Monday, June 21, 2010

the AJB ~ MeltDown in the Desert

BTB  H.Q. ~ It's 10:50pm and AJ Burnette has allowed 6 runs against the D-Backs out in the desert in only two innings of work.  Yea...I know; - it's all Jorge's fault right?  A(pple) J(acks) gave up 3 Fruity Pebbles in the first inning alone!  The Diamond Backs have 6 runs on 8 hits to go along with their 6 recorded outs against AJ so far.  AJ is coming out for the third inning!...WoooHooo.  SKY Rockets in the NIGHT!!

He's such a mental case.  No! Not quite the magnitude of Ollie Perez but the resemblance of futility sometimes is uncanny.  AJ...what an enigma.   His stuff and his career numbers tell two very different stories.
This is probably something I would have TWEETED(?) ...if I had said account; So here I am.  When good AJ shows up, it's usually with a different catcher (eh-hem!! Cervelli, Molina,  eH-HeM!  etc).  When bad AJ shows up more often than not Jorge is behind the plate...with of course the occasional exception.

There just is no denying this phenomenon!  No one will come out and openly speak the truth on this matter as if a VooDoo spell will LiveKill their existence.

No...it's not OK to put this on Jorge; not one bit.  Sure he's got his issues as a catcher and receiver.  But the over-riding factor here is that AJ is just a Block-Head.

"Why did I throw that pitch?!!!"  I don't know AJ.  Try this.  Pick a pitch and execute it.  Easier said than done right?

He's his own worst enemy.

END

Mike  BTB



11:49 PM


Start Dinner Honey...I'm Coming Home!!  

The Yankees are left to clean up the mess A(pple)J(acks) Block Head left behind while he hits the showers.

The AJB gave up 9 hits; 7 runs all earned; he walked 2 and gave up 3 Fruity Pebbles of equal opportunity as the AJB allowed the D-Backs to deposit an offering in center field, right field, then one in left field respectively.

As reward for the AJB's pleasing performance the Diamond Backs offered 12 outs in return to express their gratitude.  What a classy bunch...huh?

The Yanks are trying to peck their way back into this game.  It is now 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning with Chad Gaudin pitching (who just popped a 92mph fastball by the way...AND just hit Justin Upton on the elbow with a 93mph fastball!  OUCH!).

... and it's now 12:04 BTB time.

END

Mike


1:23am

So much for the come-back.  10-4 Final.  The D-Backs win.  That mushroom cloud rising over the desert tonight was the bottom of the first inning in Arizona courtesy; the AJB who surrendered 5 runs while getting three pitches lost over the wall for home runs.  Justin Upton had one of those.  He added another for good measure later in the game.

That's a wrap.

BTB

WORLD CUP 2010

WHY NOT!?

POWER RANKINGS
as/of  June 21

1 ~ ARGENTINA
2 ~ BRAZIL
3 ~ NEDERLAND
4 ~ SPAIN
5 ~ MEXICO
6 ~ GERMANY
7 ~ CHILE
8 ~ USA
9 ~ PARAGUAY
10 ~ PORTUGAL

Uruguay~Slovenia~Italy~England~South Korea

Yes I still believe Spain is not to be taken lightly.  Nederland still continues to roll and they must be recognized.  Argentina first and Brazil second, have shown with out a doubt so far, they are the class of this tournament.  Chile is the Phantom here.  You'd be a fool to take Germany lightly.  They are a cornered cat and will strike down their next opponent.  Slovenia is like the Philadelphia Flyers of Soccer; they play a most physical game and that has to count for something.  Portugal scored 7 goals today; - That's SEVEN GOALS in Soccer folks.  A fluke?  Most likely.  But it's enough to get them ranked.  The USA has been outplayed in 3 of four halves in their two matches.  When they had to dig deep and shovel more coal in the fire, they've managed the timely goal and created chances.  Those chances come at great risk.  Be careful America.
USA plays Algeria Wednesday and WILL advance if they win outright.  Paraguay is just your good, solid, fundamentally sound Football Club who can ruin ANY club's day.  Mexico is as passionate for Football as they are for Baseball.  They always play tough.

