Memories....
Josh Billings once said there are lots of people who mistake their imagination for their memory. An instance of this occurred just recently with A-Rod and his horrible performance in Boston
Before approaching Torre, Giambi said he talked to Rodriguez while the Yankees were playing in Boston.
"[Mike] Mussina doesn't get hammered at all. He's making a boatload of money. Giambi's making [$20.4 million], which is fine and dandy, but it seems those guys get a pass. When people write [bad things] about me, I don't know if it's [because] I'm good-looking, I'm biracial, I make the most money, I play on the most popular team ..."
"We're all rooting for you and we're behind you 100 percent, but you've got to get the big hit," was his message to A-Rod, Giambi told SI.
"What do you mean?" was Rodriguez's response, Giambi told SI. "I've had five hits in Boston."
"You [expletive] call those hits?" Giambi said, according to SI. "You had two [expletive] dinkers to right field and a ball that bounced over the third baseman! Look at how many pitches you missed!
Torre even jumped in...
Torre acknowledged meeting with Rodriguez in Seattle in August and telling him to change his demeanor.
"The tone I took to Alex is basically being honest with himself. And what I meant by that was, he had a tough series in Boston ... and I like to watch body language, he was making it appear like it was OK," Torre said.
A-Rod is the guy pointing at everyone else saying, "I'm not crazy. You all are the ones who are crazy." Anyway, back to the real matter at hand and the reason for this post....what was not imagination was the game Pedro Martinez put up against the Yankees on September 10th, 1999. Pedro put up one of the best pitching performances in the history of the game. Why bring it up now? Consider it looking at some of the better times of the Future Hall Famer as the biggest reason he was brought here (leading the Mets through the playoffs) has been foiled by a torn tendon in his left calf muscle.
On September 10th, Pedro beat down the Yankees and gloriously. In 1999, Pedro was in the midst of one of the best seasons any pitcher has ever had in the history of the game. He finished the season up with a 23-4 record, 2.07 ERA, 8.46 k/bb, 13.2 k/9, 6.75 h/9, 0.92 WHIP, .205 BAA, .248 OBPA, and a .288 SLGA. During that ridiculous season, September 10th could have been his most dominating game of the year. Pedro recorded a game score of 98 for a game in which he allowed one hit and one run on a Chili Davis homerun and struck out seventeen Yankees, which as far as I can find, is still the most Yankees ever struck out in one game. After Pedro gave up that second inning homer, he cruised and did not allow a fair ball after the 4th inning. An amazing performance at Yankee Stadium between the biggest rivals in sports and was one for the ages.
Those were the days....if the Mets had half of that Pedro, things would be just peachy in the Mets rotation right now with much less to worry about. Enter reality....
Pohlad said he has no preference as to which team — the New York Yankees or Oakland A's — his Twins face in the first round of the playoffs next week. Then he paused.
"I'd rather play the Yankees," he said, "because I know we can beat them."
Nice.
But they didn't lose PEDRO MARTINEZ.
Because the truth is, the Mets haven't had the italicized, capitalized version of that player in an awfully long time. The Mets don't lose the 1969 edition of Tom Seaver, or the 1986 version of Dwight Gooden, or even the 2000 versions of Al Leiter and Mike Hampton.
Q: Will the Mets be in the World Series?
A: I absolutely believe that the Mets will be in the World Series. There is no reason they can't beat the likes of St. Louis, San Diego, L.A., Philadelphia. There is no reason they shouldn't get through their own league. Now, getting through the American League, that's going to be a tougher journey.
The Mets' record book opened three times last night, as Carlos Beltran blasted a solo homer to lead off the sixth inning.
Beltran's homer was his 41st this year, tying Todd Hundley for the Mets' single-season record. Beltran also now has 80 extra-base hits this year (38 doubles, one triple, 41 homers), which matches Howard Johnson's single-season team mark. And Beltran is now even with Edgardo Alfonzo's club record for runs in a year with 123.
Even before the team announced Thursday that Martinez would not pitch in the postseason, one National League executive predicted that the team was a first-round knockout waiting to happen. If the executive was overstating the case, his forecast seems rather prescient in hindsight.
