Dodgers @ Mets

8:00 Before we even see the guys in the booth, I hear Jon Miller, so I’m immediately wary of who is going to respond when…yes, it’s Joe Morgan. I’m already depressed.

8:03 Joe Torre looks stoic, emotionless, half-asleep. Good to know he hasn’t changed.

8:09 Joe (Morgan…crap, this could get confusing) just claimed that it’s ok that Santana hasn’t been Cy Young-caliber thus far, because he’s just been winning games, and evidently the point of the game is to win. Good thing we didn’t start a drinking game to Morganisms because we’d be starting early and I have to work tomorrow.

8:10 Jersey Matt just pointed out that Matt Kemp is not white, and we are all surprised.

8:12 I am happy to see that the Yankees aren’t the only team this season with supersized, ugly patches on their uniforms that are commemorating their doomed stadium: the Mets have one too.

8:15 Thirty seconds after Jersey Matt and I finish going over the Jeff Kent-Ryan Thompson-David Cone trade, Jon Miller decided to mention it as Kent strikes out. Jersey Matt blood pressure counter: +1.

8:18 Joe Torre looks like he wants to kill Matt Kemp for getting picked off and having a 0% chance of outrunning Jose Reyes in a rundown. Or he looks like he doesn’t care. Either one.

8:27 Why does Jon Miller feel the need to call players safe and out the same way an umpire would? I don’t mean just making the call, but the cadence. Jose Reyes was just safe by at least 900 feet at home, and Jon had to yell “HAFE!” or whatever the hell he said to let us know that Reyes was safe. By the way, you’re announcing this game on TV, Jon. We can see too.

8:32 The girl in the Planters cashews commercial makes me want to throw up a little.

8:37 Jersey Matt just said it perfectly: “Did you hear that sucking sound just now? That was the ESPN announcers’ lips on the Red Sox’ asses. You can hear it in stereo!”

8:51 Lou Piniella’s recognition in that commercial of his reputation of his temper and penchant for getting thrown out of games completely takes away for me the legitimacy of his in-game tantrums. Who knew that you could sell out on your tantrums?

8:59 Jon Miller just reminded us of the Mets’ historic collapse last year. Jersey Matt blood pressure counter: +2

9:00 David Wright tells us that if the Mets stop losing and start winning, and win enough, they could win a championship. He’s from Norfolk, Virginia.

9:01 Jersey Matt wonders why Willie Randolph apparently spends all the time and energy on growing a dirty porno moustache when he should be spending it on managing. In the mean time, Joe Torre looks please with Willie’s lack of emotion. Teacher and student.

9:18 Ryan Church homered to score the fifth Mets run this inning, so the Jersey Matt blood pressure counter is back to zero. However, Jersey Matt is keeping score and is going to be upset if the Mets bat around and it messes up his scorecard. Jersey Matt blood pressure counter: +1

9:19 The Dodgers are intentionally walking Chavez to complete the bat around. Jersey Matt blood pressure counter: +2

9:20 No one has gone out to talk to the Dodgers pitcher. Ah, there goes Joe. Only after 5 runs and an IBB.

9:26 Peter Gammons’ in-game reports have become narrations to graphic novels. Why?

9:42 Jon Miller just declared, before interviewing Willie Randolph, that the Mets, with a win tonight, are going to make it 3 out of 4 games against…the Mets. This was 5 minutes after I was lazy and didn’t report that Joe Morgan clarified for us that Joe Torre had won a batting title when he was a player. As opposed to when we was a manager, or maybe when he was out of baseball altogether, which is when some people win batting titles. I won a Cy Young yesterday when I was drinking at noon and watching The Sopranos.

10:48 Santana was chased in the 8^th, and now the Dodgers have the bases loaded with 2 outs, and Schoeneweis is pitching for the Mets. Jersey Matt blood pressure counter: +4

10:49 Schoeneweis remembers where the strike zone is and gets out of the inning. Jersey Matt blood pressure counter: +3

10:56 “It’s good to be a Red Sox in this day and age.” The statement doesn’t bother me so much as the grammar.

11:05 Mets win, 6-1. Jersey Matt blood pressure counter: +1, because the Mets are still a .615 team playing .500.

Billy Wagner

He is apparently a player-manager. He's in the press making critical comments more often than Willie, about whom I never hear anything. If this continues, what does it do to the Mets clubhouse down the stretch? Get them in gear, divide the team, nothing at all?

In the meantime, the Yankees are in last place; yet, they're only a game and a half behind the Mets in the Baseball Universe (of America) standings. Should be a super series this weekend! Hooray for interleague play!

Edit: As irony would have it, I did read an article about Willie this morning after I initially posted, but it wasn't so much about his team as about interleague play.

"I think interleague play has worn out its welcome for me," Randolph said. "I think we should get back to playing in our division and playing in our league. But it's a nice change. It's six games, and it gets a little bit chaotic when it happens. But I think it's good for the fans.

"You do want to get through it so you can get back to some so-called normalcy. The hype is a little overplayed sometimes. But once the game starts, it's where you want to be because it's exciting and you can feel the buzz and the energy in the stands. It's nice to be able to compete in a different kind of game where it's like the only game in town."