Those are my impressions so far in
World Cup 2010

Mike


Week One Results; the HALL of VERY VERY GOOD

MEMBERS
of the
HALL OF VERY VERY GOOD

As voted by The Fans

* * *

MARK FIDRYCH  ~  BERT BLYLEVEN  ~  LUIS TIANT
AL OLIVER  ~  DALE MURPHY  ~  WILLIE McGEE

******************************************************************************

WEEK ONE VOTE RESULTS :

**DALE MURPHY received a 100% YES Vote on 11 total votes cast.
*LUIS TIANT received a 100% YES Vote on 10 total votes cast.

BERT BLYLEVEN received a 91% YES Vote on 11 total votes cast.
MARK FIDRYCH received a 91% YES Vote on 11 total votes cast.
AL OLIVER received a 90% YES Vote on 10 total votes cast with ONE no comment.
WILLIE McGEE received a 73% YES Vote on 11 total votes cast.

MIKE LIEBERTHAL finished the voting at 50%  ~  5 YES   5 NO
Ties do not get you elected.

Congratulations everyone for launching the
HOVVG

KEEP SENDING IN THOSE E-MAILS to

TRIPLETORIGHT@YAHOO.com

*****************************************************************************

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/


FOR ALL UPDATED INFORMATION GO TO MY
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
I'm running it there.

I'm using these blogger-posts for copy and paste purposes.

mike

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Done and Done(er)

ONE came over as a throw-in, in a trade that sent Xavier Nady to PITT for reliever Roberto Hernandez because Duaner Sanchez went out looking for Spanish food in the middle of the night in Miami and the taxi he was in was involved in a traffic accident.  Sanchez, who effectively "broke" the Mets' season in addition to his shoulder that year because we were forced to ride Aaron Heilman in the playoffs of 2006, hasn't been heard from again.

The OTHER came over in a trade as a throw-in when the Mets traded Chris Benson to the Orioles to get his wife Anna Benson as far away from Flushing as quickly as they possibly could.  But the trade was really intended to bring back former Oriole closer Jorge Julio; who there's little to speak of.

The first ONE I referred to is Oliver Perez.  The OTHER to which I refer is John Maine.  You have often heard me refer to them and HAIL and RAIN, respectively.  After their 2010 sub-par efforts thus far, they have done everything with-in their power, not to work out their problems, not acquiescing to the club's wishes as with Ollie, not being forthright and honest with regards to pain or discomfort as with Maine; No!
They have done everything with-in their power to introduce themselves to the MLB populace as not only the Flushing version of DUMB and DUMBER...But more accurate to the Mets' situation:

DONE and DONE(ER)

...as in finished.

John Maine couldn't get the SMURFs out right now showing no gumption or velocity while failing miserably in AAA-Buffalo.  Ollie?  I don't even know where he is.  These silly jokes are nothing compared to the barbs manager Jerry Manuel has been ripping to the press about those guys.  I'm not going to get all quote happy here, but when asked if one of the pair might see some innings as a starter again or even relief, Jerry replied with something to the effect of, "yea, on our next off day" - Don't quote me but that's the gist.  I'm lazy and don't feel like getting the paper.

R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi have made Met fans all but forget Maine and Perez.  There are too many to mention who would be contented to just see the "weather" system bringing RAIN and HAIL upon Citi Field just blow off to sea.  In the big picture I think the Mets see Nieve and Mejia as starters but I'm getting into the future.  The present is very bleak for Ollie and Maine.  It's clearly evident Jerry Manuel has no practical use for either one of them.  Nor does he see a need to treat them like men anymore when both have pouted and acted childishly throughout their individual ordeals.

To both their credits, we rode them like mules down the stretch and through the playoffs in 2006.  They came through with flying colors; they rose to the occasion admirably!!  I, as a Met fan had far more confidence in these two, hoping that we had caught magic in a bottle with young untested, unproven pitchers, than I ever had hoping Tom Glavine could win a big game for us.  That's being honest.  That is why perhaps I, and many other Met fans have stood by their side, supported them, protected and defended them from criticisms since that playoff run we made.  They came through in huge ways for us.  Ollie pitched masterfully in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS.  But like I mentioned earlier, we were left placing our bullpen trust in Aaron Heilman because Duarner Sanchez was no more.

