BKN Cyclones ~ Let's Play Two

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE


BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Bums Take Bite Out of Muckdogs.

The Cyclones and Batavia Muckdogs will take a second crack at playing a twin bill today out in Western New York.  They tried fitting in two games yesterday, but the weather was uncooperative for a second straight day.  They were also rained out Tuesday.


They did manage to get one game in on Wednesday.  And it was all Cyclones.  Brooklyn got on the scoreboard first with four runs in the second inning on a 2-RBI single by Ismael Tijerina, and a 2-RBI double by Javier Rodriguez.


Batavia got two back in the eighth inning.  Then the Cyclones busted out with another five runs in the top of the ninth.  After a Daniel Muno double, Javier Rodriguez singled him home.  Richard Lucas walked and Brian Harrison reached on an E-6 to load the bases.  Travis Taijeron then pummelled a pitch over the right field wall for a grand slam; his 8th home run of the season; to make the score 9-2 Cyclones.


Brooklyn starter, Marcos Camarena, was sweet over 5.2 innings pitched.  He allowed only four hits and no runs.  In his second win of the season, he walked only one batter while striking out six.  The rock-solid Brooklyn bullpen was a little flaky, but finished the job.

DOUBLE-HEADER

First Game  5:05pm

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Batavia Muckdogs

From

Western New York

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Defections Continue To Alter Team

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Steve Smith is just the latest player from the Super Bowl Champs no longer on the roster.

A befuddling pre-season just got more intriguing as defections from Big Blue keep mounting.  Another important piece of the 2007 Super Bowl Champions has left to find greener pastures elsewhere.  Now Steve Smith has signed with the hated Philadelphia Eagles which reunites him with former Giant and fellow wide-out, Plaxico Burress.  Eli Manning's two surest go-to-guys are now gone.


It appeared as if Steve Smith and the Giants were just about to strike a deal; just as it appeared the Giants and Kevin Boss were about to strike a deal to resign.  But in both instances, a second team stepped in with more guaranteed money.


All is not lost though.  Jerry Reese has stock-piled some depth at Wide Receiver.  Injuries plagued the receivers last season.  With better health this season, the Receiving Corps. should be alright.  Domenick Hixon and Mario Manningham return and while they've proven themselves capable, they need to be better now.  Hakeem Nicks is coming into his own and in my opinion should reach "force" status this season...if he can stay healthy that is.  That's what the Giants seem to be banking on too.  Second year receiver; Victor Cruz; is the x-factor of the bunch and is the one who made Steven Smith expendable.  And maybe second year receiver; Duke Calhoon; can find a way to put his 6'2" 200lbs. body to some effective use this season with Smith gone.  Losing Kevin Boss is a bigger loss than Steven Smith.  So this news isn't devastating to me.  It struck me as a surprise though.


However, I'm looking for the Giants to stick with the running game a lot more this season.  Coach Coughlin admitted at the conclusion of last season, that perhaps they didn't run Brandon Jacobs as much as they should have, and said they will look to stick with the run attack more consistently in 2011.  I think Coach Coughlin and Jerry Reese; along with me; want Coach Gilbride reigned in first and foremost and get him to ease up on the passing game.  If that doesn't work, my guess is he gets replaced after the season.


Jerry Reese made resigning Ahmad Bradshaw a priority and asked Brandon Jacobs to restructure his deal so the Giants could get a deal done for Brandon's Little Buddy.  Now signed and reunited, they'll have to run behind a rebuilding Offensive Line already encountering troubles.  But the Line incurred  debilitating injuries last season and still ran effectively and incidentally only permitted Eli to get sacked sixteen times.  I think transitioning the O-Line may go smoother than we fear but there's no way a season like Rich Seubert's can be replaced prior to him getting hurt last year.


The bottom line entering this season; and if last season is indeed sticking in Coach Coughlin's mind; is the Giants do not want Eli throwing 25 interceptions again.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ What To Make of a Big Win?

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTIN MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:  Terry' Kids Come Through Again.  But Are They Changing Any Minds?

I can't tell you how many times I intended to post something real snarky and riddled with sarcasm because of old gripes and continuing beliefs I have; ...and didn't for love of team.  There are two dueling fan bases that reside inside my cranium as well as the streets of METropolis.  That's the schizophrenia that sets in when following this team in 2011.  It's an exhilarating high one day, then crushing, manic depression other days.  As of last night, the ratio works out between 51% to 49% on the side of exhilaration and glee.  But 49% percent of the time is far too long to go around talking to yourself especially when the ratio is constantly fluctuating above and below the .500 mark.


