Nats v Mets 5/18

Happy Birthday, Larry! (My brother)

So the Mets decided they needed a rainout yesterday.

Last week they moved their second baseman to first.

Yesterday, the move the replacement second baseman to third to make room for the shortstop of the future.

Inning 1: the first inning was better for Niese than the 2 hits suggest- the second was a seeing eye single. Reyes and Turner set up the table 2nd and 3rd with none out. Turner can't get picked off on the sac fly. Rookie mistake there- Gorzelanny got a gift with that.

Inning 2:Niese was very strong after the leadoff double. The popup for out #2 was key.

Inning 3: Not much to say here strong pitching from both sides.

Inning 4: More strong pitching. I actually called Niese's at bat. I said I'd show bunt on the first pitch- then shot it on the second and swing away.

Inning 5: Since the leadoff double in the 2nd, Niese has retired 12 straight. The Mets strand more people than airlines.

Inning 6: I would normally acept the blame for the leadoff hit against Niese because I jinxed it. However, SNY broadcast the fact first, and nobody is reading this. 2 runs added in the bottom of the inning and either Justing Turner is in a groove or even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while.

Inning 7: You cannot let a pitcher with a 3 run lead after 6 2/3 face the potential go ahead run. He had done his job. Sure we got away with it but that doesn't make it right. Bay swings at the first pitch with a 3 run lead and a steady rainfall. The doppler radar says it is getting more intense.

Inning 8: The puddles were getting huge. I was surprised they didn't bring out the tarp.

Inning 9: K-rod allows the tying run to come to the plate but denies him a meal as the Mets shut out the Nats for the win.

Note: I will not be live blogging tomorrow's game- it is a day game and I don't py myself enough to miss work.

Rainout

Harmon Killibrew, who entered hospice care a few days ago has succumbed to his esophageal cancer.

Tonight's Mets game is rained out and it is not raining.

So, I missed the last inning last night- it was past my bedtime. What's with the pitchers and their bats? The game winning RBI from a guy who was 1 for 23, and a 2 out triple from John Niese?

Florida at Mets 5/16

A stress fracture in Wright's back. Pelfrey going tonight. He needs to throw strikes. I know pitchers always need to throw strikes. However, I have always felt he tries to get hitters to swing at bad pitches, and when they don't he's behind in the count and they sit on his fastball.

If the rain delay goes on much longer I may have to give up on waiting it out.

Inning 1: An economical 10 pitches for Mike- the Mantra is "Throw strikes Mike!" One thing that drives me crazy is when a a pitcher throws 4 straight balls to walk a guy (Beltran) and the next hitter (Bay) swings at the first pitch he sees!

Inning 2: Another solid inning from Pelfrey. Johnson responds in kind.

Inning 3: So far this is shaping up as a classic pitching match-up. Pelfrey was a highly touted prospect and Johnson can be unhittable at times. Just wondering- is an inning the opposite of an outing?

Side Note: I just noticed on the crawl at the bottom of the screen that the Mets announced successful surgery on Chirs Young and Jennry Mejia. Ho do they know the surgery was successful before the guy throws another pitch?

Inning 4: Willie Harris ends the inning with a run saving catch that should be a web gem. 3straight hits that have a caught stealing (Bay) and a wild pitch lead to the first run of the game- Murphy on a double by Justin Turner that would have brought in Bay.

Inning 5: Another spectacular defensive play ends a Florida threat Beltran to Reyes double play! Pelfrey has been terrific. Johnson gives up a couple of hits, including one off his back but escapes unscathed.

Inning 6: Pelfrey is cruising. Johnson came out as a result of the ball hit off him.

Inning 7: Just as I was typing "Pelfrey is cruising" Stanton's ball was heading over the wall- ah well. Good outing for Mike. 1 all heading into 8.

Inning 8: A thought occurred to me half of the Mets lineup tonight and probably for the next couple of weeks are not the players they thought would be in there.