It's time to face facts here folks.  These boyz' time in Flushing have arrived to their Law of Diminished Returns.  There is no more from or for them; Not for this team.  Maine is an easier situation to deal with because of the contract the Mets gave Ollie Perez.  The Mets still owe Ollie $24 million for two more years after 2010.  The Ollie Chronicles are something you won't want to miss because A) - you just can't have someone sitting around counting millions for sucking and not pitching and  B) - Jerry Manuel wants nothing to do with him anymore.  This is a great drama in the making.

John Maine?  Ollie?  We liked them.  We used to.  We're finished and they're DONE and DON(ER).

A fair question to ask is Omar Minaya's riding the backs of two trade throw-ins over the last few years.  That argument only carries so much weight because at one time or another we all found ourselves on the sides on Ollie and Maine.  Unlike today we used to think very differently about them.  What further mutes the "riding-the-back" debate was Omar's trade for Johan Santana and the emergence of Pelfry.
Johan and Pelfry were much better stable mates for Ollie and Maine than Glavine and Trachsel ever were.  But Maine and Ollie could never maintain or improve upon the early success they had here.

Separation anxiety is never easy for players, clubs or fans.  Life in Baseball can be a real "stitch" sometimes.

In other transactions out of METropolis:

Bobby Parnell is UP; - and Jenrry Mejia is DOWN.  Bobby Parnell who last year set a rookie record for appearances as a Met and perhaps was so burnt out after 2009's over-use by Jerry Manuel he couldn't make the club this year, is back on the big club swapping roster spots with Jenrry Mejia.  The idea is to start stretching out Mejia for Starting Pitching duties maybe by the end of July.  It's no big point of contention but I would have liked for Mejia to remain at AA/AAA as the club broke Spring Training.  He would be ready today for insertion into the rotation.  I know...hindsight is 20/20.  Like I said...No biggie.  I would have kept him down but he pitched well enough to earn a bullpen job with the club back in April.

One last bit of METrospection before I go.  Yes the Mets finished their road trip with 7 up and 2 down and good job by them in doing so..  Yes they've played to the tune of something like 19-9 (whatever it is) in their last 28 games or so.  So many "experts" are pointing to the last round of Inter-League when the Mets and Yanks squared off in CITI as the point where the Mets turned things around and played like the hottest team in Baseball since. 

My question is why look there?  Why not look and just a few days prior to that series when Jeff Wilpon went down to Atlanta to talk with the care-takers of his Father's baseball club.  In a very "Brian Cashman-esque" move as when Brian went down to Atlanta to give his faltering Yankees a visit last year, Jeff Wilpon had more than good enough reason to want to talk with his executive employees that day in HOTLanta about the state and direction of his Pop's baseball company. 

As someone who is one of the biggest critics of the Wilponian Way...Let's give him/Jeff some credit instead of the Yankee series at Citi for getting this team on a better path.  Maybe his mere presence was a message in itself, that professional Baseball players read loud and clear.

Jeff, I give you the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Mike


Happy Fathers' Day

To all my fellow Dads and Pops out there,

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

from
Mike BTB

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Brooklyn Cyclones Set Attendance Mark


OPENING DAY
at
MCU Park

BROOKLYN CYCLONES
Saturday  June 19, 2010
The Brooklyn Cyclones set their all-time Opening Day attendance record today with an announced crowd of 9,881.

By the way...The home of the Cyclones officially only holds room for 7,500 ~ Not including the suites.

Way to go Brooklyn!!

The Cyclones won yesterday's season opener in Staten Island by a score of 5-3 against the Yankees.

In the Home Opener today
the Cyclones bested the S.I.Yankees by a score of
9-6

Both Cyclone victories were the come-from-behind variety.


Mike~BTB

Babies, BUMS and FREAKS - Oh my!

June 19, 2010

CONEY ISLAND
Our iconic Parachute Jump; a relic of Coney's glorious past.
Brooklyn

Today is a special day in Brooklyn.  This day represents two things for it's denizens.
Coney Island plays host to two Brooklyn institutions:

The Mermaid Parade
and
OPENING DAY
for
The Brooklyn Cyclones Baseball Club (A)

