Jacob deGrom's Gem ~ Marcus Stroman's Craftsmanship
James McCann's Arm ~ Luis Rojas Decisions ~ Francisco Lindor's Presence
The Rest of the Week That Was & The 1976 New York Mets!
#LGM
Showing posts with label Dave Kingman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dave Kingman. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
The Metsian Podcast: Feeling That Rocky Mountain High w/ FAFIF's Greg Prince
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Grapefruit League Preview, Sky King, and "Ya Gotta Believe" on Another Metsian Podcast
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
with SAM, RICH & MIKE
Opening Day in the Grapefruit League
Mets Roster Projections
Bullpen - Third Base - Luis Rojas
Pete Alonso > Social Media < Steve Cohen
The 1973 National League Champion New York Mets
and so much more!
ninety-five minutes
#LGM
Thursday, November 19, 2020
A Metsian Podcast Book Review: New York Mets in Pop Culture: Critical Essays Edited by Author David Krell
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
With SAM, RICH & MIKE
GUEST
Journalist, Producer, Author
BOOK REVIEW:
NEW YORK METS IN POP CULTURE: CRITICAL ESSAYS Edited By DAVID KRELL
one-hundred twelve minutes
Capped off with a classic rant about Citi Field!!
Get your copy of @davidkrell's book, "NY #Mets in Popular Culture," now! #Mets #LGM #LFGM #MetsTwitter https://t.co/kvXSvtb7a2
— Sam Maxwell (@THE_SamMaxwell) November 20, 2020
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Jacob deGrom and Pete Alonso Add to Mets Trophy Case
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
National League Cy Young Award
Jacob joins Tom Seaver as the only Mets pitchers to win multiple awards. He was also named 2014 ROY, and is a three-time all-star. Last season he won his first ERA title, and this season was baseball's strikeout king. He has now exceeded 200 strikeouts four times in his career and has 524 in the last two seasons alone. He owns a career 2.62 ERA and 1.053 WHiP with 1,255 strikeouts through 1,101 innings pitched and set a major league record with 30 consecutive starts allowing three runs or less. Although win/loss records mean less in today's age of analytics, one can't help but feel bad for deGrom. A full third (32.7%) of his 171 career starts have ended in a no-decision. Otherwise, deGrom owns a 66-49 (.574) career record while a member of the New York Mets.
Over his last two Cy Young campaigns, he has limited the opposition to just two runs or less in 51 of 64 starts. Nine times last season he struck out double-digit batters, with a season-high 14 coming in just his second start at Miami. In five July starts he fanned double-digits three times, and on Aug. 23 struck out 13 Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Jacob pitched at least seven innings in 19 of his 32 starts.
At 31-years of age, deGrom is cementing himself as the organization's second greatest ever pitcher behind only Hall of Fame inductee, the Franchise, Tom Seaver. He has given us every reason to believe there is still yet more greatness to come. While Jerry Koosman is a hero to me, and he and Dwight Gooden have rings, it is Jacob deGrom's craftsmanship that presently most rivals that of Tom Terrific's.
National League Rookie of the Year
Exactly 100 years after Babe Ruth first opened the doors to the 50 Home Run club, Pete Alonso becomes the 30th ever player to join its ranks. The Flushing Polar Bear also becomes only the Mets second position player to ever win Rookie of the Year. And what a year it was, leading all of baseball with an all-time MLB record 53 home runs by a rookie.
Once upon a time Dave Kingman was my all-time measure of Mets dingers. They called him Sky King. No one else ever measured up until a young right fielder named Darryl Strawberry received his call up to the Mets early in the 1983 season. He went on to hit 26 home runs and win Rookie of the Year honors. In 1987-88 he posted back-to-back seasons of 39 home runs. But no Met had ever hit 40 home runs in one season until crowd favorite Todd Hundley set the Mets all-time mark in 1996 with 41 home runs. In 2006 Carlos Beltran tied the Mets home run record. This past season Pete Alonso demolished it, becoming the first Mets player ever to achieve 50 home runs in a single season.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS SEASON FOR A LONG TIME
National League Cy Young Award
- 1969: Tom Seaver
- 1973: Tom Seaver
- 1975: Tom Seaver
- 1985: Dwight Gooden
- 2012: R.A. Dickey
- 2018: JACOB deGROM
- 2019: JACOB deGROM
PITCHERS TO WIN CONSECUTIVE CY YOUNG AWARDS: Sandy Koufax; Denny McLain; Jim Palmer; Greg Maddux; Roger Clemens; Pedro Martinez; Randy Johnson; Tim Lincecum; Clayton Kershaw; Max Scherzer.
