Benjamin Grimm

I can see why Wagner has been beloved everywhere he's gone.

I posted the following in the "When Will Willie Be Fired?" poll. It's a list of potential replacements within the Mets organization. (The theory being that it's easier to replace from in-house when the season is underway.) Ken Oberkfell Manager in New Orleans. In his fourth year as a AAA manager. Has also managed one year a AA (Binghamton) in 2004. Managed St. Lucie in 2002 and 2003, Capital City in 2001. Managed at Single A in the Phillies organization from 1997 through 2000. Tim Teufel Managing the St. Lucie Mets, and losing a lot of games. Managed in Savannah last year, St. Lucie in 2004 and 2005, Brooklyn in 2003. (I don't know where he was in 2006.) Edgar Alfonzo Managed Brooklyn in 2007 and will be there again in 2008. Also managed the Cylones in 2001. In between he was coaching in St. Lucie and Binghamton. Also managed Kingsport, in 2000. Nick Leyva Manager of the Kingsport Mets this year. Had a losing record as the Phillies manager from 1989 through 1991. Tom Nieto Named Baseball America's best managerial prospect (1997). Has seven years of managing experience at the Single A level in various organizations. (None with the Mets.) Jerry Manuel Managed the White Sox from 1998 through 2003. (Record of 500-471.) Al Manager of the Year in 2000. Bench coach for the 1997 Marlins. Six years as a third base coach in Montreal. Howard Johnson Managed the Cyclones in 2002. Four seasons as a minor league hitting instructor in the Mets organization. (St. Lucie, Binghamton, Norfolk.) Sandy Alomar Sr. Many years as a major league coach. Interim manager for Iowa (AAA) in 1991 and Williamsport (A) in 1994. Has also served as a manager in the Puerto Rican winter leagues. (Manager of the Year in 1986 and 1993.) If I had to pick one of these guys, I think I'd go with Oberkfell. I'm not sure what I think about Backman. I'm not sure I'd like seeing them managed by a jerk along the lines of Piniella or Bowa or Billy Martin. And I'm not at all sure that Wally wouldn't be one of those guys.

I do have to wonder if this is the beginning of the end for Willie. What happens this weekend could be pivotal for him, although not necessarily for the team. If they win two or three in the Bronx, I think the vultures will back off for a bit. If they lose all three (I'm gagging as I type this) I think the calls for his head might grow too loud to be ignored.

metirish wrote: Great job at play-by-play Ben. Thanks! Now, who's going to punch Fman in the neck?

Pelfrey 5.6 Wise 1.3

Delgado smokes one, but it turns into a game-ending double play.

SB Beltran, to third on a throwing error.

Willie Harris makes a Swoboda-like play near the left-field line to rob Church of a game-tying extra base hit.

Nationals scoreless in the ninth. It's going to come down to Beltran, Church, and Delgado. Are the Mets really on the verge of losing three of four to Washington? Yeesh.

Early in the game he was on first with two out and Wright flied out to right field. The outfielder dropped the ball and Castillo, had he been running hard, would have scored. It did take an extraordinary play to get Reyes out. And he did hesitate at second before deciding to make the dash. (I don't know what Alomar's role in this was, if anything. It did look like Reyes was looking to third, rather than to first, before he dashed to third.) Keith was tsk-tsking the decision.

And a promising inning ends with Wright popping up. Urrrrgh.

You'll have to see that tag on the replay. The thirdbaseman was running towards the bag, caught the ball behind him and as he was running reached behind him and tagged Reyes. (This was after Castillo was thrown out at first.)

Castillo bunts, Reyes dashes for third! And is tagged out!

Reyes on with an infield hit. He swung away, but it came off the bat like a perfect bunt down the third base line.

Luis Ayala in to pitch. One of the few remaining Nationals who had been Expos.

Bottom of the eighth, top of the order. Jocelyn Pierce, by the way, is more appealing to me than Guiseppe Franco.

Press release: ]T-Shirts Being Sold With Net Profits Going to Announcers� Favorite Charities (NEW YORK CITY, May 14, 2008). SNY television announcers Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez & Ron Darling today launched their �Pitch in for a Good Cause� website where fans can purchase custom designed tee shirts with net proceeds from the sales going to the New York sportscasters� favorite charities. The website is also interactive with fans being able to submit their favorite Gary, Keith & Ron stories, as well as photos of people wearing the tee shirts. Fans can also learn about their favorite sports announcers through a �Getting to Know 3 Guys in a Booth� page, where they can ask questions. �It takes a community to weather the storms of life,� said Gary Cohen, voice of the New York Mets. �We�re asking our fans � our community � to join us in helping others.� The website is offering four different tee shirts. One has Cohen�s signature phrase, �It�s Outta Here.� Another features caricatures of Hernandez�s fans all wearing his #17 jersey, sporting his mustache, wearing his famous footwear and enjoying a pop. Darling�s tee pays tribute to �Mr. Perfect,� as well as his many numbers and nicknames. The fourth is the official �Gary, Keith and Ron tee-shirt,� providing a humorous but loving portrait of the sportscasters� fans. All fans who purchase a tee shirt will be invited to an end of the year fundraising event. 54 Danbury Road #429, Ridgefield, CT 06877 �My mother died of Alzheimer�s at the age of 59, so for the last 15 years I�ve helped raise funds for the Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn because of its terrific care for the elderly with dementia, Alzheimer�s and other related disorders,� explained Hernandez. �And that�s the charity I�ve selected.� �I chose the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation because of its dedication to finding a cure for juvenile diabetes,� Darling said. �Since my youngest son was stricken with JD at the age of 11, one of my goals is to make his life and lifestyle as promising as any other child�s.� �Domestic violence touches everyone, and I�ve picked the Women�s Shelter of Greater Danbury because of the enormous life-changing impact this safe house has on women and their children,� explained Cohen. The official Gary, Keith & Ron tee shirt can be purchased for $22.99, and the other three tees featuring the individual sportscasters cost $20.99. All four can be purchased for a discounted price of $75.00. The Gary, Keith & Ron website is http://www.garykeithandron.com.

And here comes Willie. Pelfrey can't win, he can only lose. Big hand as he walks off the mound. And he'll be getting plenty of Schaefer in the next couple of days.

It would be a shame if Pelfrey ends up with a loss. (Same for Vargas yesterday.)

Wagner and Wise are throwing. Sac fly scores the run.

I would have let Bergman bunt too. Harris gets it done, though, and the runner advances to third.

Keith is betting his "sweet bippy" that Willie Harris will bunt.

Flores doubles to lead off the 8th. Bergman will leave for a pinch-hitter.

Pelfrey batting with two out nobody on.

Meanwhile, we're still scoreless at the 7th-inning stretch. Bottom of the order coming up.