It's Been A Bad Day

That's my boy Cuckoo limping off the field after he got hurt, still putting on a brave face for the fans. When a fan yelled down to ask if he was all right, he turned around, flashed a big smile, motioned not to worry and said "I'm OK." And now he's a Brave. It's just not right. I will always remember him play boxing with Reyes and Gomez and clowning around in the dugout with Ollie and John Maine. Who's he going to be friends with now, Jeff Francouer? Gohead is way too cool for Jeff Francouer. Shame on you Mets for making Ruben cry. "I thought I did a good job last year," Gotay said with tears in his eyes. "I didn't think I deserved this." You did do a good job Ruben, and I won't forget it. You stepped up and surprised us all when we needed it. Even though you have to play for that evil team down south now, I'll still be rooting you on.

UPDATE: It was that mole Tom Glavine who told the Braves to get Gotay. I knew he was a spy all along! I hate you Tom Glavine, I HATE YOU. Just waste years of my life posing as a Met while you gather up information to take back to your real team you bum. Now you just took it too far stealing my Gotay. Karma's going to come back and bite you.

Yesterday the Texas Rangers officialy announced the release of Edgardo Alfonzo. We knew he was a long shot to make the team from the start, but he had a good spring and we were holding out hope that he'd play AAA for them for a while and get called up when someone got hurt. As I'm writing this, the Family Guy episode where Peter starts the Church of the Fonz came on. I'd like to think that's a sign. Hopefully he'll find a way to keep on going like he always seems to. Fonzie be praised!

And to top it all off I've been sick the past couple of day with some sort of flu thing I can't shake. This sucks for two reasons. One because I feel miserable, but more importantly I cannot be sick on opening day. Not because I would skip it, of course I'll still go. But I need to get better before then because I was sick at my first game last year and we all know how that ended. Crazy superstitious? Yes. But you just can't risk these sort of things.

New York City: Fountain of Youth

So according to the Mets media guide, Mr. Valentin will be 25 years old this opening day. Stache my man, you're looking a little gray for someone so young. But I guess that comes from playing in the majors since you were eleven. And there must have been a wedding none of us heard about this offseason, because in Angel Pagan's bio they call him Angel Pagan Figueroa. Who knew?

A Clean Slate

I woke up and there they were, like Christmas morning. Pages of beautiful, fresh new tickets filled with all the hope of a new season. They smelled like hope, really. 2008 pocket schedules. I've really missed having a pocket schedule. The media guide to spend nights discovering every small piece of information we can on every Met and Met prospect. This commemorative Shea Stadium box to hold our shrine of tickets. And tickets to my very first opening day.
It feels like a new beginning.

Happy 2008!

The date January 1st means nothing to me. For baseball fans, a new year doesn't really start until the new season does. So I was up at six, armed with plenty of black coffee, ready to watch the Red Sox take on the A's and ring in the new year. It was crazy to be watching a game before the sun even came up. I was feeling nervous for Daisuke the entire time. I should not get this stressed out over games not involving the Mets, but I do. We had to leave the game on mute, because no one should be subjected to Steve Phillips that eary in the morning (or ever). But I did get the sound back on when Papelbon came in to see if they would play Shipping Up To Boston. They did, which was almost as awesome as everyone over there knowing the Jose-Jose-Jose chant. They should start airing the Japanese games over here, because if every morning could start with breakfast and baseball, life would be good. I think we could be a more productive country, they should look into that. It was great to finally be watching a meaningful game, one that can't be brushed off as just spring training, one that counts towards something. And an edge of your seat, extra inning affair and a Red Sox win to boot. The 2008 season is finally underway. Happy opening day everybody!

Who's Ready For Some Baseball?

Layla is!

I've Missed That Laugh

A Metsmerized Easter

Flippin' sweet egg provided by the little sis. Happy Easter Mets fans!

Sad News, Fonz Fans

Yesterday the Texas Rangers reassigned Edgardo Alfonzo to minor league camp. They are still hoping he will accept a role with their AAA affiliate and begin the season an Oklahoma Redhawk. As Fonzie said:

"I just feel like if I can play, I need to still play. Eleven years is good enough, but if you love this game, you do whatever it takes to keep playing."

And as the creator of this video knows, baseball and Edgardo Alfonzo deserve each other.

Just What Every Mets Collection Is Missing...

Because every girl is looking for a pair of spiked heel boots to wear to the game. Imagine trying to navigate the Shea ramps in those things?

At Least This Year There's No Rap Song

Inspired by this post at MetsGrrl and this classic film.

You know when you start seeing the billboards and ads on the subway (and even those godawful kelly ripa ads) the new season's just around the bend. The Mets caps are starting to pop up more often, baseball's in the air. Just fourteen short days, can you feel it?

Pedro Will Save Us!

In case you missed it: Pedro Martinez is back! Not only did he throw four shutout innings against the Tigers today, but fear not, he's going to put a stop to the team's injuries as well. How, you ask? By dancing around the field naked, of course. Remind me, how did we ever survive so long in Pedro's absence?

Oh My Stars

Read these stories about Carlos Beltran finally becoming a father and if you're a sap like me, prepare to cry. After his wife Jessica suffered two miscarriages, on October 26th they were overjoyed to welcome a healthy baby girl to the world. “It used to be the two of us,” he said. “Now we’re three, and I’m the third-most important one.” Everyone around him has witnessed a change and see a happier, younger Beltran. After watching his tough adjustment to New York and all he's been through as a Met, it's been amazing to see Carlos looking this happy and comfortable all spring. During the game the other day Kevin Burkhardt asked him about being a father and he really did just beam, it was the biggest smile I've ever seen him wear. When he speaks about his daughter he just radiates this pride and love for his family. According to the Times article he brought baby Ivana around the clubhouse to show her off and Wednesday morning watched in awe as she played with Carlos Delgado's son. “Ivana’s almost five months, and she’s just this wonderful little person. Looking at her, I wonder where all the time went.”

We Got The Bee

Please enjoy this lovely music video featuring Shea Stadium and David Wright. I think that Jose Reyes wins the better cameo and yeah, I really need it to be opening day already. Happy Friday.

Raise Your Hand If It's Your Birthday

Happy 29th, Johan. Don't ever change. Love, Mets fans.

Gotta Love Spring Training...

Luis Castillo fell victim to the old gum on the cap prank in the dugout when Ramon Castro piled on two bubbles and a plastic cup this afternoon. Endy Chavez was so amused he had to take a picture on his cell phone. This went on for nearly half the game before Castillo finally took notice and retreated to the clubhouse.

Angel Pagan continued to tear it up with a pinch hit 2 run homer in the 7th to give the Mets the lead. When he was interviewed during the game he said how it feels like home again to be back with the Mets. Please stop scaring me with trade rumors, I don't think I could take it if we sent him away.

Also Tampa Bay, you are completely winning my heart this spring. Way to put those whining Yankees in their place. Keep doing what you're doing Rays.