In only his sixth season in the major leagues Jacob deGrom adds his name to the list becoming just the eleventh pitcher in major league history to win back-to-back Cy Young awards.
Jacob joins Tom Seaver as the only Mets pitchers to win multiple awards. He was also named 2014 ROY, and is a three-time all-star. Last season he won his first ERA title, and this season was baseball's strikeout king. He has now exceeded 200 strikeouts four times in his career and has 524 in the last two seasons alone. He owns a career 2.62 ERA and 1.053 WHiP with 1,255 strikeouts through 1,101 innings pitched and set a major league record with 30 consecutive starts allowing three runs or less. Although win/loss records mean less in today's age of analytics, one can't help but feel bad for deGrom. A full third (32.7%) of his 171 career starts have ended in a no-decision. Otherwise, deGrom owns a 66-49 (.574) career record while a member of the New York Mets.
Over his last two Cy Young campaigns, he has limited the opposition to just two runs or less in 51 of 64 starts. Nine times last season he struck out double-digit batters, with a season-high 14 coming in just his second start at Miami. In five July starts he fanned double-digits three times, and on Aug. 23 struck out 13 Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Jacob pitched at least seven innings in 19 of his 32 starts.
At 31-years of age, deGrom is cementing himself as the organization's second greatest ever pitcher behind only Hall of Fame inductee, the Franchise, Tom Seaver. He has given us every reason to believe there is still yet more greatness to come. While Jerry Koosman is a hero to me, and he and Dwight Gooden have rings, it is Jacob deGrom's craftsmanship that presently most rivals that of Tom Terrific's.
National League Rookie of the Year
- 1967: Tom Seaver
- 1972: Jon Matlack
- 1983: Darryl Strawberry
- 1984: Dwight Gooden
- 2014: Jacob deGrom
- 2019: Pete Alonso
Exactly 100 years after Babe Ruth first opened the doors to the 50 Home Run club, Pete Alonso becomes the 30th ever player to join its ranks. The Flushing Polar Bear also becomes only the Mets second position player to ever win Rookie of the Year. And what a year it was, leading all of baseball with an all-time MLB record 53 home runs by a rookie.
Once upon a time Dave Kingman was my all-time measure of Mets dingers. They called him Sky King. No one else ever measured up until a young right fielder named Darryl Strawberry received his call up to the Mets early in the 1983 season. He went on to hit 26 home runs and win Rookie of the Year honors. In 1987-88 he posted back-to-back seasons of 39 home runs. But no Met had ever hit 40 home runs in one season until crowd favorite Todd Hundley set the Mets all-time mark in 1996 with 41 home runs. In 2006 Carlos Beltran tied the Mets home run record. This past season Pete Alonso demolished it, becoming the first Mets player ever to achieve 50 home runs in a single season.
Sunday, September 22, 2019
N.Y. Mets: Pete Alonso Joins The 50 Home Run Club
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
ONE RECORD LEFT TO BREAK FOR METS ROOKIE
WITH EIGHT GAMES LEFT TO GET IT DONE
Babe Ruth in 1920 becomes the first ever major league baseball player to hit 50 home runs in a season. The former pitcher of the Boston Red Sox accomplishes the feat in his first season as a member of the New York Yankees. The Babe ends the season hitting 54 home runs in 458 at-bats. Of the nearly 20,000 people to ever play major league baseball Mets rookie first baseman Pete Alonso becomes only the 30th ever to join the 50 home run club, one century after Ruth first opened its doors. The milestone home run comes in his 152nd game, and 560th at-bat of the season.
In their 58 year history Pete Alonso becomes the first ever New York Met to have his name listed among members of the 50 home run club. He breaks Dave Kingman's club record for most home runs before the all-star game, then goes on to win the 2019 Home Run Derby. Alonso continues onward to shatter with remarkable haste Darryl Strawberry's club record for most home runs in a season by a Mets rookie. After which he breaks the National League record for home runs by a rookie set by L.A. Dodger Cody Bellinger. Pete is presently in the midst of setting the Mets single-season home run record formerly shared by Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran. On Friday he becomes only the second ever major league rookie to hit 50 home runs in a season. Alonso now has eight games remaining in the season with which to tie and break Aaron Judge's MLB record of 52 home runs by a rookie.
- 2016 - slashes .321/.382/.587/.969, with 5 home runs and 21 RBI in 109 at-bats at BROOKLYN!
- 2018 - leads all minor leagues with 36 home runs and 119 RBI during split season at (AA)- Binghamton and (AAA)-Las Vegas.
