Daily Archives: September 25, 2008
My heart, hairline and sanity can’t take much more of this but somehow Carlos Beltran‘s line drive in the 
bottom of the ninth went threw Micah Hoffpauir‘s glove and the Mets came back to defeat the Cubs 7-6 at a very soggy Shea Stadium tonight.
For a recap, boxscore and stats from tonight’s game, click here.
I am pretty dizzy right now so I don’t know where I am going to go with this recap, but away we go.
We definitely saw a sharper Pedro Martinez tonight even though Cubs’ manager Lou Pinella sent out his Triple-A team. Pedro struck out a season high nine batters and was given an appropriate standing ovation when lifted in the 7th inning. However the love fest only lasted one pitch as Ricardo Ricon gave up a three-run home run to Hoffpauir, giving the Cubs a 6-3 lead.
Down by two in the bottom of the 8th and season about to be slammed shut, two unlikely heroes kicked the door back open with the likes of Ramon Martinez and Robinson Cancel. Martinez and Cancel both knocked RBI-singles to tie the game at six. The tying-run was one of the more crazy plays you will see at the plate when Ryan Church danced his way around Koyie Hill and finally touched home. Did I mention that was crazy?!?!
Joe Smith pitched a gutsy 9th inning. With two on and two out, he got Darryl Ward to ground out to set up the stage for another amazing comeback.
With three games left, the Mets are now one game behind the Phillies for the division crown and currently the Brewers and Pirates are tied at one in extra innings.
Kudos to all of the Mets fans braving the elements tonight. I wish I was there with you!
The Mets begin their final home stand at Shea Stadium tomorrow night, weather permitting, against the Florida Marlins.
Wow, I need a drink.
…update…11:15…
Ryan Braun just won the game for the Brew Crew with a walk-off grand slam. The Mets and Brewers remained tied for the Wild Card with three games left in the season.
…6:53 pm…
I am going to try and live blog some random thoughts about the game, from my phone, while here at Shea Stadium.
The Game:
Weather permitting, the Mets (87-71) conclude their four-game series against the National League Central champion Cubs (96-61) tonight at Shea Stadium, starting at 7:10 pm.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- LF Daniel Murphy
- 3B David Wright
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- CF Carlos Beltran
- RF Ryan Church
- 2B Ramon Martinez
- C Brian Schneider Robinson Cancel
- P Pedro Martinez
According to Kevin Burkhardt of SNY, Schneider was a late scratch.
The Pitchers:
RHP Pedro Martinez (5-6, 5.50 ERA) starts for the Mets. In his last start on September 20 versus the Braves, Martinez earned a loss, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out seven over 6.0 IP.This is Martinez’s first start versus the Cubs since 1997. He is 1-3 with a 4.62 ERA in seven home starts this season.
RHP Rich Harden (5-1, 1.66 ERA) starts for the Cubs. Harden has allowed two runs or less in 15 of his last 16 starts. Harden leads the league with a 11.22 strikeouts per nine innings this season. This is Harden’s first career starts versus the Mets. He is 5-2 with a 2.44 ERA in nine road starts this season.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY and heard on WFAN.
The Bleachers:
For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.
…enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets…YA GOTTA BELIEVE!
Tagged Mike Nichols |I’m back sitting in the dugout after having watched batting practice. The player’s equiptment is in place, the water jugs are filled, and the players and reporters have filed into the clubhouse as Ed Coleman and Kevin Burkhardt wrap up their pregame interviews.
Howard Johnson jogged by, said excuse me, and continued on in to the clubhouse, while looking quite confused by me just sitting here smiling.
I am flanked by Moises Alou in street clothes on one side and Brian Schneider‘s equiptment bag on the other.
I love this time of day, as I think I wrote last time.
It’s like the calm before the storm, with the lights on, and a cool positivity in the air.
At his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin reports Jerry Manuel told reporters John Maine will not be used for the remainder of the season.
According to Rubin, Manuel cannot in ‘good conscience’ use a pitcher who needs surgery.
Rubin also notes on Manuel’s decision on who to play in right field tonight and if Johan Santana will be able to pitch on short rest on Saturday.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
I’m back, sitting on the top step of the dugout, and I’m a bit more emotional than I thought I ever would be.
Fact is, I was quite lonely as a little kid. I didn’t have very many friends who I connected with. Who knows why? Divorce. Too shy. Whatever. In either case, baseball was a place I could go and be confident and comfortable, even when alone, in my back yard pretending to be the shortstop for the Mets. So, to be here now, alone, able to say goodbye, is something I will always remember and something I always be grateful for.
It’s like getting one last chance to look an old friend in the eye and say goodbye.
Tagged Shea Stadium |
I always envisioned myself as a shortstop. So, getting to stand on the infield, and lean down like a ground ball would soon be coming, here in Shea Stadium, is a dream come true. I know some one saw me, and I don’t care, as I pretended to pick up a ground ball and fire it to first base. Sorry, but my fourth-grade self would never forgive me if I didn’t.
The dirt is wet, and seemingly more rock than dirt. I guess the ‘infield rock’ doesn’t sound as pastoral and American as ‘infield dirt,’ at this point.
Unfortunately, the bases have not yet been pegged down, otherwise I may have had to slide in to second, which would have probably gotten me kicked out, not to mention it would have ruined my pants.
Nevertheless, I can only imagine what it must be like to stand here, look up in to the night, the lights shining down and 50,000 people cheering in your face.
Tagged Shea Stadium |
This is crazy. I’m standing in dead center, leaning with my back against the wall, looking up at the stadium.
It’s hard to believe this will all be gone in a year or so. I’m looking forward to Citi Field, but I now realize I will miss Shea Stadium more than I anticipated.
The outfield grass is very course, and a lot taller than the infield’s. My friend Greg would have a field day out here 
with his lawn-mower. Oh, and yes, by the way, I will post hi-res images on Flickr of this tomorrow when I have more time.
There is a group of people who must have won a charity auction, or a part of a sales group, who are throwing around a baseball in left field. I have no idea who they are, however one guy overthrew his friend and the ball rolled to me. I picked up, set my feet, did a crow-hop – just like they teach you in Little League – and tossed the ball back to him. Thank you, guy, as I am much happier now knowing I was able to make a throw from center field.
Ramon Martinez will be tonight’s starting second baseman.
He’ll bat seventh, after going 1 for 2 with a walk during last night’s loss to the Cubs.
The Home-Run Apple is made from plywood. It’s actually in a lot better shape than I was expecting. Again, it’s also a lot taller than I imagined. I mean, it’s at least 15 feet tall. I tried to jump and read the brim, and I didn’t even reach the letters. I need to start going to the gym again.
Anyway, the wood is pretty faded. I said, ‘Mets will make the playoffs,’ and then knocked on the wood. I don’t believe 
in superstitions, but I had to at least try this. I mean, who knows what will or will not work at this point.
I was able to stand on the platform that the Apple sits on, while peaking over the top of the wall. The Apple has a good view of the game. It looks 
like a mile from the Apple to home plate. I cannot imagine being able to hit a baseball from home all the way out here.
The back of the wall, like so much of this stadium, is just wood. That’s it. Again, not that I expected it to built from some high-tech, space-aged polymers, but I would not have guessed plain-old plywood.
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