who get paid very well to produce for the fans. The fans want to roar for the Mets but it’s on the Mets to give them a reason. It starts and ends with them; yes it might be easier if the fans were right there with them like it was the World Series before they have to pick it up, but think about what kind of analogy that is for so many other situations in life. It’s not reality, they created this situation and now they have to fix it. And if any of them don’t realize how badly the fans want them to succeed, then that person or those people have been living under a giant rock.

therealsince86 May 11, 2008 at 12:34 am

This is the same group, however, who in September when the team was clearly falling apart in the middle of a pennant race continued to boo louder and louder instead of cheering a team that faults or not had been in 1st place all season and was on pace for over 90 wins.

AndrewP May 11, 2008 at 1:14 am

I think it was the same dynamic, the only reason it was a pennant race at a certain point in September is because the Mets had already fallen back to the rest of the pack as a result of some at times atoundingly poor play. If they had never established such a lead in the division and had taken the seasonal path of, say, the Phillies, the fans would have been going nuts for sure. It may not seem logical, but we’re talking about entertainment. Nowadays ballpayers are athlete-entertainers, and the entertainment part is why they’re making all that dough. The onus is on them to “entertain,” and in the storyline of September ‘07 the Mets weren’t performing a dramatic comeback, they were performing a dramatic fallback. I think that dynamic between fan and pro ballplayer is what it is. I’m not even describing myself in particular; I’m not one to boo at the games, usually. But on a crowd-wide scale, it’s just reality to me.

So, just like it would be nice for Keith to just contact me out of the blue after reading me beg on here and offer me a managerial position at SNY, the reality is that I will probably have to settle for Keith contacting me out of the blue and offering me some kind of low-paying internship from him, and work from there. In the Mets case, it would be nice if all the fans at Shea every night prioritized the fact that the Mets will feed off their positive energy and perform better with it, and just put last year behind them. The reality is they’re gonna have to do something to create that change.

jscand May 11, 2008 at 8:01 am

So when the Marlins start losing ten in a row (like they will) they won’t “want it” anymore? They won’t be “hungry” anymore?

IsiahRandolph May 10, 2008 at 11:13 pm

even when the mets win i cant help but question the decisions willie makes

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 11:15 pm

Another product of the collapse and reading the Metsblog comment section also know as the Armchair QB club. Before anyone jumps on me, i have said for a few weeks we need a new manager to help restore confidence in the team and in the fan base.

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Do you promise that will be the next time you post?

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 10:05 pm

it’s spelled losers…go back to philly

therealsince86 May 10, 2008 at 10:09 pm

Why would you post on here when you have completely given up on this team?

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 10:11 pm

i would if i could…you should still go back to philly though

khmustache May 10, 2008 at 10:15 pm

it’s spelled you’re…go back to philly

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