METS 40 HOME RUN SEASONS
- 1996 - Todd Hundley (41)
- 1999 - Mike Piazza (40)
- 2006 - Carlos Beltran (41)
- 2019 - Pete Alonso - TBD
Pete Alonso (115) needs ten more RBI in order to break Mike Piazza's (124) club record.
Go Polar Bear!
#ROY
#ROY
#LFGM
Monday, August 19, 2019
N.Y. Mets: Pete Alonso Breaks National League Rookie Home Run Record
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
The Polar Bear Hits Dinger Number Forty; Sets New National League Rookie Home Run Record.
... with eleven games still left to play in August!
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso hits his 40th home run of the season breaking the National League rookie record. The milestone comes in his final at-bat of Sunday afternoon's 11-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in which Alonso goes 3 for 4 with a double, the aforementioned home run, three runs scored, and two runs batted in.
Previous record holder Cody Bellinger in 2017 hit 39 home runs through 132 games and 480 at-bats. Pete Alonso first ties the N.L. record in just his 120th game of the season through 511 plate appearances and 435 official at-bats. He then breaks the record in just 122 games, and 443 official at-bats.
With the National League record in hand, Alonso becomes one of only three rookies to ever achieve 40 home runs in a season (Mark McGwire, Aaron Judge). Alonso is now one home run away from tying the Mets all-time mark of 41 home runs shared by Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran. After which come Aaron Judge. The New York Yankees right fielder set the major league rookie record in the same season Bellinger set the National League mark with 52 home runs in 155 games with 678 plate appearances and 542 official at-bats. Alonso needs 13 home runs in the next 38 games in order to surpass Judge.
I've said this before. We're talking about a rookie, and therefore I'm most impressed with his adaptability and ability to roll with adjustments being made against him.
Oh, yeah ...
With Sunday's series clinching win at Kansas City, the Mets remain two games out of a wild card.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
established 1876
The Polar Bear Hits Dinger Number Forty; Sets New National League Rookie Home Run Record.
... with eleven games still left to play in August!
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso hits his 40th home run of the season breaking the National League rookie record. The milestone comes in his final at-bat of Sunday afternoon's 11-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in which Alonso goes 3 for 4 with a double, the aforementioned home run, three runs scored, and two runs batted in.
Previous record holder Cody Bellinger in 2017 hit 39 home runs through 132 games and 480 at-bats. Pete Alonso first ties the N.L. record in just his 120th game of the season through 511 plate appearances and 435 official at-bats. He then breaks the record in just 122 games, and 443 official at-bats.
With the National League record in hand, Alonso becomes one of only three rookies to ever achieve 40 home runs in a season (Mark McGwire, Aaron Judge). Alonso is now one home run away from tying the Mets all-time mark of 41 home runs shared by Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran. After which come Aaron Judge. The New York Yankees right fielder set the major league rookie record in the same season Bellinger set the National League mark with 52 home runs in 155 games with 678 plate appearances and 542 official at-bats. Alonso needs 13 home runs in the next 38 games in order to surpass Judge.
- APRIL: Pete Alonso hits his first MLB home run in just his fourth game played; finishes month with eight.
- MAY: Hits ten home runs giving him 19 for the season.
- JUNE: Pete breaks the club's 36-year old club rookie record of 26 home runs set in 1983 by Darryl Strawberry. Alonso's record breaking dinger comes in only his 77th game and 279th at-bat of the season. Whereas Darryl Strawberry in 1983 played in 122 games with 420 at-bats.
- JULY: Pete Alonso breaks Darryl Strawberry's rookie record of 74 RBI. Alonso's 30th home run ties him with Dave Kingman for most ever home runs before the All-Star break. He then he goes on to win the All-Star Game home run derby.
- AUGUST: Homers in four consecutive games (Aug. 5-9). Six home runs through 17 games this month. Season high six RBI vs. Atlanta Braves (Aug. 15). He is presently slugging .604 with a .979 OPS and 95 RBI. He also becomes the fourth ever Met to achieve 40 home runs.
Oh, yeah ...
With Sunday's series clinching win at Kansas City, the Mets remain two games out of a wild card.
Monday, July 22, 2019
N.Y. Mets: Pete Alonso Resumes Amazin' Assault on Club Records
From the desk of: LEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Pete Alonso so far this season has obliterated thee all-time Mets club records.
On May 6, 1983 Darryl Strawberry makes his major league debut. He proceeds to both hit a Mets rookie record 26 home runs over his next 121 regular season games and drive in a record 74 runs en route to winning N.L. Rookie of the Year honors.