The Mets have gone 25-35 against their interborough rivals since the start of interleague play in 1997, including 10-20 in the Bronx.

"Now playing center field for the New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera": I thought this was a cool little story. Apparently to keep his legs fresh, Rivera likes to go after fly balls during BP, and Peter Abraham watched him steal a hit from A-Rod with a nifty catch.

Tidbits

That’s Nasty: I love the pitching highlights segment on Baseball Tonight. It nearly perfected the show. “Web Gems” is terrific, “Touch ‘Em All” is fun to watch, and the newly incorporated (as of last year, I believe – I can’t really remember) “That’s Nasty” is a reel of the best pitches of the night. Last night one of the pitches they showed was a 61 MPH changeup from Mike “I’m Still Relevant” Mussina. Sixty-one! Then they had Joba throwing 98, followed by the killer slider. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the pitching (particularly the bullpen?!) has exceeded expectations; if only the offense were supporting them. The other day, Peter Abraham reported from the clubhouse that the pitchers are, understandably, growing impatient with the hitters and the lack of any sort of steady run support. (I feel misleading talking about the pitching without mentioning the downfall of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, although Kennedy had a superb Triple A outing and will get the start today against the Rays, so we’ll see about him.)

Speak of the Devil (Rays): Yesterday Buster Olney outlined the 12 great moves that the Rays have made over the past couple years that laid the foundation for this year’s success so far (lifted shamelessly and directly, word for word, from Olney’s blog on ESPN.com):

But in the last year, Rays general manager Andrew Friedman and the Tampa Bay baseball operations staff has pitched the front office version of a perfect game, in keeping with a long-range plan that was begun long before that. Virtually every transaction that the Rays have made, going back to last year's June draft, has worked out, and contributed to Tampa Bay's strong start and ascension, for the first time, into the ranks of contenders.

The Rays are 22-16 and have racked up five consecutive victories -- against the Blue Jays, Angels and Yankees -- and as we sit here today, on May 13, they are fielding arguably the best defense in the AL; the fifth-lowest bullpen ERA in the game, with a relief ERA that is three runs lower than last year -- three runs.

Perhaps most impressively, the Rays have escaped the thick pessimism in which the team had been embedded for the last decade, and Friedman's changes have been instrumental in making this happen, brick by brick.

Example No. 1: On July 28, 2007, the Devil Rays were 38-65. Tampa Bay shipped infielder Ty Wigginton to the Astros for Dan Wheeler, a solid veteran reliever -- and at the time, the expectation was that this would allow Friedman to trade then-closer Al Reyes. But Friedman hung onto Wheeler, signed him to a multi-year deal, to help build the kind of relief depth the Rays had never had; Tampa Bay had always seemed to rely on too many overmatched youngster in their bullpen.

No. 2: Delmon Young racked up 186 hits and 93 RBIs in his rookie season with Tampa Bay in 2007, and yet the Rays traded him in the winter in a deal for pitcher Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett -- an extremely bold move, because Young was seen as a rising star, and because there had been so much early discussion about how Young is destined to be a Hall of Famer, with his spectacular eye-hand coordination and ability to hit the ball with the fat part of the bat.

But it is evident that in their internal evaluations of Young, the Rays also looked at other factors: Young's willingness and ability to make adjustments; his uncomfortable and sometimes stifling clubhouse presence, borne out by his threats to walk out at the end of the 2007 season; and the frustration he engendered in other teammates. "He just doesn't work very hard," said one Ray.

There has been little doubt about Young's talent, and even the possibility that he will go on and have a career of many hits and RBIs. But the Rays seem to have made a very sound judgment that he would not reach his full potential with them, a savvy decision that takes courage.

So Tampa Bay swapped Young for Garza, at a time when it is very difficult to get pitchers with electric arms, and Garza has done well.

The Rays also landed Bartlett to play shortstop, to give their infield the kind of stability it hasn't had in the past, and Bartlett has done nicely in this, rival advance scouts believe.

No. 3: The Rays convinced Troy Percival to come back and be their closer, but more importantly, to help change the culture of their clubhouse, and Percival has done excellent work in both roles.

No. 4: Tampa Bay dumped the talented Elijah Dukes, another high-ceiling talent with an oppressive clubhouse presence.

No. 5: J.P. Howell, who had floundered as a starter in the big leagues, was converted to relief and has thrived; I remember standing on the field in St. Petersburg in March and listening to Rays manager Joe Maddon talk about how intrigued he was by what he was seeing in Howell this spring.

No. 6: Edwin Jackson's results had been awful for most of his career, but rather than bury him -- which must have been tempting after another of his many brutal outings early in 2007 -- Tampa Bay has been patient with him, nurtured him, and lo and behold, he has made slow but steady progress. He has become an asset.

No. 7: The Rays targeted Akinori Iwamura as a free agent partly because they liked his athleticism and versatility, and this spring, as Evan Longoria has climbed to the big leagues, Iwamura has made a seamless transition to second base.