At this point, it will be an upset if the Mets win the NL title. Even with Martinez, their starting rotation featured too many soft tossers. Without him, it simply isn't good enough.
Next year, TBS will have all the divisional-round playoff games, and it is the favorite to pick up the rights to a League Championship Series beginning next season.
In 2008, it will drop its 70 Braves games in favor of a national Sunday Game of the Week package. By then, Ripken could be the face of TBS' coverage.
posted by michael o. at 10:38 AM
25 Comments:
I'm still not worried about the mets rotation. I mean to me all this affects is the chances of winning the World Series.
The Mets are making the World Series, just don't think they're winning.
Pedro hasn't been on the team for months and they did fine. Its better this way that way they can't throw him out there and he completely bombs.
Its not good to put that much pressure and depend that much on one guy.
That executive is an idiot. I wish he didn't remain annoynomous so I could e-mail him after the Mets win.
As long as those fucking announcers are on and ruin the experience I don't care what channel its on. The more baseball the better.
12:07 PM
Rosenthal didn't waste any time dragging up the ghost of Zito, did he? Steamed me this morning big time. The Vaccaro piece is right on: before people denigrate the Mets current situation they ought to use their heads. The Mets have not really had full power Pedro this season, and I still think we're going to have a good playoffs.
Which leads to this: I went to school with a Kenny Rosenthal back in my stupid NY suburban youth and for years I've wondered if it was him. The guy was a majorly uncoordinated baseball dreamer - wished he could play but was more given to reveries about how he might have been able to play if he didn't have such a lame ass body. Every time I look at that picture, I try to see if I see the same guy, but I don't know.
The Mets look bad at the moment merely because they're on low adrenalin. Things will change when it counts. Willie ought to have made 100 wins the prerogative to keep the team going, but maybe it came down to knowing that too many folks were nursing niggling injuries.
It's looking like we may get the Dodgers at least based how things stand going in to the weekend. Phillies need a miracle for the wild card. I'd rather see the Dodgers first instead of the Padres, but bring em on, who cares.
Adam Rubin says that Milledge will not make the post season roster and that the Mets will carry three catchers (Lucky De Felice) so that The Human Bulldog aka Pug (aka Ramon) can be used for pinchhitting duties. I was secretly rooting for Last-things, but Castro has pinch hitting experience. Plus he's so ugly he scares the baseball.
Mike, are you sure your dog's not part german shepherd, part Ramon Castro?
12:44 PM
And how stupid are the Cards? Just completely caved. If Houston wins the Central, they're going to be burning effigies in St. Luigi. But the best is this (from MLB.com):
Reds at Pirates
If: The Cards lose out and the Astros drop at least two out of three, then Cincinnati has a chance.
Plotline: The race came back to the Reds, who were seven back eight games ago and haven't streaked nearly as hot as Houston.
Red flag: If they somehow remain alive down to the last day, Matt Belisle is slated to make his second start on Sunday; the Reds got only 3 2/3 innings out of this former reliever on Tuesday at Florida.
Voices: "We need a little help, and we need to run the table." -- Reds shortstop Royce Clayton.
The Reds? Man, the Arssenals have really screwed up!
12:50 PM
What announcers? No more McCarver means great things for October baseball.
No, no time wasted. I thought Rosenthal was going to talk about the Mets needing Zito in the off-season.
Ha, it sounds like a the same guy. That would be classic if it was.
I agree 100% on the 100 win thing. You know that. It's hard to stay motivated in a situation like this. I know they 'tried' to win 100, but whatever.
Padres and the Dodgers are similar to me. No one there is unbeatable, but Penny can bring it, Maddux has been sharper, and Lowe is pretty used to stepping it up in the post season. I'm not scared of anyone, but I don't think the road to the WS is as easy as everyone thinks.
Three catchers is just silly.
Wow, MLB.com is really stretching there.
1:29 PM
"I'm still not worried about the mets rotation. I mean to me all this affects is the chances of winning the World Series."
uh, benny, that's what i call something to worry about. not to mention sanguine.
rosenthal tastes taint.
for me, it's bad enough what losing pedro does to the mets chances of winning. even worse is that i won't get to watch him pitch in playoff atmoshpere. i was looking forward to that all year.
mike, those numbers were sick.
