Friday, April 15, 2022
Jackie Robinson Day: 75th Anniversary of His Major League Debut
From the desk: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Brooklyn Cyclones Win Historic Home Opener at Coney Island
From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS
HISTORY AT CONEY ISLAND
Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at Coney Island, marked the first professional baseball game played by a team representing Brooklyn since April 30, 1957, when the Dodgers defeated the visiting Chicago Cubs sixty-five years ago by a final score of 10-9 in ten innings at Ebbets Field. In the ninth inning, Sandy Amaros hit a game-tying home run, and Don Zimmer hit a game-winning home run in the tenth. Gil Hodges also homered in the game, and Roy Campanella hit two home runs.
Bedford & Sullivan Pre-Game:
Sam and I Speak Live from Coney Island
thirteen minutes
OPENING DAY
Jersey Shore 2
Coney Island 5
FINAL
Cyclones Take Opening Battle of the Beaches
The Brooklyn Cyclones took an early 1-0 lead in the second. With one out, the offensive star of the game JT Schwartz tripled to right, and with two outs, scored on right fielder Brandon McIlwain's double into the left/center field gap.
Starter Garrison Bryant yielded single runs in the third and fourth innings and exited on the losing side of a 2-1 game after surrendering five hits and one walk with six strikeouts through 3.2 innings pitched.
But Bryant's mates got him off the hook. The Cyclones loaded the bases in the fifth inning, and with no outs, second baseman Wyatt Young singled home the tying run. Afterwhich, the go-ahead run scored when third baseman Jose Peroza grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. With two outs and Wilmer Reyes, the base runner at third, first baseman JT Schwartz lined a home run to right, giving the Cyclones a 5-2 lead and the final margin of victory. Schwartz ended the night 3 for 4 with a pair of extra-base hits, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.
Four Brooklyn relievers joined together for 5.1 scoreless innings pitched. In relief of Bryant, right-hander Hunter Parsons allowed just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over 2.1 innings to earn the victory. Righty Sammy Tavarez struck out two batters during a scoreless ninth for the save.
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush to the Finals Redo
From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH
PLAY-IN TOURNEY
TUESDAY
Cleveland Cavaliers
vs.
BROOKLYN NETS
Flatbush Avenue
The Sean Marks Plan: Take Two
There were preexisting reasons why, as a fan, I didn't like James Harden. However, I reconsidered my position after his arrival. All credit to him, as Harden's performance last season convinced me otherwise.
But with Sean Marks' vision within sight heading into the 2020-2021 playoffs, the general manager's plan got derailed first when James Harden's lack of conditioning (as part of his instigated exit from Houston) caught up with him, and down the stretch, his hamstring gave out, and secondly, when Milwaukee Buck Giannis Antetokounmpo undercut Kyrie Irving resulting in a playoff-ending ankle sprain. I believe the latter more than Harden's hammy cost Brooklyn a championship. That's how I saw it then and remains how I view it today.
Meanwhile, the Covid pandemic has remained troublesome for all and even more so for others. Even then, people have a right to decide upon their own well-being methods and personal health. It's a touchy topic and, in some cases, a divisive element in daily life, even pitting family members against family members.
James Harden simply wasn't down with Brooklyn's situation, i.e., Kyrie Irving, not to mention being in disagreement with Kevin Durant over what to do about it. Everyone was willing to wait out the process and politics except him.
What pisses me off is the acquisition of James Harden cost the Nets my all-time favorite Brooklyn player, Jarrett Allen. I'm still upset by that, even more so now, considering how Harden bailed on Flatbush. Moreover, the Nets will now face Allen and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first game of the NBA's play-in tourney.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are finally on the floor together and free from restrictions. Coach Nash clearly needs contributions from everybody, sometimes the extraordinary variety. The new NBA Play-In format is a minefield of trouble. But make no mistake, it's up to the two Brooklyn Buddies to get this shit done!
