From the desk of: WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN
LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Big John "STUD" Rodriguez Goes Boom as the Webbed Nine Roar Back in Biggest Comeback of the Season.
Long Island just sent the rest of the League a message of sorts. They will not be denied.
The Ducks came back...; all the way back, from a 7-0 deficit to take an 8-7 lead in the seventh inning against the Barnstormers and then won it 13-10 in even more dramatic fashion than already provided. In winning their fifth game in a row, and in defeating the Lancaster Barnstormers who were leading the Freedom Division before Saturday's game, in the first two games of this weekend series, the Long Island Ducks must have the rest of the League wondering, what will it take to slow this team down?
Point made.
With their starting pitching getting depleted by untimely contract purchases, this is what the Ducks will have to do from time to time in order to compensate for their staff losses. Joselo Diaz wasn't exactly Cy Young out in Lancaster in game two; giving up seven runs to Lancaster over the first two innings of the game. But the offense rose to the occasion to bail him out and take him off the loss column.
Valerio De Los Santos made a huge fielding gaffe when he didn't cover first base on a ground ball to Matt Padgett in the bottom of the seventh. He almost got bailed out but Javier Colina couldn't turn a softly hit ball into a double play in time for the second out. It was part of a bottom half inning in which the Ducks allowed the Barnstormers to tie the game again at 10-10 with three runs.
A booming home run in the top of the eighth by John Rodriguez gave the Ducks another lead, this time 11-10. It was his third hit of the night; his 16th home run of the season; and his three RBI gave him 72; tops in the League.
Then, in the top of the ninth inning, Big John STUD uncorked his second home run of the game and 17th overall; a two run blast hit deep into the Lancaster night; to give the Ducks more insurance on their way to a 13-10 final. In all, John Rodriguez was 4 for 5 on the night; 2 home runs; 5 RBI; a double; and 4 runs scored. He upped his League leading RBI total yet again to 74 on the season.
Matt Padget went 3 for 3, with two RBI as well. Ray Navarrete was 3 for 5, with three runs scored. Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth inning earning his 16th save. Valerio De Los Santos earned the win in relief. To Joselo Diaz, a welcome no decision..., I'm sure.
As mentioned, that's now five wins in a row for the Ducks and are winners of eight out of their last ten. They improved their record to 22-7 in the second half and remain 3.5 games in first place ahead of the Bridgeport Bluefish. They increased their season record to 62-30 overall. They'll go for the sweep Sunday in Lancaster.
Mike.BTB
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
N.Y. Mets ~ Proceed With Caution
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
NEW YORK METS: A word to the wise for Mets players down the stretch; Don't Test Terry!
What we have here, is a failure to communicate. It's something Coach Terry has excelled at so far as manager of the New York Mets.
Dillon Gee; Terry Collins; and Dan Warthen (just because) apparently are not pitching off the same mound. Coach Terry was perturbed about Dillon Gee's failure to throw his curve ball last night. He was as perturbed as he was earlier in the season when he accused his club of being too passive in the batters box and watching too many fastballs go by. And according to this morning's tabloids, Gee offered no particular reason why he didn't use his curve ball more. He only hinted that he believes his deuce is only a 0-0 count pitch at this point in his arsenal. But nonetheless, Coach Terry had a big problem with an over abundance of fastballs, particularly in the first inning.
Good enough. That's not the problem here. The problem lies when your manager is expecting one thing and your battery goes ahead and does another. Stuff like that is either premeditated or lacking any awareness at all...if you follow. And quite honestly, I'm surprised Josh Thole was complicit as the back-stop. That's precisely the kind of thing that can trigger the uglier side of Terry Collins. If you don't think he's straining to comport/restrain himself (versus the old Terry Collins), because of some of the things he sees, think again. Everyday there is a monster waiting to be unleashed with the right stimulation. We haven't gotten there yet. Coach Terry has taken a very cerebral approach to himself, and containing the monster through a daily process.
