G-Fafif

Not leaning on Frankie was fine. I was actually ridiculously distraught when David DP'd in the top of the ninth because I feared a four-run lead as insufficiently K-Proof had Jerry gone in that direction. But the choice of Valdes exposed how, as of last night, there was no modestly dependable option for that situation, not when none of them had been getting any work lately (stupid length-giving Mets starters). Iggy's inning today was an encouraging note in otherwise wan circumstances.

Box Reyes 3.0 Pelfrey 1.5 Pagan 1.0 Igarashi 0.5

Pagan needs to look straight ahead as runs to second. Peeking at the catcher, whether it's Cervelli or Posada, will always slow you down, because they're both kind of sickening.

MFS62 wrote: Francessa said (I paraphrase) "I was listening to the radio this morning. Yankee fans were calling in, complaining about Jose Reyes's excessive celebrations. But Joba Chamberlain does the same thing." Reyes has more reason to celebrate at the moment. But it's still early.

"Their leadoff hitter has become Babe Ruth at Yankee Stadium!" --Wayne Hagin on Jose Reyes after his SECOND home run of the game

Also, the Times does not use the stylistically correct "MFYS III" to refer to the building in question.

Assuming this is correct, it's interesting how, after Granderson PH'd last night, Girardi stuck him in CF displacing Gardner whom he moved over to LF. My mistake (pre-Jeter scratch). Granderson center, Gardner left.

Late scratch of Captain Edge due to bruised right heel. Renovated MFY lineup if you haven't already noticed: Garnder LF Swisher RF Teixeira 1B Rodriguez DH Cano 2B Posada C Granderson CF Pena SS Russo 3B

Who knows what Evil lurks...? Jeter SS Swisher RF Teixeira 1B Rodriguez DH Cano 2B Posada C Granderson LF Gardner CF Pena 3B The awesome Phil Hughes, whom 12 of 12 baseball people would take over Mike Pelfrey, starts but will not take a turn at bat.

If Maine were reliable, Takahashi would be a boon to that bullpen. Yet Maine has yet to prove reliable and Takahashi is a boon to the rotation. I can understand the impulse to restore Hisanori to his previous role because he was so good in it, and the pen is no more than 3-1/2 men deep at the moment (depending on how/if/when Mejia is used) but he's got himself a new role. There's always gonna be an impulse, probably unfair, that the guys who surprise you as unexpected starters are eventually going to backslide. Terry Leach comes to mind in that context. Hunch: Maine won't be a Met by the All-Star break. Alternate hunch: We (I, anyway) wrote him off too soon and he'll pull a Bobby Jones circa 2000. But my first hunch is probably the one I'd go with. BTW, any reason Manny Acosta can't be up here?

And this promotion coincides with Jerry S.'s visit to the booth Wednesday night. The Mets previously apologized for besmirching his suite by sticking the MFYLDB there during the last loss the Mets experienced. Citi Field may have weird angles, but this has nice symmetry.

In a manner of speaking... METS FANS GO GAGA FOR WRIGHT THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JUNE 23 AT CITI FIELD First 20,000 Fans at the Mets-Tigers Game at 7:10 p.m. Will Receive Blue `Make Wright #1� Foam Finger Vote Wright into the All-Star Game at Mets.com FLUSHING, N.Y., June 19, 2010 � The New York Mets today announced �Mets Fans Go Gaga for Wright� Night this Wednesday, June 23 at Citi Field to send David Wright to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The first 20,000 fans attending the 7:10 p.m. game between the Mets and Detroit Tigers will receive a blue �Make Wright #1� foam finger, encouraging fans to use the right finger and vote for Wright as the National League�s starting third baseman July 13 in Anaheim. Wright is tied for the National League lead and is tied for third overall in the majors with 53 RBI, driving in 31 runs in his last 30 games. He�s batting .288 with 12 home runs, and his .411 average against lefthanders leads the NL. Wright is batting .403 (27-67) with 20 RBI over his last 17 games. Fans can vote for Wright by filling out the 2010 All-Star Game Ballot on Mets.com and MLB.com. Fans can vote up to 25 times online. The 2010 All-Star Game Ballot offers English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Korean versions. Ballots are also available throughout Citi Field. Tickets start at $19 with the best seats available online at Mets.com and by phone at (718) 507-TIXX. 1. This is fucking hilarious. 2. It's a little minor league, but what the hell? Nice to see the Mets stir the pot. 3. They can't move these Tiger tickets, can they?