Last night, the Mets mounted another one of those comebacks that warrant big crowds at Citi Field, and loud cheers in appreciation of their fighting spirit.  And if not last night, then tonight for sure if just to thank Terry's Kids for a good time. 


But for me personally, last night's game reinforces why letting go of the past and inaugurating the future is in our best interest; and has been for some time.  The Mets have given us many refreshing nights this summer and have remained mildly relevant deeper into the season than we've gone in the last three when at the present time, in our condition, we have no business doing so.  So, schizophrenia is fine for now as long as Sandy Alderson keeps things moving along.


It's the insanity I abhor.  Insanity; some really smart old guy with white hair once postulated; is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.... Or something like that.  That's the part that always rubbed me the wrong way about this team; upper management; ownership; and yes, us fans too.


Think about all the players involved in last night's win and how they've managed to get this team to fifty-eight wins on August 10th considering the lack of contributions from KRod and Beltran due to trades; Wright; Reyes; Ike; and Santana; due to injury; and Bay's lack of productivity.  Several of these same players (unmalicious) conspired for some bad starts in 2007 and 2008 in which they had to play like crazed dogs to recover from....and did, only to fail in the end.


Now think about all the players that were in the line-up when the team started out this season 5-13, and earning the ire of greater METropolis.  Some of the names are eerily similar.  And the complaints; rants and raves were venomous but far too repetitive.  Bad starts followed by debilitating injuries have been this teams downfall for years now.


Once again, Mets fans have been given a hard lesson in the following;  You Can't Win Pennants in April..., but You Sure as Hell Can Lose Them in April.  Does a slightly better start to this season put the Mets four or five games behind the Braves for the Wild Card instead of nine?  Absolutely.  Would the Mets have avoided a one game Gambit in 2007 and 2008 with better starts in April?  Absolutely.  Everyone chooses to ignore April and focus more on labelling those two seasons as September Chokes.  I'm not here to argue that aspect of our ruin.  I merely point to the yearly monsoon over Flushing they call April Showers and how we usually take a soaking in the opening month of the season.


Just remember who the ones still standing and wearing a Met uniform today on August 10th are.  They're a spunky group called Terry's Kids.  And now, recall the ones who have continually put us in this position.


The truth is, because the Mets were teasingly close, we fell for it (again) and didn't trade Reyes.  And the fact David Wright was injured rendered him untradeable.  In no well kept secret of this blog, I would have traded both.  It's almost fitting that David Wright has had numerous clutch at-bats this past week, yet they come in an increasingly inconsequential time of the season.  I believe the future success of the Mets no longer rests in their hands.  It's the clearest way to say I have not come to dislike them; that's farthest from the truth.  But my visions of the future of this team lie elsewhere now.  And yes, throw Johan Santana's name into this matter also.  However I realize they aren't going anywhere any time soon.


Last night's win was great.  But alas, it only put us one game over .500 and no closer to the Braves in the standings.  But there's a measure of mental health with a game like yesterday's come-from-behind win against the Braves because the faces on the field are measurable different.  And that's why the Mets have prevented apathy from setting in this season...to go along with all the other mental maladies one must endure being a Met Fan.


The kids proved something in 2010 when they rose to eleven games over .500 before a return of the regulars took hold again.  Young players have proved something again this year by keeping the Mets going without a pronounced collapse (so far) and without any discernible star player in sight.


So here's to hoping last night looks more like things to come and that change is kind.  But change we must.


In the mean time, Let's Go Mets.





Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Hook Bluefish With First Place on the Line

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Taking on the Surging Bridgeport Bluefish After Dropping Two of Three to Lancaster.  Heading Into Tonight, Ducks Led Bluefish By Mere Half-Game in Second-Half Standings.


Tuesday Night Final:
Ducks.......7
Bluefish....5

Second Half - Liberty Division

Long Island Ducks     18-6      *

Bridgeport Bluefish    17-8    1.5  GB

Delayed; but in one of the few games that wasn't rained-out in the local area, the Long Island Ducks hosted the Bridgeport Bluefish in a second-half battle for first place of the Liberty Division.  Both teams were 8-2 over their last ten games entering tonight.  The Bluefish were only a half game behind Long Island with a 16-7 record.  Last year's A.L. Champion is mounting a second-half surge I thought they were capable of back in June; but it was a surge which never materialized for them before the first half ended.  Before tonight's final, the 17-7 Ducks were coming off a series in which they dropped two games out of three to the Lancaster Barnstormers.