Inning 9: There is always debate when you bring in your closer during a tie game- K-rod needs a new nickname. A man on 2nd with none out and we don't score that's rough.

Inning 10: Words fail me.

Mets At Astros 5/15

coming live from Fitzgerald's- Capuano going for the Mets

Inning 1: Read Terry Collins reasons for moving Thole to the 2 hole and they make sense as a temporary move. Capuano ensured that the Mets no no-hitter streak would continue right from the outset.

Inning 2: Don't blink when the Mets are at-bat- you can miss the entire inning. Back in 1986 (25th anniversary btw), to beat the Mets you had to score early and often. This team you just have to score. The Mets offense often reminds me of a soccer game.

Inning 3: Nothing worth commenting on.

Inning 4: The Mets offense, well there is no "O" in M-E-T-S. Jason Bay made a top play nominee or Web gem to end the inning after the 'stros doubled their lead.

Inning 5: Usually, the Mets are on the wrong end of that dropped pop-up. Then like the army corp of engineers the floodgates seemed to open. Great heads up by Pridie to score on Reyes' steal. preventing the 'stros from regaining momentum in the bottom half of the inning was big for Capuano.

Inning 6: The 3 runs added by the Mets made the solo shot in the bottom of the inning absolutely meaningless. Justin Turner is batting close to .300 and he's the back-up to Daniel Murphy starting at first in place of injured Ike Davis and yet the opening day starter at second was Brad Emaus?????? Whodathunkit?

Okay I misplaced an inning somewhere- it is probably going to turn up in the last place i look for it- but nothing happened of consequence.

Inning 8: nothing of note offensively. The bullpen has been impressive, though there were some scary moments here giving up a 4th run and having 2nd and 3rd occupied with little margin for error.

K-Rod pitched a 1-2-3 inning wow.

Mets At Astros 5/14 live blog

1st Inning: Before last night's game, I would have told you that this game is already over. 4-0 Astro's. The entire line-up came to the plate. The Mets had displayed a glass jaw during the first weeks of the season. getting leads and then seeming to fold the second the other team came back. Last night, however, the Mets seemed lifeless and beaten until the 8th inning. This is also the first time this season that J.A. Happ, the Astro's starter hasn't given up the first run of the game- can he pitch with a lead?

2nd Inning: Bottom of the order for the Mets and we had a Fernando Martinez sighting- Can you hear the drums? He hit double with 2 outs and the pitcher up next- Oh well. Dickey cut his ERA for this game in half.

3rd Inning: A Reyes lead-off double leads to the Mets getting one back. Dickey has another calm inning. Surprising that a ball hit off his glove still got to Reyes in time for him to make the throw to first.

4th Inning: Murphy parks one. I love this kid. Three years ago he has a good call-up. Two years ago they ask him to fill the hole in Left Field- a position he never played, and he was an adventure, which is a euphemism for liability. With Delgado out they had a hole at first so they move him there and he's better. Last season he was injured and Ike Davis arrived to take first base. This spring he was in the 2nd base competition which was won essentially by default by rule 5 draftee Brad Emaus. That didn't work out well, and Murphy got the job hitting well and playing defense at a level that exceeded expectations. Ike Davis goes down for a couple of weeks after colliding with David Wright and Murphy moves to first playing well in the field and for today providing some pop.

5th Inning: Okay, I wasn't expecting the Mets to score a run every inning for the rest of the game.

6th Inning: Nothing to talk about offensively. Dickey gave up 2 solo shots prompting me to do a shot. People wondering why he was still in the game- He hadn't given up a run since the first inning. the first solo HR you say stuff happens- the second, its the 6th inning and its time to go.

7th Inning: At 7-2 I'm ready to color this game over. Unless something noteworthy happens this i my last post of the game. A friend told me earlier that the Mets needed to win this game and I said they didn't. They won yesterday, they can try to win tomorrow. They don't absolutely need to win today. It reminded me of the Abbot and Costello bit where Costello is boxing and Abbot says, "give 'em the old 1-3, 1-3" Costello asks what happened to 2? 2 you get.