It does sound like more of a Howie/Wayne issue. But the untimely death of Gary Coleman has been distracting all of us, and some of us haven't moved past the stage of grief known as anger or "being pissed off a little." The use of "a little" is the tipoff here that this is displaced anger on behalf of someone who measured up to our expectations in every way but height. Let it go, man.

It's time to Better Know Your Local Baseball Punditocracy. Apologies for being a little behind. This is from subscription-only newsday.com (available to lucky Optimum users like myself) on Friday, and the esteemed Ken Davidoff: The Yankees will pound the Mets, 9-2, in the Subway Series (Part II) opener, ending both the Mets� seven-game winning streak and the Yankees� two-game losing streak. Losing pitcher Hisanori Takahashi, a rookie, will allow six runs in five innings in his second career start against the Yankees. Davidoff's Saturday prediction (also from Friday)? On Saturday, the Yankees will triumph again, 4-2, behind the strong efforts of Phil Hughes. Ah yes, Hughes (a booming 9-1). A fine pitcher. So much better than Mike Pelfrey (an incidental 9-1). Joel Sherman, in the Post, gathered confirmation for us that is one thought more highly of than the other: The Post asked 12 baseball men from both leagues: If you could have Pelfrey, who turned 26 in January, or Hughes, who turns 24 next Thursday, for the next five years whom would you take? I am not surprised much any longer in this business, but I was surprised by the results. Though there was a lot of talking about wanting to figure out a way to have both, all 12 respondents, when pushed to go one way or the other, took Hughes. So at 1:05 PM, the unanimously invincible Phil Hughes will look to make it two in a row in Ken Davidoff's mind. For the rest of us, Mike Pelfrey (0-12 where it counts, apparently) will attempt to continue a different, arguably more accurate kind of reality. FYI, though I cannot claim membership in the local baseball punditocracy, I did file my own Subway Series Preview Friday afternoon. I believe you may still find it valid.

Takahashi 2.0 PFeliciano 1.5 Pagan 1.5 Reyes 1.5 Wright 1.5 Davis 1.0 Tejada 0.5 Rodriguez 0.5

themetfairy wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Anyone notice the David Wright Drives a Lincoln ads that have quietly replaced (for the most part) the Edge assault? They're not very good, but they do involve a Met. G-Fafif - remember the time we were driving down to Philly, when out of the blue MK blurted out, "I will never buy a Ford!"? Best. Focus. Group. Ever.

Anyone notice the David Wright Drives a Lincoln ads that have quietly replaced (for the most part) the Edge assault? They're not very good, but they do involve a Met.

Seven oh five Give us a chance All we wanna do Is be rockin' the Bronx Seven in a row What do we want? All we wanna do is be rockin' the FYI, according to ESPN, Hisanori Takahashi will attempt to become the oldest pitcher since Jamie Moyer to beat the New York Yankees. Also, according to ESPN, Hisanori Takahashi will attempt to become the youngest pitcher since Kyle Kendrick to beat the New York Yankees.

Reyes 3.0 Dickey 3.0 Davis 1.0 Wright 0.5 Tejada 0.5 Pagan 0.5 Blanco 0.5 Rodriguez 0.5 Dessens 0.5

Chris Carter, not an effective slider.

Howie likened Westbrook, before the game began, to Millwood, and it wasn't a flattering comparison. So far, I'd say Westbrook and Millwood have more in common these days than last names that encompass two discrete words apiece.

Make it three!