Long Island's Ruddy Lugo started in search of his fifth win of the season.  After six innings pitched, he left the game with the Ducks staked to a 7-3 lead.  He allowed the Bluefish seven hits and surrendered four earned runs.  He walked four batters and struck out four before giving way to Jeremy Hill for the seventh inning.


Bridgeport jumped on Ruddy Lugo right away.  A walk; double; and two singles plated three first inning runs on three hits for the Bluefish.


Long Island got them all back plus one in the second inning.  John Rodriguez reclaimed the League lead in RBI by leading-off the inning with his 15th home run of the season and accumulating his 69th RBI of the season.  John Rodriguez led the League earlier in the season before being sidelined by a few injuries.  He's found his way back to the top, ahead of team mate, J,R. House.  Bridgeport's Wes Bankston is third in the League.  Kraig Binick then tripled home J.R. House and Matt Esquivel who reached base on consecutive singles.  Kinnard Jones got Binick home with a sac-fly for a 4-3 Ducks lead.


Bridgeport tied the game at four apiece with a run off Ruddy Lugo in the fifth inning.  But the Ducks picked up three runs in their sixth inning allowing Ruddy Lugo to leave on the winning side of this game.  J.R. House led-off with his 17th home run of the year.  Kraig Binick reached first on an E3 to load the bases after Matt Esquivel and Matt Padgett both singled.  Esquivel scored when Dan Lyons grounded into a double-play.  And Kinnard Jones singled home Matt Padgett to make the game 7-4 Ducks.


Jeremy Hill allowed the Bluefish a run in the seventh inning to make it a 7-5 game.  In all he pitched two innings allowing only the one run.  He gave up one hit and a walk.  Three strikeouts highlighted his night.


Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth inning and set down all three batters he faced with strikeout to end the game.  It was his 14th save of the season.  And for Ruddy Logo, he earned his fifth win of the year against two losses.


Tuesday night's win ups the Ducks record to 58-30 over-all on the season; the League's best.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Bums Win Battle of the Boroughs III

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Sunday's Win In Coney Island Moves Them Closer To Yanks in Division, and Closer To Wild Card Teams.

The Brooklyn Cyclones took three of the four games this past weekend from the Rotten Staten Island Yankees to move within 6.5 games of the McNamara Division leaders.  The Cyclones took both games in Staten Island during the home-and-home four game series and split two games in Brooklyn.  The Yankees lone win of the series came Saturday with a 6-4 final score.  In the series, the Cyclones almost doubled Staten Island's run output over the series.  Brooklyn outscored the Yanks 30-17 over the four games.


Heading into tonight's games, the Auburn Doubledays and Mahoning Valley Scrappers are tied for the Wild Card spot.  Both are sporting 30-21 records.  The Williamsport Crosscutters, at 28-22, trail them by 1.5 games.  Then, closing in quickly, are the Brooklyn Cyclones.  After winning three of four this weekend, they are now 28-23, and only 2 games behind the Wild Card leaders.


The Cyclones start a six game road trip tonight with their first stop coming in Batavia, followed by a series against Mahoning Valley.  Then, the NY-PL has an off day next Monday before the NY-PL All-Star Game is played on Tuesday night; Aug. 16, 2011 in Lowell, Mass.; home of the Spinners.


I've always enjoyed the series between Brooklyn and the historical Batavia organization since the first season of Cyclone existence.  With a history dating back to 1939; and even earlier than that; Batavia has been a mainstay on the New York State Baseball scene since the days when the New York - Penn League was referred to as the PONY League; (Pennsylvania - Ontario - New York), prior to 1956.  Their history in that League reaches back to 1939.  And Baseball in Batavia reaches dates much earlier than that; as far back as 1897.


In 2001, Brooklyn's first year in the NY-PL, they gave out this poster when the Batavia Muck Dogs came to town.  It's been hanging on the back of my door to the Man-cave ever since.

This is a very important road trip for the Coney Island Nine.  With some positive results in Batavia, they'd head to Mahoning Valley and hopefully play for the coveted Wild Card spot; Auburn withstanding. 