Coach Terry will be damned if he's going to let this team end the season flat-footed. That's what we can expect from him. But is this team still going to play with the same hunger and grit after Labor Day? We'll see about that.
But I know this much, having a kid like Dillon Gee offer no answers for his manager when questioned about his curve ball, then waking up to see a big story in the tabloids this morning about how the manager's appointed pack leader; Mike Pelfrey; never thought the Mets would amount to anything this season may be just enough to purge the pump before Coach Terry starts spewing out sternly worded corrections for any player who seemingly might be wandering astray from his pack.
I have this feeling Terry will manage the last six weeks of the season like a crazed dog and as if they were the most important six weeks of his life. Help the player who doesn't fall in line with his credo down the stretch. Worse yet, let one of these young kids dog it to first base or show lack of interest.
Organizational priorities shift for a team in a position like the Mets over the last six weeks of a season. I hope these players recognize that. Sandy Alderson really hasn't put his thumb prints on the organization yet but he will no doubt start leaving an impression shortly. And it's probably within the player's hands to ensure he doesn't come down with a heavy hand this off-season.
So my advise for some is to fall in line if you had any inclination of loosing your bearing or get squashed.
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK METS: A word to the wise for Mets players down the stretch; Don't Test Terry!
What we have here, is a failure to communicate. It's something Coach Terry has excelled at so far as manager of the New York Mets.
Dillon Gee; Terry Collins; and Dan Warthen (just because) apparently are not pitching off the same mound. Coach Terry was perturbed about Dillon Gee's failure to throw his curve ball last night. He was as perturbed as he was earlier in the season when he accused his club of being too passive in the batters box and watching too many fastballs go by. And according to this morning's tabloids, Gee offered no particular reason why he didn't use his curve ball more. He only hinted that he believes his deuce is only a 0-0 count pitch at this point in his arsenal. But nonetheless, Coach Terry had a big problem with an over abundance of fastballs, particularly in the first inning.
Good enough. That's not the problem here. The problem lies when your manager is expecting one thing and your battery goes ahead and does another. Stuff like that is either premeditated or lacking any awareness at all...if you follow. And quite honestly, I'm surprised Josh Thole was complicit as the back-stop. That's precisely the kind of thing that can trigger the uglier side of Terry Collins. If you don't think he's straining to comport/restrain himself (versus the old Terry Collins), because of some of the things he sees, think again. Everyday there is a monster waiting to be unleashed with the right stimulation. We haven't gotten there yet. Coach Terry has taken a very cerebral approach to himself, and containing the monster through a daily process.
Coach Terry will be damned if he's going to let this team end the season flat-footed. That's what we can expect from him. But is this team still going to play with the same hunger and grit after Labor Day? We'll see about that.
But I know this much, having a kid like Dillon Gee offer no answers for his manager when questioned about his curve ball, then waking up to see a big story in the tabloids this morning about how the manager's appointed pack leader; Mike Pelfrey; never thought the Mets would amount to anything this season may be just enough to purge the pump before Coach Terry starts spewing out sternly worded corrections for any player who seemingly might be wandering astray from his pack.
I have this feeling Terry will manage the last six weeks of the season like a crazed dog and as if they were the most important six weeks of his life. Help the player who doesn't fall in line with his credo down the stretch. Worse yet, let one of these young kids dog it to first base or show lack of interest.
Organizational priorities shift for a team in a position like the Mets over the last six weeks of a season. I hope these players recognize that. Sandy Alderson really hasn't put his thumb prints on the organization yet but he will no doubt start leaving an impression shortly. And it's probably within the player's hands to ensure he doesn't come down with a heavy hand this off-season.
So my advise for some is to fall in line if you had any inclination of loosing your bearing or get squashed.