How I would love to take you into the glorious past of this strip of Brooklyn's beach front.  We think of it as an extension of our backyards.  It's really a place just like the rest of our neighborhoods.  There's no gate; entry fee; hand stamp; open time; close time, structure, organization or central authority.  It doesn't even have a sign saying "Welcome to Coney Island" per say.  It's just somewhere we live our normal lives but with rides, food, baseball, freaks, bums and a beach. 
You know, the normal stuff.
It's not corporate and sterile.  We know the owners of the various attractions like I know the owner of the world famous Cyclone Roller Coaster for years.  Coney Island is an evolution of good, crazy, wacky and down right stupid ideas for the servicing of human curiosity, tickling their psyche, old fashioned entertainment; and a little bit of shock value but harmless fun for your senses.  There is no other place like Coney Island nor will there ever be.  At present the once Capital of the East Coast (100 years ago) is in a major state of flux.  Part of the uniqueness to Coney was the multitudes of individual ownership of the various parts of the area.  Coney Island was never and should never be a centrally controlled, homogenized entity.  The great varied minds who delved into entrepreneurship in Coney and the evolution of the park over the decades is what made Coney great.  Presently, there's a land grab under way by groups looking to detract from Coney's uniqueness and incorporate more traditional aspect to the area like Condos and attractions to make the place a more year-round destination.  As it stands, Coney Island's attractions are seasonal. 
But the place is never really closed.
Condos?
PLEASE with that NOISE!!
Get that BUM outta here!!

For me it's a few stops on the train.  Stop signs and traffic lights make it an excruciating eight minute drive for me.  There is no denying the breeze off the beach and the screams coming from the NYC Landmark Cyclone Roller Coaster; the background anthem of the Side Show performers championing their talents and cries for "Shoot the Freak" on the boardwalk all make for an experience you will only get here; in my backyard.


Steeplechase Park; Current location of MCU Park, Home of the Brooklyn Cyclones


Then and Now



The Wonder Wheel and The Cyclone are both NYC Landmarks.
Both are well into their 80's and still thrill us today.

THIRSTY?


FREAKS?








Today's KING and QUEEN of the MERMAID PARADE

And yes, today is the Mermaid Parade.
Our much beloved Pagan Festival starts at 2:30pm.
I will heading over there in about an hour from now and get my day at Coney started with a good ol' Nathan's Famous Hot Dog; sight of the Hot Dog Eating Contest coming on the 4th of July.
I'll be there too!!

The Brooklyn Cyclones game time is 6pm.  I'll be in attendance for
OPENING DAY.
New York - Penn League ~ Class A


BROOKLYN CYCLONES
vs
STATEN ISLAND YANKEES

"Battle of the Boroughs"
"The Ferry Series"

In 2001 our BABY BUMZ were born.
















Let's Go Cyclones!!!


Mike ~ BTB

*************************************************************

This is the last day to vote for this week's candidates for the
HOVVG
Hall of Very Very Good.
Check the link-bubble to the right, read up and participate.

Mike Lieberthal NEEDS HELP!!!
His election is in limbo with 5 vote FOR and 5 AGAINST.

Where will the last minute help come from?
Will there be a Lieberthal push?

Remember...ties lose out.

E-Mail me candidates for next week's election process.
I have two in the box.  Gimmie more!
at
tripletoright@yahoo.com

This week's results will be posted tomorrow with great delight!

BTB

Friday, June 18, 2010

SUBWAY SERIES; METS vs. YANKS




SUBWAY SERIES


Friday  June 18, 2010
Yankee Stadium
Bronx, N.Y.


GAME 1
METS 4
YANKEES 0


Saturday  June 19, 2010
GAME 2
METS 3
YANKEES 5


Sunday  June 20, 2010
GAME 3
METS 0
YANKEES 4

Yankees win weekend Subway Series
two games to one.

METS
end their road trip
7-2

BTB



World Cup: INCREDIBLE COMEBACK for USA !!!

USA! USA! USA!

The US was outplayed and outscored by Slovenia in the first half of their morning match. Slovenia had USA
down two~nil into the break.

Then, in the second half, USA went to work trying to correct their situation. Early, in the 48th minute Team America cut the Slovenian lead in half on a booming strike from Donovan. USA continued to carry play and kept up a consistent effort in the offensive zone.

In what is clearly the defining moment for the Americans in this Cup Tourney so far, in the 82nd minute a strike by Michael Bradley tied the match. AMAZINGLY the U.S. had come all the way back from a two~nil nightmarish morning to scoring, tying things at two and sending the American fanatics attending the match into delirium.

