Daily Archives: May 28, 2009
Update, 11:00 pm:
Regis was eliminated after misspelling Babineaux.
For details and pictures, go here.
Original Post:
MetsBlog’s Regis Courtemanche will be participating in the ESPN Spelling Bee at ESPN Zone in Times Square tonight at 7 pm.
Spelling Bee contestants will be asked to spell the names of sports figures, be it coaches, players, broadcasters, etc., alive or deceased.
“I fully expect to get bumped in 
the first round,” Courtemanche said. “But who knows, it’s luck of the draw if I remember my third-grade spelling bee correctly.”
…good luck, buddy…
…anyone who reads this site know i would be eliminated in the first 10 minutes of that thing…
If you’d like to battle Regis, email your name, address, phone number and birth date to: SportsSpellingBee@espnzone.com.
Walk-up entries will be accepted if space is available.
Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
The comment section is shut down for the night.
The site must remain stable while while I complete an update.
The comment section will re-open tomorrow, for good, with a new policy and system for joining the discussion.
Next step, building a co-existing MetsBlog Message Board, though I suspect this will take time to develop.
I truly appreciate everyone’s support and understanding during this adjustment, and Let’s Go Mets.
In his recent Rumblings & Grumblings column for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark explains:
“While the Mets have explored the first-base market, we hear: (A) they don’t like their options, (B) they think they’ll have more and better options by July, (C) they’re still holding out hope that Carlos Delgado will be back and (D) they see no urgency to strike now as long as they’re surviving all their injuries and hanging in the race. So they look more like July shoppers than springtime shoppers, for now.”
Speaking of first baseman, Stark believes the Braves are interested in acquiring Indians utility-man Mark DeRosa. This morning, Buster Olney of ESPN.com said the Yankees have interest in DeRosa as well.
Stark also lists 10 starting pitchers who could be available in July, including Roy Oswalt and Brandon Webb, and the Phillies have inquired about all of them.
Speaking of pitchers, Stark lists the top five teams Jake Peavy would wave his no-trade rights to pitch for, and the Mets are not one of them.
Stark also provides information on the arrival of Matt Wieters; John Smoltz’s rehab; and Pirates SS Jack Wilson, ‘who remains eminently available.’
Finally, after four months, I have updated the Other Mets Blogs section of this site’s sidebar.
There are now close to 100 blogs specifically about the Mets listed in this site’s sidebar, which is, well, ‘amazin.’
Among those added, I am particularly intrigued by:
- Oh Murph, ‘for all things Murph,’ as it says;
- Fan Fury, which is clever and witty;
- Kiner’s Korner, and its Benitez Meter;
- The Real Dirty Mets Blog, which was started by readers from MetsBlog;
- Bugs and Cranks, where Brad Bartone does a fantastic job of being insightful yet funny in his criticism of the team.
- Disgruntled Mets Fan, where Joe and Dave do a great job of capturing the mood swing among Mets fans;
- Mandatory Mustache, which is dedicated to Mets with mustaches.
Like always, I will do my best to include links to these blogs in posts on MetsBlog.com, as they are all doing noteworthy work.
Last week, I asked readers to send me questions for Jerry Manuel.
Yesterday, Kevin Burkhardt introduced 
me to Manuel, who agreed to do a Q&A once-per-homestand with me and SNY.TV.
My goal is to solicit questions from you, synthesize the general ideas, and bring them to Manuel’s attention for answers on items that are most pressing to fans.
Yesterday, for the initial run, Burkhardt did the interview, and asked Manuel about using stats compared to ‘going with his gut,’ and whether he ever considers being thrown out of a game for the sole purpose of firing up his team and the crowd.
Here is the written transcript, otherwise scroll down and click play to watch the full, three-minute interview:
Kevin Burkhardt: Obviously, you have numbers upon numbers, do you use them a lot when you’re managing, when you’re making out a lineup, or are you more of a feel guy?
Jerry Manuel: Well, I would hope that I’m more of a ‘feel guy,’ I try to be more of a ‘feel guy.’ The only time that I look at that particular data or history is if I know nothing about the particular player… But, for the most part, I try to read and learn our players and then try to learn the opposition… I use the statistics pretty much as confirmation as to the decision I made. I’ll look back and say, ‘At least it lines up with the stats,’ and sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t.
Kevin Burkhardt: But, what happens if it doesn’t? Oh well?
Jerry Manuel: (Laughing) Yeah, oh well. I’ll check my gut again next time, you know, that type of thing.
Kevin Burkhardt: The fans always love it when the manager gets in to it with the umpire… Is there ever a situation that you go out to argue to get your team fired up, to get the crowd in to it? Does that ever come in to play?
Jerry Manuel: Not for me. I basically tell my players that I’m dealing in truth. If you’re right, I’m gonna back you 110 percent, and I’m gonna fight for you until the end. If you’re wrong, so be it…
I think it’s unfair and unfortunate to take your frustrations out and trying to use another man to get in to an argument with another man to infuse fire in to your team. I just don’t believe that that’s the right thing to do. I think the right thing to do is to fight for your players when you feel they’re right.
Kevin Burkhardt: You realize that the Mets fan will say, ‘The right way is whatever way favors the Mets,’ right?
Jerry Manuel: (Laughing) Well, I can understand that, I’m a Met fan as a Met manager. But, for the most part, if I see it a different way, I’ll go out an politely discuss it, for the most part.