Rewind seven years and back in 1976 Dave Kingman sets the club record for most round trippers before the All-Star break amassing 30 home runs just 88 games into the season.
Then along comes Pete Alonso. Sure he dominated all of triple-A last season in home runs and RBI. But no one can say with a straight face they saw this coming. For in less than 100 games as a major league player the man has shattered Mets records which have stood for over three and four decades respectively.
On June 23, 2019 Pete Alonso breaks Strawberry's Mets rookie record with home run #27 in just the 77th game of his career. On July 17, 2019 at Minnesota, Alonso hits his 31st home run of the season breaking Kingman's record for most home runs before the All-Star break (accomplishing the feat in 94 games played). And on July 20, 2019 at San Francisco, Alonso drives in three runs giving him 75 for the season, and thus breaking Darryl Strawberry's Mets record for RBI in a season by a rookie. Alonso accomplishes the feat in just 97 games played, an impressive 25 games less than it took Strawberry. Most remarkable of all is that ten days still remain before the month of July expires.
As of close of business Sunday, Pete Alonso is slashing .267/.359/.615/.974, with 56 extra base hits, 33 home runs, and 75 RBI, through 97 games and 356 at-bats. He hit his 33rd home run this past Saturday while appearing as a pinch-hitter against the Giants at San Francisco. He also sports a 3.6 WAR and 28 RAA (runs better than avg.) The next Mets game will be their 100th of the season, leaving 62 games for Alonso to potentially wreak havoc on National League pitching like Godzilla going through Tokyo.
Mets All-Time Single Season Leaders:
The Polar Bear may not achieve all the magic numbers. But the time certainly has come for us to leave behind the discussion of most prolific hitting rookie born of the Mets system, and begin contemplating what may turn into the most prolific all around Mets season ever. Alonso is just eight home runs, 49 runs batted in, and 115 total bases from tying the club's aforementioned milestones. He is presently on pace to hit 55 home runs, drive in 125 runs, and tally 366 total bases according to Baseball-Reference 162 game average.
Grrrr...!
BEWARE POLAR BEAR WITH BAT
Pete Alonso so far this season has obliterated thee all-time Mets club records.
On May 6, 1983 Darryl Strawberry makes his major league debut. He proceeds to both hit a Mets rookie record 26 home runs over his next 121 regular season games and drive in a record 74 runs en route to winning N.L. Rookie of the Year honors.
Rewind seven years and back in 1976 Dave Kingman sets the club record for most round trippers before the All-Star break amassing 30 home runs just 88 games into the season.
Then along comes Pete Alonso. Sure he dominated all of triple-A last season in home runs and RBI. But no one can say with a straight face they saw this coming. For in less than 100 games as a major league player the man has shattered Mets records which have stood for over three and four decades respectively.
On June 23, 2019 Pete Alonso breaks Strawberry's Mets rookie record with home run #27 in just the 77th game of his career. On July 17, 2019 at Minnesota, Alonso hits his 31st home run of the season breaking Kingman's record for most home runs before the All-Star break (accomplishing the feat in 94 games played). And on July 20, 2019 at San Francisco, Alonso drives in three runs giving him 75 for the season, and thus breaking Darryl Strawberry's Mets record for RBI in a season by a rookie. Alonso accomplishes the feat in just 97 games played, an impressive 25 games less than it took Strawberry. Most remarkable of all is that ten days still remain before the month of July expires.
As of close of business Sunday, Pete Alonso is slashing .267/.359/.615/.974, with 56 extra base hits, 33 home runs, and 75 RBI, through 97 games and 356 at-bats. He hit his 33rd home run this past Saturday while appearing as a pinch-hitter against the Giants at San Francisco. He also sports a 3.6 WAR and 28 RAA (runs better than avg.) The next Mets game will be their 100th of the season, leaving 62 games for Alonso to potentially wreak havoc on National League pitching like Godzilla going through Tokyo.
Mets All-Time Single Season Leaders:
- Home Runs: 41 (Todd Hundley '96; Beltran '06).
- RBI: 124 (Mike Piazza '99; David Wright '08).
- Slugging: .614 (Mike Piazza '00).
- OPS: 1.024 (Mike Piazza '98).
- Total Bases: 334 (David Wright '08)
The Polar Bear may not achieve all the magic numbers. But the time certainly has come for us to leave behind the discussion of most prolific hitting rookie born of the Mets system, and begin contemplating what may turn into the most prolific all around Mets season ever. Alonso is just eight home runs, 49 runs batted in, and 115 total bases from tying the club's aforementioned milestones. He is presently on pace to hit 55 home runs, drive in 125 runs, and tally 366 total bases according to Baseball-Reference 162 game average.