Monday, April 11, 2022
The Metsian Podcast: Opening Series and Countdown to Opening Day with Anna Brice
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
GUEST
Native New Yorker/Arizona Transplant
Play Ball!! After a long off-season of collective bargaining and abbreviated Spring Training, the game of baseball - pitching, defense, and timely hitting - is finally topical again. The New York Mets are now four games into their season, but fans already appear in mid-season form. After commanding the first three games against the Nationals, the Metsville Nine suffered a late-inning collapse on Sunday, thus preventing them from achieving a season-opening sweep at Washington. The next stop is Philadelphia. Afterwhich, it's home sweet home next Friday against the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Arizona resident and Mets loyalist Anna Brice joins Sam, Rich, and me, for an opening series recap and everything Blue and Orange.
#LGM
Sunday, April 10, 2022
N.Y. Mets: Newcomers Join Together for Shutout at Washington
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
New Pitching Acquisitions Befuddle Nationals
Chris was on the mound for 22 of the Nationals' 35 plate appearances, throwing 93 pitches with 66 (70.9%) going for strikes. He yielded just three hits (none for extra bases), one walk, with eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings for the victory.
While Washington's lineup will never be confused with Murderer's Row or Harvey's Wall Bangers, their .150 batting average (6 for 40) facing Tylor Megill and Chris Bassitt is noteworthy for the rotation and tremendous stress relief for fans.
Saturday's game also showcased two more off-season acquisitions: Joely Rodriguez and Adam Ottavino. The pair joined together for two scoreless innings to preserve Saturday's shutout and Flushing's third consecutive victory at Washington.
The addition of Rodriguez gives the pitching staff another sorely needed left-hander. On Saturday, Joely made a fine first impression, facing four batters and retiring them all. He threw just 13 pitches and struck out two. Hopefully, that's a glimpse of things to come, for the southpaw's actual value will be revealed if and when David Peterson is called upon to start.
ICYMI:
Saturday, April 09, 2022
N.Y. Mets: The Buck Showalter Era Begins
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Mets Manager Likes to Laugh and Joke, But He Doesn't Play!
Don't make me Buck you up!
At least that was the look on Buck Showalter's face as he stormed out of the dugout after Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch during Friday evening's game.
It has become crystal clear that Washington pitchers are being told to throw high and tight because in my world, once is an event, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a trend. James McCann was hit twice in Thursday's season opener and Pete Alonso once. Lindor then became the third player and fourth Mets batter hit by a pitch in only the first two games this season against the Nationals.
The point here is team leadership, clubhouse command, and locker room control. When an enraged Buck Showalter stormed the field, Mets players (including the bullpen) followed in lockstep behind their skipper. Although no punches were thrown and cooler heads prevailed, the Mets nonetheless flipped the script and took the Nationals from their own perceived comfort zone. All of which was reflected on the scoreboard.
Buck Showalter instigated a call to action, and the Mets responded ... and this is just game two.
He has also reclaimed the team's narrative, unlike any Mets manager since Terry Collins.
Buck likes to laugh and joke, but he doesn't play! 💪 #LGM
— The Metsian Podcast with Sam, Rich and Mike (@THEMetsianPod) April 9, 2022
Friday, April 08, 2022
N.Y. Mets: Tylor Megill Opens Season With a Dandy
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
TYLOR MEGILL
DELIVERS GAME ONE REMEDY
Tylor Megill's next start will be the twentieth of his young career. But as they say, necessity is the mother of all invention as he very suddenly went from being a member of the depth squad to taking on full-time responsibilities.
For the next couple of months, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are to form Flushing's alternative one-two punch; or so we fanatics hope. Afterwhich, all eyes are on Carlos Carrasco, Taijuan Walker, lone-lefty David Peterson, and even Thomas Szapucki(?).
Thrown into the opening fray on short notice, then waiting out a rain delay, the Mets' sophomore right-hander Tylor Megill effectively picked up where he left off.
Last season, in his 18th and final appearance, he faced 17 Atlanta Braves, throwing 74 pitches with 47 going for strikes. He allowed just one hit, one walk, and fanned six.
Thursday evening, Megill opened the 2022 regular season for the Mets with five shutout innings at Washington. In another economically efficient performance, Tylor faced 18 batters and threw 68 pitches, with 47 (69.1%) going for strikes while averaging 11.3 pitches per frame. He yielded only three hits (one for extra bases), walked none, and struck out six en route to his fifth ever major league victory.
