Saturday, May 24, 2008

Sanity Break

This season is wearing me down. It is only May. My first tears of the season shouldn't come until at least September. They are just finding new ways to rip my heart out every day. Just when it felt like things were coming together they go and lose five in a row. As soon as they started talking about Billy's perfect ERA tonight I just knew he was about to blow the lead. It's feels like every game I'm watching just waiting for things to fall apart.

I need a break. Tomorrow I'm heading down to a Nationals-Brewers game. This is what it's come to. Mets, please could you get it together before I get back? Kthxbai.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Piazza, New York Catcher

Today Mike Piazza officially announced his retirement from baseball:

"I have to say that my time with the Mets wouldn’t have been the same without the greatest fans in the world. One of the hardest moments of my career, was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye. My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career and for that, I will always be grateful. So today, I walk away with no regrets. I knew this day was coming and over the last two years, I started to make my peace with it. For 19 years, I gave it my all and left everything on the field.
God bless and thanks for a wonderful ride."

Getting to see Piazza come home one last time was a highlight of the 2007 season for me. Hearing Voodoo Child pump through the speakers, watching him bring out the scorecard and wave to the roaring crowd. It was one of the most moving moments I've been a part of at Shea. So many of my best Mets memories came from that man. Who can look back on his home run that first game back after September 11th and not get chills? We were lucky to have Mike and we'lll always remember and keep him in our hearts. Best of luck to a great Met and a great guy. See you in Cooperstown in five years.

Look Who Remembered How To Get An Out

Can we strip him of his former Met title please? Just because we were paying his salary doesn't mean he wasn't a Brave all along. What a miserable, miserable game. After Luis Castillo's home run the highlight may have been the booth's conversation about pi. Hopefully the Mets can bounce back tonight. I guess we'll have to wait until Glavine comes back to Shea to see him get the payback he deserves. I hope his pitching arm falls off.

Subway Surfin

Best part of this picture: faces on the Yankee fans.

Last year going into the subway series I expected the Mets to dominate. This year I found myself thinking just don't embarass us completely, just win one. Between the Mets lackluster play lately and the drama in the clubhouse I haven't even been enjoying the Yankees being in last place. Watching the Mets knock the Yankees around these past two games has renewed my faith. Finally they're showing some sparks of life. Even when they got robbed of three runs yesterday, they fought back and ended up with eleven. And they actually looked like they were having fun out there.

Before I had the 99 Mets comeback win against the Yankees on and it reminded me of all the things I loved about that team. Even though in the end that season broke my heart I still look back and love them for the fire they played with, for how much fun they were to watch right til the end. I want to see these Mets play with that kind of passion all the time.

So much in this series really lifted my spirits. All the fist pumps around the bases, the handshakes, seeing Oliver Perez tip his cap to the Yankee stadium crowd of all Mets fans. This quote from John Damon (he forfeited the y when he signed with the Yankees) “They had a reason to be out there cheering. They ended up kicking our butts. It was pretty embarrassing.”

It was a good weekend. Now we just need to them to carry it into Atlanta. Please, please Mets, keep it up. Because losing to Tom Glavine might just be more that I can take.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Curse of Nolan Ryan Strikes Again

I forgot there was a day game on today until I got the 'Are you watching the game? Turn the game on' call from my dad. I've been a Mets fan long enough I didn't even have to ask why, I knew exactly what that meant. Then as soon as I turn it on all I hear is 'no-hitter, no-hitter, no-hitter.' I was screaming at the TV, "Stop! You're going to jinx him, stop talking about it!!!" Since they were broadcasting from the upper deck today I was a little surprised that a fan didn't come and stop them. I still can't believe Pelfrey ended up with the loss after the way he pitched today. It's just not right. After the game he said "I'd rather give up 5 runs and we get the W."

My new hope is that the curse only applies to Shea Stadium, and after they knock it down the Mets will finally be able to get that no hitter. Maybe.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

To John Maine:

Happy 27th birthday buddy!!!

West Coast Trips Are Exhausting

So glad they'll be back home tomorrow. I mostly slept through all of Tuesday night's game, which I originally figured was a good thing after seeing the score. My grandpa used to say that any time you watch a baseball game you can always see something you've never seen before. Very true. When they said that Moises Alou stole home I thought I must have misheard. Could not believe it was true until they replayed the clip. This is why I can never skip games. Or sleep.

Hey Johnnycakes? Please stop beating your self up now, k? You did good kid. You can smile. Really, it's all right.

Early on in Wednesday's game, my Angel in the Outfield made an absolutely insane catch, toppling over into the stands but still coming up with the ball and a laugh. Somebody please put that video on youtube so that I can watch it every time I get down on the team. The offense didn't look too shabby either, putting up 12 runs. Nice to see the Mets smack Brad Penny around. I will always hate that man for trying to start with Shawn Green last year. It was kind of John Maine to bring a little joy to our lives by throwing at Jeff Kent. The Maine man looked amazing through 8 1/3 innings. He gave up just 4 hits and 1 run and allowed the bullpen relax for a day. And he even looked good with the bat, knocking in two runs! After Duaner got the final out, John had a pretty sweet looking handshake going in the dugout with Mike Pelfrey. Jose, watch your back, the pitchers are coming!

So the Mets went 3-3 against two of the hottest teams right now. Looking good. Let's keep it up against the Reds this weekend.



On the Reds, I saw this video of their mascot over at Hot Foot and was slightly traumatized. If I ever saw Mr. Met's head fall off I think I'd have nightmares. I'm still haunted by the image of the Philly Phanatic shooting him on Conan last year. I'm an adult, really.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

By The Time I Get To Arizona

When the very first pitch turns into a Jose Reyes triple, it feels like it's going to be a good series.I don't know if it was Wagner getting through to the guys or just that desert air they love but everything came together tonight. John Maine worked his way through six innings for the win and we finally got to see him walk off the mound with a smile on his face, a sight that's become far too rare this year. Jose Reyes almost completed the cycle with an inside the park home run. Moises Alou finally got back in a real game and looked like a little kid, you couldn't wipe the smile off his face all night. David Wright went 3-5 with a 2 run homer. The pitching, the hitting, the defense, it was all there. It felt like the Mets finally showed up tonight and looked like the team we know they can be. More where that came from please.