Grrrr...!
Friday, May 17, 2019
Another Metsian Date Night Podcast with That Mets Chick, Bre
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
There was something about that 1976 season that ...
A METSIAN PODCAST
with SAM, RICH, and MIKE
WITH GUEST
Bre aka ThatMetsChick.com
Ninety Minutes
STUFF
First Quarter of the Season ~ Series vs. Nationals
Keon Broxton ~ Carlos Gomez ~ Brandon Nimmo ~ Juan Lagares
The Jeff/BVW/Mickey Pow Pow
Jeff McNeil ~ Michael Conforto ~ The 25-Man Roster
Anthony Kay ~ Robinson Cano
Kevin Plawecki ~ Dave Kingman ~ Terry Leach
More about that 1976 season, and much much more.
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Firing Up the Hot Stove with Another Metsian Podcast
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
A METSIAN PODCAST
KINDLING THE HOT STOVE
with Sam, Rich, and Mike
Seventy-Minutes
STUFF
First, I'm a veteran, but may have exercised poor judgement with regards to a joke said in poor taste.
I know better; guilty as charged.
* * *
Changes ~ Pat Roessler ~ Rickey Bones ~ J.P. Ricciardi
Radio Days: The Move to WCBS-88 AM
Howie Rose ~ Josh Lewin ~ Ed Coleman ~ Wayne Randazzo
The Syracuse Mets ~ Since when have there been Cy Young finalists?
Peter Alonso ~ Dominic Smith ~ Dave Kingman
Arizona Fall League ~ Andres Gimenez ~ Desmond Lindsay ~ Ali Sanchez
Jacob deGrom ~ Amed Rosario in Japan Series
BVW expectations ~ What's the New Plan ~ Are Mets Hands Are Tied
Chris Bryant ~ Corey Kluber ~ Manny Machado ~ Bryce Harper ~ Asdrubal Cabrera
The never ending debate behind the plate ~ a plan for the bullpen
and so much more!
Friday, June 29, 2018
N.Y. Mets: The Three-Headed METSian Podcast
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
FIX THIS HOUSE
I wrote this back on June 14:
Why Life After Sandy Alderson Terrifies Me
My point stands.
My point stands.
Sandy Alderson has since taken an official leave of absence from the organization. His cancer first diagnosed back during the 2015 season has unfortunately returned. He made the rest of the front office aware of his condition some time ago, but his recent press conference proved a somber revelation to media and fans.
He was originally brought to Flushing under very unique circumstances in which he was charged (by the commissioner; wink, wink) with matriculating the Mets organization through very dire financial straits. His is unlikely to return, and therefore I thank him for all his efforts and years of service for the New York Mets. I know the Marine in him with battle to the end. I offer him, his family and circle of loved ones my prayers for a speedy and full recovery.
A METSian Podcast, Episode #13
Rich hosted; 90 minutes
Wishing Sandy Alderson well
What Now? ~ Hail to the Chief!
On the three-headed monster: John Ricco; Omar Minaya; J.P. Ricciardi
Jeff Wilpon ~ Plan for the trade deadline ~ Mr. Reactive Mickey Callaway
Dom Smith ~ fundamentals have left the building ~ WTF?
Mets who've worn #13 ~ NYC baseball in 1913 ~ the return of L.I. Mike
Lee Mazzilli ~ The Newark Bears ~ dead ball era ~ triples to right
Giancarlo Stanton is no better than Dave Kingman!! I really said that!
Plus our usual bitching, sniveling, complaining, and more.
Tuesday, March 01, 2016
N.Y. Mets: RA Podcast #126 w/ former team farmhand J.J. Newman
Here's our latest podcast at
Baseball Reference > 2B, 3B
Sam hosted, joined by Rich, newest RA staff writer J.T., and me.
J.J. was a brilliant guest!
I promise you, this will be 90-minutes well spent.
And for all you Dave Kingman fans out there ... even better.
Mike
Senior staff writer/Rising Apple
Sunday, July 29, 2012
N.Y. Mets ~ Ike Davis' Bat is Antibiotic for Desert Fever
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
b.jpg)
NEW YORK METS: Ike Davis Breaks Out in a Different Kind of Fever in the Arizona Desert.
Return to Sender; Ailment Unknown.... If that sounds like it could have once been a collaboration between Elvis Presley and the Mets' medical staff, then the joke is on us. With the team doctors' recent history of either indecision, or just plain getting things horribly wrong, then diagnosing something no one ever heard of before, then hoping for the best, seems like a new tactic in practice to me. I'm sorry. Was that unfair, or worse, inaccurate? Then let's say that was just a little shot across the bow to remind the powers that be, I haven't forgotten about the guys with the stethoscopes. I do not want to speak for the fans.