The Cyclones are on the road quite a bit during the month of August.  They will have to play slightly better than their 12-12 record away from Coney Island in order to catch the Yankees for the Division Lead.  Eleven of the Cyclones remaining twenty six games will be played in Brooklyn where they have a 16-12 record.  So perhaps, the Cyclones' fortune in the standings may very well depend on how they negotiate the rough road ahead indeed.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Casualties and Concerns Mount

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET


NEW YORK METS: The Flushing Infirmary Is Full.  And the Time for Optimism and Rallying Around a Team Chasing Contention Has Passed.  A Closer and Colder View is in Order.

If you cringed when Daniel Murphy's knee bent back on the TV replay; if you winced in pain right along with him when Murph went down; if you felt bad for the poor kid watching him getting helped off the field; you're a good Met Fan and a compassionate human being.


But if you're surprised by Sunday's developments, you haven't been watching enough Met Baseball over the last three years.  That Daniel Murphy is now lost for the season, and Jose Reyes again felt an unwelcome amigo in his leg are not the astonishing part.  The incredible number and ever-mounting casualties the Mets have endured....is.  It just seems to never stop.


I don't think the play at second base was dirty; malicious; or an intentional spiking.  It looked like Jose Constanza escaped injury himself; needing to spring his leg free after sliding into the bag.  However which way you saw it, the end result is the same.  Chalk up another crippling, season ending injury to fallen Met fortunes.


Jose Reyes is proving more and more he is a player who will always suffer underlying tenderness that will and does occasionally flare up, than he is making a case to be a 7 year/stupid-million dollar contract recipient.  I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but that's the way I'd describe it.  He is perhaps now a player who requires more rest over the course of a season.  Maybe 145 games a season is his new max?  Multiple bouts with his hamstring point to more permanent issues with his cranky  muscle fibers.  And regardless the outcome from his tweaked hammy Sunday, Jose Reyes needs to be given a hard cold re-evaluation before the Mets make a decision to offer him a prohibitive deal.


As far as the game Sunday; the loss; the series against the Braves; and a season rapidly losing any appeal it had going for it; August 8th is that latest date in a season we've conversed about meaningful Baseball games in Flushing in the last three years.  Be happy for that.  But as I said in my last posting, I'm going to be taking a bit of a colder approach, and being a little less diplomatic about things as the time for optimism and rallying around their chase for contention has passed.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Yankees ~ Big Papi Sparks Big Comeback, Again

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY




new york YANKEES:  Lose Series and Share of First Place to Rival Boston Red Sox.


Freddie seemingly did his part Sunday night.  He labored through five innings but only gave up one run.  I'll reiterate this series meant absolutely nothing to either team by default of the Wild Card.  But Freddie Garcia and Bartolo Colon were both under scrutiny to pitch well against what will potentially be their competition in October.  All things considered, they both did well and passed what ever tests were imagined for them by the masses.  Between them, they held the Red Sox' number one offensive machine to 3 runs over 9.2 combined innings pitched.  In the two games they pitched, the final score was a low 3-2 final with each team winning one game. 


The lone blow-out of the series was suffered by the Yankees' staff Ace; C.C. Sabathia.  Saturday's loss made three times this season the Red Sox turned back Sabathia.  Not only do the Red Sox have C.C. Sabathia's number this season, the Sawx have always had Mariano Rivera's number.  And Sunday night, they dialed him up for another colossal blown save /SLASH/ comeback win at Fenway.


What's new is old.  And what's old really never quite gets old if you're Big Papi and the Sawx.


Boston's latest hero; Jeremy Reddick; is new to this.  He only doubled into the left field corner in the 10th inning to drive in the game-winning run.  What's not new is the Red Sox comeback.  What's old; or getting older; is Big Papi.  But what never gets old, is watching him destroy the Yankees.  He doubled off Mo to set up the game-winning RBI by Reddick.


And so the Showdown on Lansdowne Street goes to the home town team; three games to one.  The Red Sox end the weekend in first place.  But at least the Yankees come away from Boston with a little reassurance Colon and Garcia can contribute once the air gets a little cooler.


Of course losing two of three to the Sox shouldn't end on a positive note for Yankee Fans..., right?  Look what Big Papi did to you...again.  And what to make of C.C. Sabathia and Mariano Rivera's propensity to lose to the Beantown Nine?


Didn't anticipate that one....




Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Getting Californicated

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  West Coast Riches Leaves Big Blue With Huge Holes Back In East Rutherford.


Good-bye Kevin Boss; and Thank You. 


He wasn't an All-Time Giant.  Nor was he a especially great Giant.  But Kevin Boss was among the most liked and favorite Giants.  However, he's heading to California having signed a four year deal with the Oakland Raiders.  Yes, Al Davis threw yet another monkey wrench into the League's collective salary structure with another absurd spending package.  But congratulations to Kevin Boss on securing the deal for himself.  The Giants were incapable of matching the guaranteed portion of the offer, so off he goes.  And I for one, am not happy about the development.  Kevin wasn't the best Tight End by a long shot.  But like I said, he was a favorite.  He was a tremendous safety net for Eli with sure hands.  In countless situations, Eli wound up causing Boss to get his bell rung.  But Kevin Boss always got up and kept marching on.  And of course, there was the Super Bowl.


That's the second player the Giants let get away because of the salary cap.  Giant fans are equally dismayed about the departure of Barry Cofield to San Francisco.  It seems as if the Giants are receiving a good-'ol Californication this summer.  In my opinion, the Giants soft white under-belly just got softer and whiter.  With no Cofield plugging the middle of the D-Line, and a tissue-soft Linebacker Corps., I fear the Giants have Big Blue problems.  And the loss of these two players only scratches the surface.


Now Rookie Prince Amukamara has a broken foot.  Wonderful!  For a secondary unit that's had it's problems with injury, he was supposed to be the much needed upgrade.  Remember Kenny Phillips missing his first year?  Here we go again.


Fellow Giant Fans..., I don't know; we already have some Big troubles on Defense this year.  Jerry Reese continues to do little in the way of bolstering our linebacker situation.  We don't have a feel whether Mathias Kiwanuka will play linebacker or whether he will rejoin the defensive line.  And quite honestly, I don't like having that option.  It wreaks of instability.  Until proven otherwise, the secondary remains average at best.  And our defensive front is still in suspended animation with the Osi Drama disrupting team cohesiveness and the over-all plan.


The latest is Osi and his agent offered the Giants to play this season without any snivelling, if the team agrees to release him from the final year of his deal thereby making him a free agent after the season.  If I'm the Giants, I'm jumping all over that offer.  It's the most sensible thing I've heard out of Osi's Camp yet.  Prior to this latest development, Osi was claiming his knee was ailing and required surgery.   What a weak strategy!  Sure, he might need some treatment on his knee.  I'm not insinuating Osi is a liar.  But doesn't the offer to play out the season if they cut him loose from the last year of the deal and a knee in need of an operation directly conflict with each other?  Which one is it?  Can he play or is he hurt? 


Which is it Osi?




Mike.BTB

N.Y.Mets ~ The Flushing Power Company

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET




NEW YORK METS:   The Roosevelt Avenue Sluggers Pound Out Four Home Runs Against The Tomahawk Chaps.

Tie Series At One Game Apiece; Rubber Game Sunday.


That was a nifty little comeback wasn't it?  The game turned into a semi-rain soaked blow-out in the end, but what the hey...  The win ties this series with the Braves at one game apiece.

You watch a game like Saturday's unfold, and you start asking yourself, what ails this team when they play Washington and Miami (or in Dan Uggla's case, former Marlin players)?  If you're R.A. Dickey, you have to be asking yourself when am I going to get treated to a game like this?  And for the Fans, this is just the other side; the prettier side; of a Jekyll and Hyde battle against games like last Wednesday in Florida.

And the Mets have been just that; a Jekyll and Hyde team.  They are good half of the time.  The other half of the time they're down right scary.  The feel-good from a game like Saturday's is transient in nature, because ultimately, it got us nowhere.  We returned to the spot we were in Friday at the start of this series, which is most likely, too far behind the Braves in the Wild Card race.  A dramatic up-tick in the Mets winning percentage, and a severe drop-off by the Braves are both needed if the Mets are to play "meaningful games in September".


....Perchance to dream.  Win one; Lose one.  Win four; Lose four.  ...Aye, there's the rub.


Did Jon Niese pitch a good game?  Um..., I don't think so.  Atlanta tagged him up for ten hits and five runs over five innings pitched.  But thanks to Justin Turner (two home runs) tapping into his inner Dave Kingman, Jon Niese won his 11th game of the season against 8 losses.