1:32 PM
I've actually exchnaged e-mails with Rosenthal before. He is a New Yorker and was a Mets fan growing up.
He said that now as a reporter he doesn't have any more rooting interest. Just wants to see good baseball.
It probably is him though.
Yeah but Jake I wasn't depending on the mets winning the World Series anyway. So to me it doesn't matter.
1:39 PM
Rosenthal tastes taint? That's the line of the day.
Yeah, Pedro pitching in Shea during the playoffs and DOMINATING would have been one of the all-time Met moments....hopefully next year.
Oh, deep down he's a fan, just cannot admit it. They all have their own favorites...good baseball my ass.
As for not winning the World Series, it just sucks to be this close and be one ace short. Like I said, I think Omar dropped the ball in the off season not getting an ace. He tried at the deadline and it didn't work. The NL won't be this week every year, it was a golden opportunity to do it.
2:03 PM
Carrying three catchers is flat out dumb.
We're not just wasting a roster spot on the third catcher, but if Castro gets a pinch hit and represents an important run on the basepaths Willies is going to have to pinch run for him. Now you've wasted another player (Endy?).
Lastings is not only a right handed bat off the bench, but is fast enough to stay in or be used as a pinch runner.
I'm not sure if this is Omar or Willie, but my guess is that it's Willie. It could be punishing Lastings, it could be trying to remind him of his place in the organization, or it could be that Willie 'trusts' Castro in a bigger spot (not sure I disagree with this), but the fact remains that this is a bad move.
2:10 PM
Yeah, it sucks that Lastings was just not able to be placed on the roster. There are a few dumb things going on as the Mets head into the playoffs.
2:54 PM
I see both sides to this issue on Latings.
Lastings is more versatile providing pinch-running possibilities. But his defense is suspect and I just feel like if we needed a big hit from a pinch-hitter Castro is more likely to get it. DiFelice is wasting a spot however. No way he gets in.
It would have been better if they didn't release Marerro for Ledee he is more likely to get a hit than DiFelice.
I think Willie likes Milledge actually. I heard him interviewed and he seems like he sees him as a potentially special player and wants to mentor him as a young African-American baseball player prospect in NY.
Nice point to Vacarro's article. Fact is Gooden was 0-3 in '86 post-season and Mets still won WS. Why not now. Of course Duque, Glavine,Trachs, Maine are not Darling, Sid, Ojeda.
I feel like Mets will play Dodgers first round and Houston second. Mets history and historic games are always tied around those teams and Braves.
A coworker is listening to Kaye now. He is giddy every time a mets fan calls telling them how the Mets will lose first round. He's also attacking Gary Cohen as disloyal for taking innings away from Rose and McCarty in post-season. What a jack-ass. This si the same clown that predicted randy Johnson would win Cy Young this year.
Adam
5:14 PM
I realize we have been on cruise control the last month and the playoffs are next week and we won't have pedro on the field for game 1 and 5 in the 1st round, if we hit as we should it will be no problem because once we get to the 6th and 7th inning with a lead the game will be over.
its been 30 years since we won it all and we will do it this year.
5:21 PM
Kate is a class A douchebag.
I'm with you Seattle Steve, if the bats show up it should be an easy road, but I'm a bit suspect in regards to the bats.
6:15 PM
Mets clearly see Michael Tucker as a pinch runner/hitter type, so I suppose they think that he's more versatile and experienced than Lastings.
Don't discount the Pads if they oppose the Astros. The potential for low scoring games is certainly there, and that's how both teams play. With such weak offenses, they match up well with the Metboys. And in that scenario, the Pads will be there for the Mets.
What's this "this was the year because the NL is so weak" shit? Man, the Mets are built to last and in fact will likely be better next year (because no way the rotation is as weak with Trachs gone, Zambrano gone, and with no return appearances for LimaTime).
Mike, I hope your girl is not named Kate since you could be in for trouble. Kaye is a venomous idiot. I wonder which party he votes for?
