El Profesor

When you get guys that can throw groundballs, and we are a groundball dominant type of ballclub, and have average pitching with excellent defense, you have excellent pitching.

That was Professor Rick and he had the quote of the telecast last night. The man speaks the truth. At least anyone that watched the Mets play their first two games knows he speaks the truth. That's not to say the Mets pitching will not be above average as Peterson was just speaking in generalities and not necessarily about the Mets. He is not alone either. Apparently Peter Gammons didn't call his doctor after his erection lasted more than four hours and was still gushing about the Mets two days after he eyed up Tom Glavine like a piece of meat during their in-game interview (in Gammo's defense Tommy's biceps looked scrumptious and were hard to resist.....grrrrrrrr).

But remember, the Mets won nine more games than any other National League team last season and, in so doing, used 12 starting pitchers, including Jose Lima, Alay Soler and Jeremi Gonzalez. Future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine won 15, as did Steve Trachsel. No one else won 10. Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez won nine apiece. Yet, in the end, their starting pitchers led the NL in wins, and their starters' ERA (4.67) was better than the Cardinals (4.79) and one point above the league average (4.66).

I think people will be wondering what they were thinking by the end of the season after the Mets prove they are head and shoulders above everyone in the NL again. After watching the Mets play a sparkling season opener and then watching The Duque just kill it on the mound and pick up two hits and two RBIs was just amazing. They also managed two steals off Yadier Molina and showed that they are fearless and believe in themselves no matter what facet of the game it is. These Mets truly believe they can do anything and beat anyone.

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26-8....That was twenty six non Yankee related questions to eight Yankee related questions in Buster Olney's latest chat. That is 24% of the questions relating to the Yankees. There is tons and tons of stuff going on in the universe of Major League baseball and he answers that many Yankee questions? What is really shocking is that Phil Hughes was not mentioned once. I would not have believed that to be a possibility, but it just goes to show you that you that anything is possible in this crazy world. I like Olney these days, but that was a bit ridiculous.

This article intimates that Bud Selig got paid $14.5 million by Major League baseball in 2005. That is just silly.

Baseball's central office paid $77.3 million in salaries and benefits to 231 employees, the report said. The NFL paid $41.5 million to 839 employees in 12 months ending March 31 last year and the NHL $13.9 million to 56 employees in the year ending June 30, 2005, when staff was reduced because of a lockout.

Who approves this shit?

Queue the sad walking away music from the Incredible Hulk.

And the New York Post reported manager Joe Torre was told that Williams, 38, is still working out and has not written off the possibility of playing this season, preferably for the Yankees. It was the first time Torre and Williams had spoken since February, when Williams declined the minor-league camp invite.

"I know he wants to be here," Torre said, according to the Post.

Williams spoke with Torre and veteran players Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, according to media reports.

Posada told the Post he is "pretty sure" Williams wants to play this season, and he thinks Williams could even skip a season and return in 2008.

Bernie, give it up man. You were more than good during your career. You were great. Now? Not so much and the Yankees...and I'm not sure if you know this...are loaded in the area of position players. Now, if you could pitch 200 innings and put up a 4.00 to 4.50 ERA, I'd get your confusion. But I'm not sure the Nationals would want you much less the Yankees.

Jose Capellan threatened to retire at the age of 26 after getting sent to AAA and then downgraded his hissy fit to a demand for a trade.

I still love this guy.

"We had Freddy Garcia, Neal Cotts, Cliff Politte, and all those guys helped us, helped me, win it in 2005, and they're gone. I should be treated the same way. If Kenny feels that I don't handle the club the right way or lose the club, don't do my job on and off the field, he should get someone else. I'll be the first one to agree with him."

Quick thought on Kip Wells. He looked pretty good yesterday. Despite the loss, so far so good for Dave Duncan's new project.

Anyone else think Shawn Green might have gotten a bit excited with his two hits in the season opener? I think he got a little over zealous and shouldn't have proclaimed that Sunday was the best he has felt in his life because he got two measly hits.