Indeed, while Justin Turner; Jason Bay; and Josh Thole all scoffed at the notion Citi Field is anti-batter, the walls of Citi Field mocked and laughed at David Wright yet again.  In the first inning, an apparent Ruthian blast to left center dropped in and bounced high off the wall for a double leaving the Face of the Franchise with a look of bewilderment on it.


Last night; as I have championed many times this season; I said I wanted Josh Thole to be left alone as the starting/full-time catcher now that this supposed race against (the trade deadline) and the Braves is over.  Tonight, he only went 3 for 4 with a home run; an RBI; and two runs scored.  Can we let the kid play every day please?  I'd appreciate it.  Thanks a lot.


There will be a rubber game on Sunday which is quite appropriate considering the Mets are still bouncing around the .500 mark.  They needed a win just to get to the break even point....again.  Catching up to the Braves is such a non-issue at this point.  Learning about the players who fit into next year's plan....is.


In that regard, Bobby Parnell tossed an inning and threw 12 strikes in 17 total pitches thrown.  He walked one batter; struck out one; and surrendered no hits in the eighth inning.


And finally, Murphy's Law remains in full effect over at first base.  Tonight, Daniel committed his latest fielding atrocity in what is becoming a crime scene over at first base.  And now that it's all but guaranteed Ike Davis is done for the year, what ever can go wrong over there most certainly will.  So prepare yourselves so as to not be so hard on him when things go awry for him in the future.


You can't be disappointed with what you don't expect.




Mike.BTB

BROOKLYN STORIES ~ Baseball Talk

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn;  -  In my travels Friday morning I had the pleasure of meeting two older gentlemen; neighbors and friends to each other; who were inspired to jeer me about a Red Sox jersey I was wearing.  And that's when we got-a-talkin' about Baseball.



Gentleman Number One:  ...A Veteran of the Korean War. 


When he was a young boy, he jumped the local Trolley and made his way with friends over to Ebbets Field.  With no tickets, they had every intention of sneaking in.  For brevity sake, they made it in.....  Just in time to see a guy named Johnny Mize of the N.Y. Giants, belt a home run to beat the Dodgers.

Later that same season, they had the same plan; no tickets and a plan to sneak in.  They made it inside again just in time to see a guy named Johnny Mize belt a home run to beat the Dodgers...again!

When Johnny Mize started playing for the Yankees, that kid was hooked.  He became a Yankee fan for life while living in Brooklyn during the NYC Hey Days.  Mickey Mantle was his idol; of course.

He also had little, if anything good things to say about Joe Pepitone, whom he claims to know.





Gentleman Number Two:  ...A little more elderly than the first Gentleman; he is a Veteran of WWII and stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day; piloting landing crafts while serving in the Navy.


He played Class-D ball (as they referred to the Minors back then) in the Yankees' system in Newark, and elsewhere; and once competed against a young prospect named Phil Rizzuto for a shortstop job.

He grew up as a New York Giants fan in Brooklyn.  His favorite player; then turned manager; was Mel Ott.  He said Joe DiMaggio was damn-near a perfect ball player and that Bob Feller could blow away any player today.

He said meeting his wife after the war, more than anything, ended his playing career.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Yankees ~ Red Sox Strike Back in Game Two

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

THE SHOWDOWN ON LANSDOWNE STREET

New York Yankees (1-1)

vs.

BOSTON RED SOX (1-1)

GAME THREE

SUNDAY NIGHT

new york YANKEES:  Two Pitchers Are Still Trying to Win Trust As Well As Games.  Bartolo Colon Represented Well Friday.  Now Freddie Needs To Master Sunday Night.

 

In my last NYY posting prior to the series start, I said a Hard Luck Loss; ...not a pounding loss, would still serve a Yankee pitcher's confidence well.  Sabathia's day isn't exactly what I had in mind. 


In the series that means nothing, I thought the Yankees' starting pitching was in need of dialing-up three rock solid performances on demand against the Red Sox.  If for no other reason, I felt they needed to do it just so they know they can.  After all, the Yankees haven't fared very well against Boston this season.  As the season enters it's final third, the Yankees still have a rotation to figure out with numerous bodies and limited jobs.  It's not a bad problem to have.