Liveblogging Mets Astros

Coming to you live from Fitzgerald's pub, this is my first ever attempt at live blogging-

My goal is to sum up my impressions of each inning.

A true Bereavement pause to mention that Harmon Killebrew has entered hospice care and acknowledged his battle with esophageal cancer will soon end.

Reyes at the plate see ya in a bit.

UPDATE1: Thole in the 2 hole? Really? Reyes can't get picked off- very sloppy. Dillon Gee with the start on the mound. I had hoped he would make the staff out of the spring. All things being equal, I'd rather a young pitcher that has been developing in my system than a reclamation project.

UPDATE2: Don't blink- quick top of the second there-and the Mets quest for a No-hitter continues-I was surprised the third base coach ave the green light there- NAILED. There is an old adage about not making the first or third out a third base- how bout the plate? Reyes bobbled a double play. Gee pitches out of trouble.

UPDATE3: Another quick inning at the plate for the Mutts, um, er Mets. Norris keeping his pitch count low. Lead off walks can be killers- 39.9% score. I swear nobody knows what a balk actually is- they may know the rule- but the application, I don't think so. Someone needs to give Gee a TomTom so he can find the plate. And the lead-off walk scores.

Gotta make room for more beer.

UPDATE4: I wonder if local broadcasters refer to Carlos Beltran as a former Astro. It's accurate, but he only spent a half season there. Great catch to keep the Mets scoreless. A strong inning for Gee.

UPDATE5: Norris answers Gee's strong inning. A good inning for Gee, but his pitch count must be getting up there.

UPDATE6: After another don't blink because there is no "O" in "Mets" 2 on for the 'stros- I don't think Gee survives the inning- 3 up no outs and out he goes. 2nd and 3rd with none out this is a bad way to come into a game. I'm not saying the bottom has dropped out of this game, but okay maybe i am thinking it- Here's a rule of thumb- you cannot win a game if you do not score. The Astros have scored 3 in this inning alone- the Mets? we're waiting.

A most unusual double play ends this inning.

UPDATE7: Home runs- even solo are nice. Down 4-1 the bullpen holds the fort.

UPDATE8: Fernando Martinez parks one to bring the Mets within one. but for injuries he would have been with the club a year or two ago- instead he is a puppy, albeit a puppy with a huge homerun tonight. Beltran had 3 Homers yesterday and the last Met to do that was surprisingly Jose Reyes who now represents the tying run on 1st. And Norris is done for the night for Houston.

Wright at the plate- 8th inning- tying run on I feel like saying "Davey"- and just like that he comes through.

With 2 out and a runner on 2nd it looks like a double switch.

K-rod is going for the save- this is a tenuous situation

UPDATE9: Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there with an insurance run.

Question: when was the last time the Mets had a shut down closer?

Answer: What's a shut down closer?

1 out to go- I hope there's no msg. Mets win!

Wait Till Next Year

It's early, but the Mets actually came into this season with the slogan Wait Till Next Year. Just look at the starting pitching- No Ace. Mike Pelfrey has been consistently inconsistent, John Niese is a puppy, R. A. Dickey is a journeyman knuckleballer, and the pair of Chris' Capuano and Young are coming off injury. Now Young is done and replaced by Dillon Gee. Gee has pitched well, but he makes Niese look like a veteran.

Offensively, who in this lineup scares you? Sure you don't want to see Reyes get on base if your an opposing pitcher, but Beltran was still hurting coming into the season, so you were able to avoid Wright, who is now sore himself. Ike Davis is a promising slugger, but he, too is a puppy, as is Josh Thole who is suffering through what is the second half of his rookie season.

Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins must be wondering what they were drinking, um er, I mean thinking when they took their jobs. However, if they manage to end up not supremely sucking this year, they do have the makings of a decent nucleus for a team beginning in 2012. Just in time for the world to end. That is the next date for the Apocalypse if May 21st turns out to be wrong.