But Ike Davis' batting average still leaves fans pondering whether he is over the effects of that desert fever contracted earlier this year. Me? I want to convince myself his current .218 batting average is an ugly number more representative of the Mets' overall problems, and not necessarily Ike Davis' own struggles negotiating the Mendoza Line, much less an alien cache of symptoms. He's got those long arms he must unfold before generating his swing. So if his timing is not (even-)more in tune than the next guy's, Ike will suffer greatly. Or did we forget his prolonged absence from the game due to that freak "pedal" injury? If he has taught us anything now, it is when Ike has his timing down, gets extension and connects - Look Out!
Since June, he's been inching away from the infamous Mendoza Line of demarcation which separates the bad hitters from even worse hitters. It's been a slow process for Ike. But his power stroke is without a doubt, in full effect again. And that makes fans forget a lot. But if timing is everything for him at the plate, then it is Ike and the Mets who now find themselves out of sync. The team played well in the first half largely minus any production from Ike Davis. Now that the first baseman is cranking up his game, it is the Mets who are floundering. Just how much a resurgent Ike Davis can compensate for the present lack of pitching which carried the Mets in the first half, desperately remains to be seen. If Jason Bay can only, and I do mean only, put forth a representative effort, and Lucas Duda can return and contribute, then I'd say...maybe, just maybe, outscoring teams could be one way to get Wild. But at this point, why bother digressing into that?
Saturday night, Ike's bat scoffed over any perceived effects from an ailment that bares the Arizona desert's name. But even before last night's personal fireworks show among the cacti, Ike Davis' season was already shaping up. He spent all of April, May, and twenty-eight days in June batting below the .200 mark. On June 27th, he finally broke through the Mendoza Line, and went home sporting a .201 batting average. He dipped again. Then on the last day of June, he went 2 for 4 to end the month with a .203 mark. Also on that June 30th game against the Dodgers, he hit his eleventh home run of the season. For the month of June, he batted .264, hit six home runs, and totalled a significant twenty-four RBI.
July comes to a close this Tuesday. In this month, he is batting at a .256 clip. His RBI are down from June. He has fifteen so far. But his home runs are up. Ike has nine in July, with three monsters coming last night. Of his twenty-one hits, twelve have been for extra-bases. For the season, Ike now has twenty home runs, and sixty RBI, with sixty-one games left to play. If you dabbled in the "What Ifs" in life, his numbers would astound. And to think, the Mets (or was it the fans; or was it the Media?) thought Ike should perhaps be sent to Buffalo for a refresher course. Again, I digress.
As the Mets are currently on the road, somewhere off in a quiet room among the empty hallways of Citi Field's offices, a doctor may lurk wiping his brow in relief for averting something his textbooks never taught him about. Good thing for us, Ike Davis is a self-healer. One thousand two hundred and seventy-four feet of self-administered home runs worked like a charm. The antibiotic turned out to be Arizona itself. Go figure.
Ike Davis became the ninth Met in history to hit three home runs in one game. In my experience, I think only Dave Kingman (1976) can rival the cumulative distances each baseball travelled. Although, Darryl Strawberry (1985) might have something to say about that.
Mike.BTB
b.jpg)
NEW YORK METS: Ike Davis Breaks Out in a Different Kind of Fever in the Arizona Desert.
Return to Sender; Ailment Unknown.... If that sounds like it could have once been a collaboration between Elvis Presley and the Mets' medical staff, then the joke is on us. With the team doctors' recent history of either indecision, or just plain getting things horribly wrong, then diagnosing something no one ever heard of before, then hoping for the best, seems like a new tactic in practice to me. I'm sorry. Was that unfair, or worse, inaccurate? Then let's say that was just a little shot across the bow to remind the powers that be, I haven't forgotten about the guys with the stethoscopes. I do not want to speak for the fans.
But Ike Davis' batting average still leaves fans pondering whether he is over the effects of that desert fever contracted earlier this year. Me? I want to convince myself his current .218 batting average is an ugly number more representative of the Mets' overall problems, and not necessarily Ike Davis' own struggles negotiating the Mendoza Line, much less an alien cache of symptoms. He's got those long arms he must unfold before generating his swing. So if his timing is not (even-)more in tune than the next guy's, Ike will suffer greatly. Or did we forget his prolonged absence from the game due to that freak "pedal" injury? If he has taught us anything now, it is when Ike has his timing down, gets extension and connects - Look Out!