Mike.BTB
BKN Cyclones ~ Saturday Night Fever
From the desk of: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE
The Cyclones are making their move on the Staten Island Yankees via Ohio. They are now just 4.5 games behind the McNamara Division leaders. And with last night's victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Brooklyn Cyclones are now just one game away from tying the Scrappers for the Wild Card lead. The Williamsport Crosscutters still have a say in the Wild Card race as they sit just one half game behind Mahoning Valley entering today's games.
BROOKLYN CYCLONES
Tonight, They Play For a Piece of the Wild Card Lead.
The Cyclones are making their move on the Staten Island Yankees via Ohio. They are now just 4.5 games behind the McNamara Division leaders. And with last night's victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Brooklyn Cyclones are now just one game away from tying the Scrappers for the Wild Card lead. The Williamsport Crosscutters still have a say in the Wild Card race as they sit just one half game behind Mahoning Valley entering today's games.
McNAMARA DIVISION
1) - Staten Island Yankees...35-19 .648 -
2) - Brooklyn Cyclones.........31-24 .564 4.5 GB
WILD CARD
1) - Mahoning Valley Scrappers 32-23 -
2) - Williamsport Crosscutters 31-23 0.5 GB
3) - BROOKLYN CYCLONES 31-24 1.0 GB
In the last weekend before the NY-PL All-Star Game break, game one of a three game series against the Ohio Nine goes to Brooklyn. The Cyclones loaded up with three runs in the fifth inning and four more in the eighth, en route to a 10-6 final over Mahoning Valley Friday night.
One of our newest Cyclone signings and native New Yorker hailing out of the Bronx; T.J. Rivera; helped the Surf Avenue Sluggers out-hit Mahoning Valley by going 4 for 5, with a double and two runs scored in only his fourth game wearing Bum Threads. Richard Lucas and Ismael Tijerina each had two RBI on the night.
Cole Frenzel doubled in the second inning to score Charles Thurber. Then, Mahoning Valley allowed the Cyclones to score a run in the third on a wild pitch. Richard Lucas tripled in the fifth inning; driving home his two RBI, and Mahoning Valley allowed the Cyclones to score another run off another wild pitch in the fifth inning. The Cyclones picked up one in the sixth on Ismael Tijerina's sac-bunt which scored Travis Taijeron.
A four run eighth inning capped the game off for the Cyclones. Two more Scrapper's wild pitches allowed two more runs to score. As a matter of fact, Mahoning Valley uncorked a multitude of wild pitches throughout the game, and utterly handicapped themselves in the eighth in particular. RBI by Travis Taijeron and T.J. Rivera finished off the Scrappers for the night.
WILD TIME TONIGHT!
BROOKLYN CYCLONES
vs.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers
From
Somewhere in Ohio
Mike.BTB
Friday, August 12, 2011
L.I. Ducks ~ Continue to Roll in Lancaster
From the desk of: THE WEBBED FEET NINE
LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Win Again, But the Ducks Officially Have Problems Now. Shane Youman is Headed to the Far East!
Ducks' pitcher Shane Youman's contract was purchased by a pro team from Taiwan back on August 10th... Forgive me for being coy, but......., Really?
Really?
That makes Ducks' starting pitcher number three to have their contract purchased this season. Lenny DiNardo was first at the very beginning of the season. After the All-Star break, Mike Parisi was the next to go. Even though the Ducks continued to roll along without Parisi, make no mistake, losing him was a huge blow. And now losing Shane Youman, who had stepped up so marvelously, has to be considered a devastating blow.
In Mike Parisi's absence, veteran pitcher Shane Youman stepped in and established himself as the Ducks' most reliable and best starter behind Mike Loree. In thirteen games pitched and seven starts for the Ducks this season, he dazzled opponents with a minuscule 0.66 ERA on his way to a 7-1 record. In 54.1 innings pitched, he gave up thirty-nine hits and only walked nine batters while striking out forty-six. Four earned runs were all he allowed during his time pitching for Long Island this season. He did an incredible job.