With two or three of them, it boils down to a matter of trust.  And two of them for sure; Colon and Garcia; to a large extent, got the Yanks in this position atop the division.  But did/do you trust them?  Now that Friday's game is out of the way, did Bartolo Colon's 94 pitch/4.2 innings pitched effort provide you with any more confidence he will still be effective through the remaining Dog Days of Summer and into October?


I'm not a Yankee fan as you know, but I'd feel good coming off Friday's win.  His performance is what you needed and it's what you got.  It was a shorter outing than you would have liked, but your bullpen is a strength and they picked him up superbly Friday night.  The point is, Bartolo dialed it up, and chipped in to keep the Red Sox under three runs for the game just when the Yanks needed him to; in game one of a series with both teams tied for first.

As you know, keeping the American League's number one offense under three runs a game is a monumental task; - Just ask C.C.  But let's be real on this one.  After all he's done, doesn't C.C. deserve a pass regarding Saturday afternoon's thumping?  Arguing your Staff Ace let the team down against your arch rival is your prerogative should you chose to go that way.  I'm not a fan, remember?


But, in my thinking, this series was never about C.C. and I'd be willing to deal with his little dip on Pitch-O-Meter; especially after a seven game winning streak.  This weekend is still about Bartolo Colon and Freddie Garcia, and how they were going to respond when the Yankees needed wins on demand; like if it was the playoffs.  This series was and is a great test to see how they would respond in a short series.  Because even Yankee fans have to admit, you have limited TRUST in the two pitchers.  Before playoff rosters are set and players can no longer be passed through waivers, you need more assurances don't you?


Freddie Garcia is next.  He'll throw his junk at the Sawx, opposing Josh Beckett Sunday night.


This isn't about winning two of three games this series.  This isn't really about occupying first place on August 8th.  This series is really meaningless in the grand scheme of things.  The Wild Card watered down races like this; look there for reasons why this series is meaningless.  That's why I wouldn't be too preoccupied with C.C.'s stinker against Boston Saturday.  Instead this now becomes about Freddie Garcia and can he dial up a game that takes the onus off the offense and places it squarely on his right arm's ability to stymie the Red Sox regardless of how well or how badly Josh Beckett handles his business.  Garcia is going to HAVE to do it eventually.  So like I said, this is a test. 


Bartolo Colon passed his.

Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Trying To Claw Their Way Back Above .500

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE



NEWARK BEARS:  Even Series With Quebec; Game Three Tonight.


The Bears have played the Quebec Capitales well this season.  And they continued Friday night with a win against Quebec in game two of a four game series up in the Great White North.


After getting shut-out 4-0 Thursday night in the series opener, it took eleven innings to gain victory Friday.  Three runs in the top of the frame sealed the deal for visiting Newark and spoiled things for the home crowd.  Sacre Bleu!  The game was a step in the right direction against a good team, as the Bears are struggling to get above .500 again.  They are currently two games under the mark and perhaps they can get things going in a more positive direction during the rest of this trip in Canada.


I guess you can say; Bears' starter; Alex Smith did it again.  He walked a bunch of batters; which is his custom; but yet, was relatively effective over 5.2 innings.  Quebec scored one time in the second inning.  The Bears staked Alex Smith to a 3-1 lead after five innings on RBI singles by Brad Jackson and Brandon Watson.  Then Alex got into trouble in the bottom of the sixth and surrendered the tying runs.


Newarks' bullpen was stellar and kept the Capitales scoreless in relief of Smith until Quebec scored one time in the bottom of the 11th inning.  Anthony Pluta; TJ Hose; and Matt Fitton; combined on four innings; no runs; two hits; 2 walks; and five strikeouts.  Newly signed Gregory Lane finished the game for Newark.  He allowed Quebec one run, but was credited with the win.


Back-to-back doubles by Brandon Watson and Paddy Matera drove home all three Newark runs in the top of the 11th inning to get the Bears on the winning side.

TONIGHT

Canadian/American League of Baseball

GAME THREE of FOUR

NEWARK BEARS (1-1)

vs.

Quebec Capitales (1-1)

From

North of the Border, Canada

 

MIKE.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ This Series Is Possible Glimpse Into Future

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  In A Possible Playoff Preview,
Lancaster Comes Barnstorming Into Bethpage Park.


The League's One and Two teams over all this season;  the two first-half champions of their respective divisions; will play three in Bethpage Park this weekend.  They square-off in a possible playoff preview as the Atlantic League enters it's last month of the regular season.