Since June, he's been inching away from the infamous Mendoza Line of demarcation which separates the bad hitters from even worse hitters. It's been a slow process for Ike. But his power stroke is without a doubt, in full effect again. And that makes fans forget a lot. But if timing is everything for him at the plate, then it is Ike and the Mets who now find themselves out of sync. The team played well in the first half largely minus any production from Ike Davis. Now that the first baseman is cranking up his game, it is the Mets who are floundering. Just how much a resurgent Ike Davis can compensate for the present lack of pitching which carried the Mets in the first half, desperately remains to be seen. If Jason Bay can only, and I do mean only, put forth a representative effort, and Lucas Duda can return and contribute, then I'd say...maybe, just maybe, outscoring teams could be one way to get Wild. But at this point, why bother digressing into that?
Saturday night, Ike's bat scoffed over any perceived effects from an ailment that bares the Arizona desert's name. But even before last night's personal fireworks show among the cacti, Ike Davis' season was already shaping up. He spent all of April, May, and twenty-eight days in June batting below the .200 mark. On June 27th, he finally broke through the Mendoza Line, and went home sporting a .201 batting average. He dipped again. Then on the last day of June, he went 2 for 4 to end the month with a .203 mark. Also on that June 30th game against the Dodgers, he hit his eleventh home run of the season. For the month of June, he batted .264, hit six home runs, and totalled a significant twenty-four RBI.
July comes to a close this Tuesday. In this month, he is batting at a .256 clip. His RBI are down from June. He has fifteen so far. But his home runs are up. Ike has nine in July, with three monsters coming last night. Of his twenty-one hits, twelve have been for extra-bases. For the season, Ike now has twenty home runs, and sixty RBI, with sixty-one games left to play. If you dabbled in the "What Ifs" in life, his numbers would astound. And to think, the Mets (or was it the fans; or was it the Media?) thought Ike should perhaps be sent to Buffalo for a refresher course. Again, I digress.
As the Mets are currently on the road, somewhere off in a quiet room among the empty hallways of Citi Field's offices, a doctor may lurk wiping his brow in relief for averting something his textbooks never taught him about. Good thing for us, Ike Davis is a self-healer. One thousand two hundred and seventy-four feet of self-administered home runs worked like a charm. The antibiotic turned out to be Arizona itself. Go figure.
Ike Davis became the ninth Met in history to hit three home runs in one game. In my experience, I think only Dave Kingman (1976) can rival the cumulative distances each baseball travelled. Although, Darryl Strawberry (1985) might have something to say about that.
Mike.BTB
Friday, January 28, 2011
A Gust of Windy City Baseball in Brooklyn: UNO Chicago Grill
TROLLEY RIDIN' Chicago Style: PIZZERIA UNO Brings Chicago's Rich Baseball History to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
All this snow is the pits! Today in the city, our Baseball Diamonds are Fields of White. So I hitched up a plow to the 'Ol Trolley in order to bring you a warm sunny day; some Baseball History; and a little something for those hearty appetites that you no doubt built-up shovelling all that snow Mother Nature dumped on us last night.
We're Trolley Ridin' to the corner of 92nd Street and 4th Avenue in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, where Chicago's own PIZZERIA UNO is satisfying the appetites of some of the most hardened Native Brooklynites, deli connoisseurs, and pizza experts, while surrounding them with a comfortable sports atmosphere filled with Chicago Themes and the Windy City's great, rich and lengthy Baseball History.
Brooklyn is the supreme place to marry two of my most favorite joys in life; good food and Baseball. When ever I come across an opportunity to partake in these two joys together and present them to you, the reader and faithful Riders of my neighborhood Trolley, I respectfully ask permission from these establishments for an opportunity to photo essay them. I have not been denied yet and the good people at PIZZAREIA UNO were more than happy to oblige. Chalk another one up for having Good Neighbors!
I usually stick to Brooklyn Dodger themes with my Trolley Rides; pulling up on places where the spirit and essence of Dem Bums still remain alive and well. But because Chicago's Baseball history is so long, rich and varied, and UNO's does such a great job presenting a near complete photo history display in their restaurant, the decision to ask them for permission to feature their collection on my Blog was a no-brainer.
I visited The Friendly Confines once in my life; back in 1991. It was one of the better Baseball experiences I've ever had despite my old Mets' hatred for the Cubs. But, I am a lover of Baseball as a whole and can appreciate any team for a day. I'm just happy to be traveling around and being able to see teams in their own parks. And the Cubbie's home is quite special. Old Weegham Park was a Baseball Park built to house Chicago's team in the Federal League back in 1914-15. That park survives today as Wrigley Field.