So how do the Ducks manage the loss of two very key pitchers having very good seasons? Their starting staff is paper thin now. And as of this moment, I can only think a short series in the playoffs now presents one hell of a problem for Long Island. If the bullpen has been masterful so far, now they will be called upon to be damn-near perfect the rest of the way.
As for Friday night's game against the Barnstormers in Lancaster, it opened a three game series in which the Ducks won game one. Ray Navarrete hit his team leading 19th home run in the third inning (2-run shot) to knot the game at two. Lancaster opened the scoring in the first inning with two runs.
Matt Esquivel doubled home Javier Colina and John Rodriguez in the sixth inning for a 4-2 lead. Lancaster got one back in the seventh. But the Ducks' lead held up.
If the Ducks' suddenly have pitching problems, Friday's starter; Mark Diapoulis; didn't seem to be listening. He kept the Ducks swimming along with 6.2 strong innings pitched. Lancaster got six hits and three earned runs off him. He walked two and struck out four en route to winning his sixth game of the season against just one loss.
Jeremy Hill and Ehrin Wassermann combined to close out the game against the Barnstormers. Wassermann earned his ninth save of the season.
Mike.BTB
LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Win Again, But the Ducks Officially Have Problems Now. Shane Youman is Headed to the Far East!
Ducks' pitcher Shane Youman's contract was purchased by a pro team from Taiwan back on August 10th... Forgive me for being coy, but......., Really?
Really?
That makes Ducks' starting pitcher number three to have their contract purchased this season. Lenny DiNardo was first at the very beginning of the season. After the All-Star break, Mike Parisi was the next to go. Even though the Ducks continued to roll along without Parisi, make no mistake, losing him was a huge blow. And now losing Shane Youman, who had stepped up so marvelously, has to be considered a devastating blow.
In Mike Parisi's absence, veteran pitcher Shane Youman stepped in and established himself as the Ducks' most reliable and best starter behind Mike Loree. In thirteen games pitched and seven starts for the Ducks this season, he dazzled opponents with a minuscule 0.66 ERA on his way to a 7-1 record. In 54.1 innings pitched, he gave up thirty-nine hits and only walked nine batters while striking out forty-six. Four earned runs were all he allowed during his time pitching for Long Island this season. He did an incredible job.
So how do the Ducks manage the loss of two very key pitchers having very good seasons? Their starting staff is paper thin now. And as of this moment, I can only think a short series in the playoffs now presents one hell of a problem for Long Island. If the bullpen has been masterful so far, now they will be called upon to be damn-near perfect the rest of the way.
As for Friday night's game against the Barnstormers in Lancaster, it opened a three game series in which the Ducks won game one. Ray Navarrete hit his team leading 19th home run in the third inning (2-run shot) to knot the game at two. Lancaster opened the scoring in the first inning with two runs.
Matt Esquivel doubled home Javier Colina and John Rodriguez in the sixth inning for a 4-2 lead. Lancaster got one back in the seventh. But the Ducks' lead held up.
If the Ducks' suddenly have pitching problems, Friday's starter; Mark Diapoulis; didn't seem to be listening. He kept the Ducks swimming along with 6.2 strong innings pitched. Lancaster got six hits and three earned runs off him. He walked two and struck out four en route to winning his sixth game of the season against just one loss.
Jeremy Hill and Ehrin Wassermann combined to close out the game against the Barnstormers. Wassermann earned his ninth save of the season.
Mike.BTB
L.I. Ducks ~ SIXTY
From the desk of: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE
LONG ISLAND DUCKS: The Webbed Nine Are Turning Back All Comers.
As they sit atop the Liberty Division in the second-half of the Atlantic League season, the Long Island Ducks are the first team to reach twenty wins. They also happen to be the first team to win sixty games this season. At thirty games over .500, the Ducks now sport a record of 60-30 which is by far a League best.