After a fast second-half start by the Camden River Sharks, Long Island has recaptured first place in the Liberty Division and now lead a surging Bridgeport team by 1.5 games and Camden by two.  Lancaster; the first-half Freedom Division Champ; trail the second-half first place team York Revolution by only one-half game.


Mike Loree is the scheduled starter for Long Island tonight.  He enters the game looking to continue a dominant season while seeking his 14th win.  So far, he leads the Atlantic League with 13 wins this season against only two losses, to go along with his League best 1.91 ERA.


Lancaster Big Man; Slugger; Tommy Everidge, leads the Atlantic League in home runs with 21.  Then the Ducks round out a list of the top six home run hitters in the League with three players; Ray Navarrete (17); J.R. House (16); and Javier Colina (15).

TONIGHT

Lancaster Barnstormers (49-36)

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS (56-28)

From

Bethpage Park, L.I.

Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Bums Dump Staten Island In Game One

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Seventh Inning Break-Out Gets the Coney Island Nine a Game Closer to Yanks.

FRIDAY ~ FINAL SCORE:

BROOKLYN...9

Staten Island....4

...And then the Richmond County Baby Bombers' lead was 7.5 games.

Game one in the third installment of the Battle of the Boroughs goes to Brooklyn.  The division leading Yanks got sloppy with the ball; committing three errors; and Brooklyn busted out late to secure themselves a 9-4 victory to gain a game on the McNamara Division leaders.

The Seaside Sluggers opened the scoring in the fourth inning.  Cole Frenzel and Travis Tiajeron drove in Brooklyn's first two runs.   But Staten Island got one back in the bottom half of the inning, and scored the tying run an inning later to make it a 2-2 game after five.


It stayed like that till the seventh inning when Brooklyn busted out for five runs against the Yanks.  Staten Island brought in pitcher, Robert Paullus, to pitch the seventh.  A single; two walks; and a passed-ball; plated Brooklyn's third run.  It got worse.  He then walked his third batter; Javier Rodriguez.  Richard Lucas then followed with a two RBI single.  Robert Paullus followed that by hitting Cole Fenzel with a pitch; loading up the bases.  And that was the end of Robert Paullus' night.


Travis Taigeron singled off the next Yankee pitcher; Philip Wetherell; driving in another run for Brooklyn; making the score 8-2.  Philip then uncorked a wild pitched allowing Richard Lucas to score from third base with the fifth run of the inning for Brooklyn.


Staten Island scored two runs in the ninth.  But their comeback efforts fell way short.  Brooklyn won by a final score of 9-4 in front of a sold-out Staten Island crowd.

TODAY

GAME TWO



BATTLE of the BOROUGHS III

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

From

The Coney Island Seaside

in BROOKLYN

Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ CITI No Help Against Tomahawk Chaps

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET




NEW YORK METS:  Amazin Hopes of Contention Just Got Scalped.


...And then the Braves' lead was nine.


On their return trip home, nothing the Mets brought to Citi Field Friday night was anywhere near capable of reeling-in the Braves a little bit closer in the standings.  The Mets now stand one game away from a double digit deficit in the Wild Card standings.


The Mets are now 22-29 at home and one game under .500 for the season....again.  All they managed were four hits on the night and only three off Tim Hudson over his seven innings pitched.  One run was all the Braves would allow the Mets.  And that directly leads to the matter of another R.A. Dickey quality, but yet again wasted start.  Instead of posting a 5-10 record this season, he should be 10-5 with a little more help.


Be that as it may, finishing this series against the Braves 2-1, or 1-2, doesn't cut it either way.  The Mets needed a sweep in order to be thought of as a credible contender.  Alas, they are not.


Stranger things have happened in baseball; I cede any reader that.  But excuse me if I start changing my tune these days.  I'm officially interested in seeing other things from this Met team that may conflict with trying to win the pennant.  I beg your pardon.


I'll start with Josh Thole.  I want to see him catching every day; - Period!  I want Bobby Parnell put into every closing situation realistically possible.  And I do not want to see Johan Santana pitch for the Mets this season.


Then I need the following question answered;  How the hell is Ike Davis' foot/bone condition absolutely the same after all this time; and how do the Met Doctors explain this one? 


I'm waiting!


Do you think David Wright has nightmares about the dimensions of Citi Field?  It's almost enough to drive a guy crazy.  Or, just out of New York?





Mike.BTB