I also have a little personal connection with the SouthSiders; Chicago White Sox. My cousin is a coach on that team. Six years ago the ChiSox won the World Series. It was their first title in 88 years. Another other cousin who went to all the World Series games against the Astros mailed me all her ticket stubs. My other cousin played for the Red Sox that same year and taking the drive to Boston to see them face off against each other in the ALDS was pretty damn cool. And if you were wondering, I drove to Boston with yet another cousin of mine.
So that's my small connection to ChiTown. But this is really about Pizzeria Uno and their fine collection of Chicago Baseball History In Pictures. I actually had this planned for late summer. With their permission, I took the pictures on a stellar Saturday morning. Then work started taking more of my time, and this escaped me.
So, with all the bad weather we've been getting and being that Giants and Jets fans having nothing left to do but wait for Baseball, I figured this would be a good way to start getting that Baseball Feel back in your fingers after shovelling snow.
Thanks for Ridin' folks.
Mike.BTB
All this snow is the pits! Today in the city, our Baseball Diamonds are Fields of White. So I hitched up a plow to the 'Ol Trolley in order to bring you a warm sunny day; some Baseball History; and a little something for those hearty appetites that you no doubt built-up shovelling all that snow Mother Nature dumped on us last night.
We're Trolley Ridin' to the corner of 92nd Street and 4th Avenue in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, where Chicago's own PIZZERIA UNO is satisfying the appetites of some of the most hardened Native Brooklynites, deli connoisseurs, and pizza experts, while surrounding them with a comfortable sports atmosphere filled with Chicago Themes and the Windy City's great, rich and lengthy Baseball History.
Brooklyn is the supreme place to marry two of my most favorite joys in life; good food and Baseball. When ever I come across an opportunity to partake in these two joys together and present them to you, the reader and faithful Riders of my neighborhood Trolley, I respectfully ask permission from these establishments for an opportunity to photo essay them. I have not been denied yet and the good people at PIZZAREIA UNO were more than happy to oblige. Chalk another one up for having Good Neighbors!
I usually stick to Brooklyn Dodger themes with my Trolley Rides; pulling up on places where the spirit and essence of Dem Bums still remain alive and well. But because Chicago's Baseball history is so long, rich and varied, and UNO's does such a great job presenting a near complete photo history display in their restaurant, the decision to ask them for permission to feature their collection on my Blog was a no-brainer.
I visited The Friendly Confines once in my life; back in 1991. It was one of the better Baseball experiences I've ever had despite my old Mets' hatred for the Cubs. But, I am a lover of Baseball as a whole and can appreciate any team for a day. I'm just happy to be traveling around and being able to see teams in their own parks. And the Cubbie's home is quite special. Old Weegham Park was a Baseball Park built to house Chicago's team in the Federal League back in 1914-15. That park survives today as Wrigley Field.
I also have a little personal connection with the SouthSiders; Chicago White Sox. My cousin is a coach on that team. Six years ago the ChiSox won the World Series. It was their first title in 88 years. Another other cousin who went to all the World Series games against the Astros mailed me all her ticket stubs. My other cousin played for the Red Sox that same year and taking the drive to Boston to see them face off against each other in the ALDS was pretty damn cool. And if you were wondering, I drove to Boston with yet another cousin of mine.
So that's my small connection to ChiTown. But this is really about Pizzeria Uno and their fine collection of Chicago Baseball History In Pictures. I actually had this planned for late summer. With their permission, I took the pictures on a stellar Saturday morning. Then work started taking more of my time, and this escaped me.
So, with all the bad weather we've been getting and being that Giants and Jets fans having nothing left to do but wait for Baseball, I figured this would be a good way to start getting that Baseball Feel back in your fingers after shovelling snow.
PIZZERIA UNO's
CHICAGO BASEBALL PHOTO COLLECTION
Click on all images to enlarge.
There it is. A little bit of Chicago in Brooklyn, New York.
But if you'd like to sit amidst something more familiar and a little more local,
Sit in the METS Section!
All Hail SKY KING ~ Kong!
Ya Gotta Believe!!
And yes Yankee fans, there's room for you too.
And because.., well, this is Brooklyn ya know..
Our Beloved Bums
And that's how Chicago and New York came together for some
Baseball, on a corner in Brooklyn.
Thank You,
PIZZERIA UNO
9201 4th Avenue, Bay Ridge
BROOKLYN
Thank you for this Windy City (and snowy) Blast of Baseball
and for helping us get through a long Winter.
Thanks for Ridin' folks.
Mike.BTB
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