The Ducks continue to take on all comers and keep turning them away. This time it was the surging Bridgeport Bluefish; surging until they faced the Ducks, that is. The Ducks dropped Bridgeport to third place and 3.5 games behind them in the second-half standings by completing a three game series sweep out in Bethpage Park.
Ducks' Ace, Mike Loree, was up to his usual effectiveness Thursday evening. In seven innings pitched, he allowed nine hits but only one earned run. He walked one and struck out seven Bluefish on his way to a dreaded no-decision. Both starting pitchers engaged in a seven inning pitcher's duel leaving the score tied heading into the eighth.
Dan Lyons singled home Matt Esquivel in the second inning giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead until Bridgeport tied the game in the seventh off Loree. But then with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, the Ducks put this game far enough out of Bridgeport's reach. With the bases loaded, Matt Esquivel doubled home two runs and Kraig Binick drove in another run with a sac-fly, for a 4-2 Long Island lead and ultimate final.
Although Jeremy Hill allowed Bridgeport's second run of the game, he was credited with Thursday's win; his fourth as a reliever. Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth and secured his fifteenth save of the season.
Not bad....huh?
Mike.BTB
LONG ISLAND DUCKS: The Webbed Nine Are Turning Back All Comers.
As they sit atop the Liberty Division in the second-half of the Atlantic League season, the Long Island Ducks are the first team to reach twenty wins. They also happen to be the first team to win sixty games this season. At thirty games over .500, the Ducks now sport a record of 60-30 which is by far a League best.
The Ducks continue to take on all comers and keep turning them away. This time it was the surging Bridgeport Bluefish; surging until they faced the Ducks, that is. The Ducks dropped Bridgeport to third place and 3.5 games behind them in the second-half standings by completing a three game series sweep out in Bethpage Park.
Ducks' Ace, Mike Loree, was up to his usual effectiveness Thursday evening. In seven innings pitched, he allowed nine hits but only one earned run. He walked one and struck out seven Bluefish on his way to a dreaded no-decision. Both starting pitchers engaged in a seven inning pitcher's duel leaving the score tied heading into the eighth.
Dan Lyons singled home Matt Esquivel in the second inning giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead until Bridgeport tied the game in the seventh off Loree. But then with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, the Ducks put this game far enough out of Bridgeport's reach. With the bases loaded, Matt Esquivel doubled home two runs and Kraig Binick drove in another run with a sac-fly, for a 4-2 Long Island lead and ultimate final.
Although Jeremy Hill allowed Bridgeport's second run of the game, he was credited with Thursday's win; his fourth as a reliever. Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth and secured his fifteenth save of the season.
Not bad....huh?
Mike.BTB
Thursday, August 11, 2011
N.Y. Mets ~ The Long Lost Mets Codex
From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
NEW YORK METS: They Have Embarked On Three Official Rebuilding Processes in Their History. But Since the 1990's, It Seems to Have Become a Dirty Word In Flushing. And As a Result, They've Lost Their Way.
After the Mets finished toying with other teams' legacies; finishing last every season; and setting records in embarrassing fashion over their first few years of existence, Joe McDonald; Whitey Herzog; Bing Devine; Johnny Murphy; and a host of respected scouts set about on a concerted effort to procure and develop skilled prospects. Adherence to their plan of minor league development garnered names like Jerry Koosman; Tug McGraw; Bud Harrelson; Cleon Jones; Nolan Ryan; Gary Gentry; and others. With a little bit of luck landing Tom Seaver and some key acquisitions along the way, the Mets parlayed their efforts into a Championship.
Retooled with some new young players and savvy pick-ups like Felix Millan; Rusty Staub; John Milner; and Jon Matlack; the Mets almost pulled off another World Series victory in 1973; falling short by one game against the A's.
But by 1975-76, the Mets recognized age was creeping up on them. Newer, younger players, like John Stearns; Lee Mazzilli; Craig Swan; and Mike Vail were starting a transition toward youth. Then in 1977, Tom Seaver demanded a trade out of New York because he found his bosses insufferable. This triggered the full blown jettisoning of the last remnants of the Miracle Mets between 1977-1979 and initiated the second rebuilding of the Mets with a total commitment to the farm system.