No. 8: After benefiting from the unexpected emergence of first baseman Carlos Pena in 2007, Tampa Bay signed him to a fair-and-balanced three-year, $24 million deal, holding the line in negotiations.

No. 9: The Rays talked to many free agents, fishing around before convincing Eric Hinske to sign an $800,000 deal, and Hinske has fit them perfectly: as a left-handed hitter, as an experienced veteran, as a patient hitter who has helped the Rays develop the kind of patient water-torture lineup that is pervasive among the better AL offenses.

No. 10: The Rays signed Cliff Floyd for his ability to hit and for his positive influence, and now that he's back from the disabled list, he's adding hits along with his experience.

No. 11: They signed James Shields and Longoria -- foundation pieces -- to long-term deals, and now Crawford has made it clear he wants to stay, too.

And No. 12: The Rays have never once deviated from their overriding blueprint of drafting and acquiring and developing young pitching talent. Within two years, the best of that group -- Wade Davis and Jake McGee, who are in Double-A, and former No. 1 pick David Price -- will join the likes of Shields and Scott Kazmir in the big leagues.

"They've obviously done an excellent job at evaluating their own talent," said a rival executive. "And they haven't panicked, haven't rushed. They've stuck to their plan, and it's working."

Yankees Ticket Prices: Getting crazy. Arkansas Megan and I are going to be in New York this weekend, and I was scoping out tickets to the Yankees-Mets game. I know it’s the Mets so the prices are going to be inflated more than usual, and I’ve ready many an article about the super over-inflation this year because of the Last Season, but I hadn’t actually looked for tickets until now. Not sure if we’re going to make it.

Time to Panic?

Is it time to panic?  Not about the Mets losing 13-2 to the Pirates, necessarily, but rather the listlessness that has continued into this early season.  The Phillies continue to struggle, all indicators are that the Marlins can't continue at their blistering pace, the Braves are 0-9 in one run games and the Nats are a quadruple-A ball club.  And yet, and yet, the Mets have failed to gain any type of momentum in the month of April.  When there's pitching, the bats have fallen flat more often than not and vice versa.  Which, I should add, is a mark of a mediocre team.  Mediocre teams do not have payrolls within the top five of baseball, nor do they stay mediocre teams long.  Either something is done to raise them up from mediocrity, or those middling players drop off to such a degree that the team ends up in the second division.  

Meanwhile, the Yankees are playing even more poorly than the Mets, and yet I'm don't think I'm as happy as they should be.  It seems as if the Yankees (during the regular season at least) always find a way to make things happen.  Then again, maybe that is the magic of Joe Torre.  And without Brian Bruney ... what will the mighty Highlanders do?

Stat of the Day

There have been 4 grand slams in the National League this year. 3 of them have been served up by the Mets bullpen, including last night's no-doubter by Nats SS Felipe Lopez, who had a career high 6 RBI.

Thoughts on Philly (and the awful thugs who live there)...

A while back I sat in the bleachers during a Yankees playoff game.  If memory serves me correctly, it was against the Angels and Randy Johnson got the daylights beat out of him.  I never thought anyone was capable of saying meaner things about another human being as I did that day.

And then, I sat in the 400-level in Philadelphia.

Beautiful ballpark.  Great sight lines.  Chase Utley is playing all-world right now.

But...

It is in inconceivable to me that whenever a Phillie hits a pop-up to the shortstop, everyone thinks it's a home run.

It's scary to think that grown men (and women) think that cursing at Mets' fans is the best cheering that Philadelphia fans can do.  

It's depressing to think that the only time a "Let's Go Phillies" chant started when the Mets were rallying was in response to a "Let's Go Mets" chant.  

More thoughts later on this...

This guy was worth a four-year deal...

Yes, the Mets signed Luis Castillo to a four year deal. And he can't/doesn't want to play four or five days ina row....

And as for the coffee post....be a man Virginia Matt, drink it black.

Perfect...

Nice win by the Mets.  Sanchez comes back.  Reyes goes 4 for 5.  Wright looks like an MVP.

And a great, great article by George Will.  Must read.

A few good links...

A few good links...

John McCain hammers out a key economic speech, while Barack Obama feels mighty put out by the media.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Carter does everything but make out with a terrorist.

In other news, my usual forty minute commute to work today turned into a hour and forty minute ordeal despite the absence of any major accident on the 295N corridor. Gotta love drivnig in VA/DC/MD. This makes for a very cranky blogger.

The Red Sox were on ESPN again last night. This time viewers were treated to the fool that is Steve Philips, as well as a come-from-behind Red Sox victory that needs to remind the American League and the world, that until someone beats the Sox in October, you can take the moniker of "best team in baseball" from their cold, dead hands.

Coming later today, a Mets' fan vents about things that worry him in the new season.

Roadtripping...

Middle Relief hits the road next Sunday up I-95 for Mets/Phillies.

Sitting in nosebleed.  

Ideas for food at the ball park/good bars around the stadium appreciated.

Two in a row!

Mets manage to squeak out two in a row.  

Heilman screws things up again.  Angel Pagan making the most of his second (and possibly last) shot at the show.

Posting tomorrow reminding all of us why most others hate Americans...