It appeared as if the Americans still had even more tricks up their sleeves with an apparent third goal.  Everyone in attendance and watching on TV could not believe the referee's disallowance of what would have been the go-ahead goal. No one on the field ever got an explanation for the call. Yes...., we wuz robbed!!

That aside, what a great comeback by the hometown guys. It secured another point in Group play. There is still life in this squad. There are 3 games remaining within USA's Group matches.  England plays Algeria today. All is not lost for USA.  Unbelievably, Germany fell to Serbia in the early match. After looking so strong, dominant and convincing in their opening match of Group play, they stumbled earlier this morning.  Their undoing was perhaps self created.  They were made to play with ten after a red card eliminated one of Deutschland's forwards.

Spain; one of the overwhelming favorites to win the 2010 tourney also went down in incredulous defeat yesterday. France too fell at the feet of Mexico while Team Italia played to a draw. The European Powers are fit to be tied; Netherlands aside. The Dutch looked very impressive in their match against Denmark.

With Group play only mid~way through the matches, but Argentina already having played twice and being victorious each time, the Argentines are looking like the strongest club in the field.

Brazil was impressive in their first showing and I expect them to remain strong in Group play.

There's a clique of experts telling everyone beware of Nederland.
I would agree they make a great Dark Horse. But the real Horse Power in COPA 2010 is like I said, ARGENTINA.

But where does my home country of the US of A fit into this? Let's see what happens with England. They will not be sending Robert Green to keep goal for them vs Algeria.  England will put their fortunes or failures in the goal~keeping ability of David James.

England's goal~keeping situation has been well publicized as being quite unsettled. What can James do for England and what does it mean to us? We're going to find out more this afternoon.

Happy "SOCCER" everyone.

USA!!

Mike.BTB

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Argentina's MESSI spotted on Ave L and Nostrand Avenue



World Cup

ARGENTINA  4
South Korea    1

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Argentina's Messi
spotted on Avenue L and Nostrand Ave at
a Brooklyn bus stop.




BTB


Milk, Two Sugars

MILK: In direct contradiction with yesterday's cup of coffee, it was pretty sweet that Father Time Jamie Moyer could show the Yankees what he thought about the Bronx (to borrow a Bonilla infamous quip). Yankees Lose!

Thuuuuugh YAnkEEs LOSE !!

Two Sugars:
First Lump ~ It appears as if David Wright is truly over his shell-shock from getting his head dinged last year. Last year with everyone dropping like a piano out of the sky, there was absolutely no reason at all he should have seen a decent pitch to hit. Then he got beaned. The back of his baseball card says last year was an abberation in his career. This season is proving that out.
Oh yea... He is leading the National League in RBI with 52 as of last night's game. He's already passed last year's HomeRun total.

Second Lump ~ And while on D~Wright...I want all those pecker-heads who called up the radio shows ripping Howard Johnson for Wright's wrongs to call in again and correct themselves. Own up and credit him with the same verve you killed him with.
Today's cup of coffee ~ exceptionally pleasing.

Mike.BTB

ARGENTINA vs South Korea

GOOOOOOOOOOAAL !!!!!
ARGENTINA 2 ~ South Korea 0;  First Half

Mike.BTB

World Cup: 7:30am ~ Argentina vs South Korea

An early GOAL in the first half puts Argentina ahead 1-0 over South Korea!!

Mike.BTB

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Football~New York Giants Camp

Domenic Hixon is out for the season. He has a torn ACL in his right knee. That hurts us in special teams namely our return game. Our wide reciever corps should still be a solid bunch. Regardless, this is not welcome news to Giants fans.

Mike.BTB

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

Milk; Two sugars

Welcome to my morning cup of coffee.

Milk: Far be it from me to applaud anything the Yankees do...But they did beat up on Halladay and the Phunky Phillies last night.
The Mets won their game against Cleveland. Our friends down in Tampa beat up on the Braves. So over-all it was a good night in METropolis.

Two sugars:

First Lump ~ The Mets finally released the prodigeous OUT-making machine who was Gary Matthews Jr. If there was an award for making outs, Matthews deserves a trophy as high as the Gowanas Overpass.

Second Lump ~ Avery Johnson was officially announced as Head Coach of the New Jersey and soon to be Brooklyn NETS yesterday.
The Nets have their House in supreme order. From the owner down to the Coach, this team is getting it SO right!

This morning's coffee rating = exceptional!

Mike.BTB