However, the decision to totally rebuild the Mets through the farm system for a second time was thwarted by ownership's decision to finally sell the team. By 1979, the mandate to freeze all expenditures was put in place and Joe McDonald's hands were tied regarding bringing free agents to N.Y. or making trades that would raise payroll.
Before Joe McDonald's work here in Flushing was finished; upon the purchase of the team by the Doubleday/Wilpon group heading into 1980; he drafted and developed a good many number of key components to the 1986 Championship team. As mentioned, Lee Mazzilli enabled us to get Ron Darling and Walt Terrell. Terrell in turn got us Howard Johnson. He drafted Niel Allen who in return brought Kieth Hernandez to Flushing. He drafted Hubie Brooks who helped land the Mets Gary Carter. He selected Calvin Schiraldi in 1980 who later was traded for Bobby Ojeda. He drafted Wally Backman; Mookie Wilson; and Jesse Orosco. Among those that got away were guys like Mike Scott who was traded for Danny Heep and Jeff Reardon who was traded for Ellis Valentine.
Then, Frank Cashen made his mark with a continued minor league investment and drafted Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden. And of course, give Frank Cashen credit for utilizing what Joe McDonald left behind. So in retrospect, the two men, through vigorous minor league development, chipped in and built another Championship team for the Mets.
The third time the Mets officially committed to a minor league focused rebuilding effort came in the mid-1990's when Joe McIlvaine was General Manager. METroplis was in total agreement with the movement. It was supposed to have been built with Generation-K as it's foundation. But the movement failed miserably as we know with few people to blame. But during that time, players were drafted that inevitably landed us Mike Piazza and some components of the 2000 team.
Since then, Rebuilding has become a dirty word in Flushing. It's become a like a lost codex burned by Spanish Conquistadors. So what I described winds up being the complete history of the Mets' rebuilding process over the years in the Homeric oral tradition only.
No time in between the Steve Phillips years to the present has been classified as a clear cut rebuilding process. Additionally, after David Wright; Jose Reyes; and Scott Kazmir; the well went dry until the current crop of minor leaguers drafted by Omar Minaya started to be called up to the majors over the last two seasons.
I know what Omar Minaya was trying to do. He was trying to align a transition of the old to new in the years between 2010 through 2012. He just didn't get to stick around long enough to realize his plan. Don't forget, we're still watching his blueprints in action. Aside of jettisoning some parts of Minaya's team, Sandy Alderson is still babysitting Omar's team and grand scheme. All Omar's contracts were designed to expire within a year or two of each other as his minor league draftees became ready for the majors. And that is more or less, where we are now.
Sandy Alderson has had one Winter Meeting; An Amateur Draft; and a Trade Deadline thus far. And we are still wondering what his plan might be. Does he consider rebuilding a dirty word also? Does he have something else in store us? Or will he return to the ancient but proven Met Scriptures like a true renaissance man and REBUILD the Mets? Can we finally lift the Dark Age stigma imposed on the word Rebuilding?
Mike.BTB
NEW YORK METS: They Have Embarked On Three Official Rebuilding Processes in Their History. But Since the 1990's, It Seems to Have Become a Dirty Word In Flushing. And As a Result, They've Lost Their Way.
After the Mets finished toying with other teams' legacies; finishing last every season; and setting records in embarrassing fashion over their first few years of existence, Joe McDonald; Whitey Herzog; Bing Devine; Johnny Murphy; and a host of respected scouts set about on a concerted effort to procure and develop skilled prospects. Adherence to their plan of minor league development garnered names like Jerry Koosman; Tug McGraw; Bud Harrelson; Cleon Jones; Nolan Ryan; Gary Gentry; and others. With a little bit of luck landing Tom Seaver and some key acquisitions along the way, the Mets parlayed their efforts into a Championship.