Here are a few pictures that I took while wandering around Citi Field:
The following is of a two-inch Smurf, on the telephone, which has been sitting on the ledge in the Mets dugout for two days by the stairs that lead to the clubhouse:
Mike Pelfrey told me it is a good-luck charm, though he may have been joking with me. In either case, several people said it belongs to the trainers, which, given the health of the team, may make this more of a voodoo doll if you ask me.
Update, 1:48 pm:
In the last half hour, several people emailed me to say Howie Rose on WFAN was outraged about this during the game.
According to listeners, Rose was passionate, angry, and ‘went bananas,’ saying, “How long is Jerry Manuel going to allow this type of thing to happen,” referring to an overall lack of hustle among players on his roster.
Original Post:
Fernando Martinez hit a lazy pop-up in front of home plate last night that bounced off the catcher and landed by the pitcher, who threw Martinez out at first base by roughly 50 feet, because Martinez never ran down the line.
…the worst part, i think, is he watched the play, rolled his eyes and made zero effort to run until he saw the pitcher about to throw… very, very disappointing… frankly, i am surprised Ron Darling and Gary Cohen didn’t make a bigger deal of this, as they usually do…
Following the game, Jerry Manuel labeled Martinez’s mistake a ‘huge mistake,’ adding, however, he acknowledged that this is not typical of Martinez’s behavior.
Martinez late told reporters, “I don’t know why that happened, but I promise it’s never going to happen again.”
…it was a horrible, horrible play… in some ways, i’d like to see him punished, either by not playing today, or something else, because, unlike a veteran, here you have a young player who can be influenced… at the same time, a) the team is in need of every bat they have, and b) he should be allowed to make a mistake, especially when learning at this level, so not to spook him off track… either way, if this happens again, ego or no ego, he needs to be benched, though i don’t think you’ll see this again…
Earlier in the game, Martinez was received a slight jeer from the crowd when he layed up on an awkward pop up hit in foul territory, which landed right at the base of the wall.
…i give him a pass on this one, because even the most experienced veterans have struggled with that short wall and limited foul ground… this is a play that cannot be rehearsed in practice, so there’s only one way to get used to it, and that’s in real time when it happens…
According to Mike Puma in the New York Post, “The honeymoon is over for the rookie Martinez.”
…well, i wouldn’t go that far… i mean, sure, the fact is, this is New York, the Mets are good, they’re in first place, and they mean business… so, while errors are acceptable to a certain extent, we don’t have all day to babysit the development of a promising career… but, to suggest the honeymoon is over, mike, as if martinez is now going to get booed every at bat, i think that’s not accurate…
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I realize there is a section of ‘baseball,’ some fans, lots of media, traditionalists, etc., who frown on these sort of reactions, but, I’m sorry, I think it’s hilarious:
I am not sure which is the funniest part, 1) Carlos Zambrano ejecting the umpire, which is hysterical, 2) Zambrano throwing the baseball in to left field out of disgust, or 3) Zambrano breaking first busting the box of cups in the dugout, then going back to take out the Gatorade cooler with a bat, before storming down the steps to the clubhouse.
Maybe the best part, actually, is all of the fans smiling and enjoying the show from the background.
Tagged News |
Cody Ross went 3-for-4, scored 3 times and led a 3 run 7th inning with a 2-run blast as the Marlins defeated Brett Myers and the Phillies, 6-2.
Dan Uggla matched Ross’ production with 3 hits, a homer, and 2 RBI of his own while Burke Badenhop gave Florida 5 strong innings on the mound.
Myers was tagged for 5 runs on 7 hits in 5 2/3 innings before leaving with right hip inflammation.
Both clubs are off on Thurday.
Randy Johnson allowed just one run on 3 hits over 6 innings to record career victory #299 and lead the Giants to a 6-3 win over the Braves. The win gives San Francisco a 3-game series sweep.
Kenshin Kawakami had a rough night for the Atlanta. In just 5 2/3 innings, he allowed 4 runs on 9 hits and walked 4 batters. The Braves offense wasn’t much better, mustering just 5 hits on the evening.
Atlanta will travel to Arizona tomorrow to open up a series with the Diamondbacks. Game one will be a good one as Derek Lowe gets the start for the Braves. He’ll be opposed by the D-Backs Dan Haren.
In other news…Rumors are beginning to swirl that the Red Sox may be interested in Atlanta right fielder Jeff Francoeur.
Hanley Ramirez was not in the lineup for the Marlins on Wednesday and may not be ready to play against the Mets on Friday.
And Yunel Escobar remains out of action for the Braves. He’s missed 5 straight starts now.
…The NL East shortstops are dropping like flies…Reyes, Ramirez, Escobar…
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog, News |
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com talked to Barry Axelrod, who represents Padres RHP Jake Peavy, to gauge if his client would be interested in pitching for the Phillies.
According to Zolecki, while Axelrod believes the Phillies fit many of Peavy’s requirements, Philadelphia’s geographic location would most likely be a difference maker in Peavy’s decision.
…while the Phillies are in desperate need of starting pitching, from what i can gather, the likelihood of the Phillies trading for a high-priced pitcher is unlikely as the team has nearly exhausted their budget for this season…
Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports the Yankees have had internal discussions about trading for Indians utility-man Mark De Rosa.
Meanwhile, at his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff reports the Nationals are willing to trade veterans such as Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Austin Kearns for impact players that will 
improve the team in the present and future.
Gordon Edes of Yahoo says the Nationals have been actively scouting several Mets prospects, such as Jon Niese, Mike Antonini and Eddie Kunz, to find fit for a possible trade for Johnson.
Edes believes Bobby Parnell may be the ‘linchpin’ in any Mets deal for Johnson.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