And now since I am a great fan of comedy and since I already introduced politics in the mix of my comment, this is just way too funny. So I'm a wizened cynic who to quote the President today supposedly "embraces the enemy's propadanda" (as all independants like myself, Democrats, and let's face it rational thinkers do) ... anyway, here goes:
"Foley, as chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, had introduced legislation in July to protect children from exploitation by adults over the Internet. He also sponsored other legislation designed to protect minors from abuse and neglect."
Does someone in Hollywood write this stuff? It's too unbelievable not to believe. I mean if he didn't proposition 16 year pagerboys, I'd have no respect for him, ... which I don't have in any case, actually.
Benny, if you ever email Rosenthal again, try to find out where he grew up. Would be pretty funny, wouldn't it?
8:12 PM
Lastings Milledge apparently still is having trouble fitting in with his teammates. After last night's 4-3 win, he found a sign hanging over his locker that said "Know Your Place Rook!" that was signed, "Your Teammates," and none of his street clothes were inside.
Milledge, sometimes criticized for his over-the-top behavior, has struggled assimilating and was clearly bothered by the message/prank. He received some soothing words from Orlando Hernandez and Willie Randolph before his clothing was returned to him.
Well, I guess that clears up where Lastings fits into the Mets plans.
9:48 AM
Whoa, Brooklyn Bum. What's the source for that?
1:45 PM
It's in all the NY papers today.
Newsday has the longest article that goes into more detail about Lastings struggles to fit it.
http://tinyurl.com/j5nu2
At a time when the Mets should be focusing on the playoffs, it was a disturbing sign.
Milledge, as usual, ate dinner alone seated at his locker, facing inward, as the rest of the Mets crowded the clubhouse cafeteria. Someone had hidden Milledge's street clothes, and one player thought they had been replaced by a dress.
The reason? According to one person familiar with the situation, Milledge - whose reputation is deteriorating quickly - mouthed off to a veteran teammate in Atlanta. Friday's rebuke followed. Apparently, his teammates are becoming more and more annoyed by Milledge's attitude.
"How much does it take to finally wake up?" the person said. "How long before you realize the way you're acting is the opposite of how you should be acting? Fine. Stay asleep, then."
This is bad news. Frankly, I'm siding with Lastings on this. If he feels the need to eat alone at his locker facing in, Willie has fucked this up big time. It was Willies job to get Lastings to become a good teammate, not feel completely isolated from his peers.
What's worst about this is that Lastings can't defend himself. If he comes out and talks about what's going on, he'll "be showing disrespect to his teammates and elders."
This entire situation is fucked.
3:29 PM
Can you say "Gregg Jeffries" revisited.
3:50 PM
Don't know if anybody saw this disastrous report. Just came out. SURGERY WILL KEEP PEDRO OUT 8 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!! He's getting fucking rotator cuff surgery. FUCK! He's out until at least June. Totally blows. I guess we're getting Zito in the offseason. Because it officially sounds like Pedro was a one year deal for us in which we paid for four. FUCK.
5:41 PM
I suppose we may be in the market for an upper rotation pitcher. So, what's a first round pick anyway? Willis would be great. Zito comes in a couple of picks after that. Imagine if Omar had managed to steal Oswalt from the Astros/Orioles. The guy still gets points for his effort.
6:54 PM
he'd been putting off that rotator cudd surgery for years. his shoulder injury robbed him of his velocity.
i think he prolly is tired of every injury making him look mortal and wants to get all of his stuff fixed. hopefully it will let him provide us with a solid second half next year and a great final year.
i always thought he'd give 2 solid years. and injury plagued soso year and a crap out walk year. now i think he's gonna gives us that same production. just spread out differently.
9:35 PM
just saw that pettit and roger clemens has been linked to the grimsley steroid controversy. they're prolly cool bc they shared needles in the yankees bathroom.
what a fucking joke
1:49 AM
i love the news. remember how they did a barry through the years to document his growth? lets do one for the rocket!
1987 rocket
1989 rocket
1993 rocket
roid rocket
rocket fuel is called hgh in texas!
2:04 AM
97 wins! On to the playoffs!...
4:53 PM
Fricking awesome. Tied for the most wins in the majors...not a bad year at all. Good stuff. It's all on now. Good to be back in the playoffs. Going to be a blast.
11:55 PM
4PM! jeez...
11:35 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home