Retooled with some new young players and savvy pick-ups like Felix Millan; Rusty Staub; John Milner; and Jon Matlack; the Mets almost pulled off another World Series victory in 1973; falling short by one game against the A's.
But by 1975-76, the Mets recognized age was creeping up on them. Newer, younger players, like John Stearns; Lee Mazzilli; Craig Swan; and Mike Vail were starting a transition toward youth. Then in 1977, Tom Seaver demanded a trade out of New York because he found his bosses insufferable. This triggered the full blown jettisoning of the last remnants of the Miracle Mets between 1977-1979 and initiated the second rebuilding of the Mets with a total commitment to the farm system.
However, the decision to totally rebuild the Mets through the farm system for a second time was thwarted by ownership's decision to finally sell the team. By 1979, the mandate to freeze all expenditures was put in place and Joe McDonald's hands were tied regarding bringing free agents to N.Y. or making trades that would raise payroll.
Before Joe McDonald's work here in Flushing was finished; upon the purchase of the team by the Doubleday/Wilpon group heading into 1980; he drafted and developed a good many number of key components to the 1986 Championship team. As mentioned, Lee Mazzilli enabled us to get Ron Darling and Walt Terrell. Terrell in turn got us Howard Johnson. He drafted Niel Allen who in return brought Kieth Hernandez to Flushing. He drafted Hubie Brooks who helped land the Mets Gary Carter. He selected Calvin Schiraldi in 1980 who later was traded for Bobby Ojeda. He drafted Wally Backman; Mookie Wilson; and Jesse Orosco. Among those that got away were guys like Mike Scott who was traded for Danny Heep and Jeff Reardon who was traded for Ellis Valentine.
Then, Frank Cashen made his mark with a continued minor league investment and drafted Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden. And of course, give Frank Cashen credit for utilizing what Joe McDonald left behind. So in retrospect, the two men, through vigorous minor league development, chipped in and built another Championship team for the Mets.
The third time the Mets officially committed to a minor league focused rebuilding effort came in the mid-1990's when Joe McIlvaine was General Manager. METroplis was in total agreement with the movement. It was supposed to have been built with Generation-K as it's foundation. But the movement failed miserably as we know with few people to blame. But during that time, players were drafted that inevitably landed us Mike Piazza and some components of the 2000 team.
Since then, Rebuilding has become a dirty word in Flushing. It's become a like a lost codex burned by Spanish Conquistadors. So what I described winds up being the complete history of the Mets' rebuilding process over the years in the Homeric oral tradition only.
No time in between the Steve Phillips years to the present has been classified as a clear cut rebuilding process. Additionally, after David Wright; Jose Reyes; and Scott Kazmir; the well went dry until the current crop of minor leaguers drafted by Omar Minaya started to be called up to the majors over the last two seasons.
I know what Omar Minaya was trying to do. He was trying to align a transition of the old to new in the years between 2010 through 2012. He just didn't get to stick around long enough to realize his plan. Don't forget, we're still watching his blueprints in action. Aside of jettisoning some parts of Minaya's team, Sandy Alderson is still babysitting Omar's team and grand scheme. All Omar's contracts were designed to expire within a year or two of each other as his minor league draftees became ready for the majors. And that is more or less, where we are now.
Sandy Alderson has had one Winter Meeting; An Amateur Draft; and a Trade Deadline thus far. And we are still wondering what his plan might be. Does he consider rebuilding a dirty word also? Does he have something else in store us? Or will he return to the ancient but proven Met Scriptures like a true renaissance man and REBUILD the Mets? Can we finally lift the Dark Age stigma imposed on the word Rebuilding?
Mike.BTB
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.
Mike.BTB
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
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
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
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
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 theRotten 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
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
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
Monday, August 08, 2011
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
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
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
Sunday, August 07, 2011
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
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
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
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