Thanks to a 2.7 W/9 average, Megill, as a 25-year old rookie, was able to close out the 2021 season with a representative 1.283 WHiP to complement a 9.9 K/9 average. He pitched seven complete innings just once, on September 10, at Citi Field against the Yankees; Tylor yielded two earned runs on four hits and one walk and fanned a career-high ten batters. His only mistake was surrendering an early second-inning home run (solo) struck by Joey Gallo. More importantly, in my opinion, that effort demonstrated measurable progression from start number one through number fifteen. Otherwise, Megill offered up five or six other mention-worthy performances.
Eight times he did indeed yield three runs or more. But if you kindly omit an August 24 start against the Giants and a September 15 start against the Cardinals, Tylor closed out his 16 other starts with a 3.46 ERA through 83 innings pitched, while his overall season BABIP remained under three.
His fastball presently clocks in the mid-90s. I'm just no fan for many reasons of the fastball; change; slider repertoire. I like curveballs. I digress ...
If Tylor Megill's performance continues trending in a positive direction, perhaps Mets fans can spend less time dwelling on Jacob deGrom.
Monday, April 04, 2022
Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Talkin' Black and Orange with Gary Mintz of the New York Giants Preservation Society
Sunday, April 03, 2022
The Metsian Podcast: Season Opening Roundtable w/ National League Town's Greg Prince & Jeff Hysen
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
GUESTS
ninety-minutes
We're almost there. Three more days and a wake-up until the New York Mets open the 2022 regular season at Washington. Tonight, the National League Town Podcast proprietors Greg Prince and Jeff Hysen join Sam, Rich, and me on The Metsian Podcast in a collective first pitch roundtable extravaganza. Speaking of which, pitching is suddenly a problem, again. Otherwise, positional player chess, transactions real or imagined, minutiae, opinions, and potential rude remarks are all on the docket. No stone will be left unturned.
#LGM
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
THE METSIAN PODCAST: Let the Grapefruit League Games Begin!
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
GUEST:
Television Comedy Researcher
formerly of Yahoo Finance and former Teacher
eighty-three minutes
Billy Eppler ~ Buck Showalter ~ Steve Cohen
Starting Rotation ~ Position Players & Lineup
Dom Smith ~ Robinson Cano ~ Eduardo Escobar ~ Pete Alonso
Max Scherzer ~ Jacob deGrom ~ David Peterson
a Michael Conforto reunion and so much more!!!
#LGM
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
The Metsian Podcast: Baseball is Back Spring Training Special
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Then on the 99th day of MLB's lockout, the collective bargaining powers that be said, "let there be baseball." The fans said this was good, and Spring Training is finally underway. Alas, we can focus solely on the Metropolitan Baseball Club of Flushing. Please join Sam, Rich, and me as The Metsian Podcast gets back to the business of blue and orange-tinted banter.
#LGM
Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Springtime in Brooklyn with Borough Historian Ron Schweiger
From the desk: A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION
Botanic Gardens, Brooklyn Night Sky, Ditmas Park
Ebbets Field, Washington Park, Floyd Bennett Field
Brooklyn Nets, Brooklyn Cyclones, Brooklyn Dodgers
Flatbush Avenue, Erskine Street, Tilden Avenue, Rugby Road
and so much more!!
Ron Schweiger
email: BklynRemebered@AOL.com
Wednesday, March 09, 2022
BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST: Baseball in the Five Boroughs
From the desk: A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION
Talking MLB, Negro Leagues, and Semi-Pro Baseball in the Five Boroughs
BRONX, MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, QUEENS, STATEN ISLAND
FEATURED GUEST
Willie, Mickey, or the Duke?
Tuesday, March 08, 2022
THE METSIAN PODCAST: No Spring Training For You
From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
Baseball has more problems than a math book and appears nowhere close to solving their respective issues. Sam, Rich, and I try and make sense of it all. Give a listen, and Let's Go Mets!
seventy-nine minutes
Friday, February 25, 2022
Talking NYC's National League Legacy on the Bedford & Sullivan Podcast
From the desk: BEDFORD & SULLIVAN
Talking New York City's National League Legacy with
ONCE UPON A TIME IN QUEENS PRODUCER
FAITH AND FEAR IN FLUSHING's
The CONVERTED METS FAN
and me.
Play Ball!
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