Gwreck

Reyes Delgado Beltran Wagner Putz Maine

Signing with the Phillies was not cool. Wish he'd stayed retired.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":a6tx33lr]Meantime I went out to St. Louis to soak up that great fandom one night and couldn't find one person in the stands who was knowledgeable enough about what was happening on the field, or in baseball in general, to engage a visiting fan in conversation.[/quote:a6tx33lr] That was my experience was well when I was out there last August. Frayed Knot Jul 12 2009 08:54 PM ]You're telling me that there is a bigger sport in New York than baseball? Our two NFL teams play in New Jersey, the Knicks have sucked for 10 years and hockey? Well, most people don't care about hockey. I didn't say I thought it was bigger there then here, only that they see themselves that way and more supportive of their guys to boot. NY, Boston & StL are the three cities where baseball is the clear #1 sport. Out of those StL fans like to think of themselves as nicer than fans in either east coast city, ergo self-proclaim themselves to be better. Vince Coleman Firecracker Jul 12 2009 09:12 PM It's a easily-repeatable, meaningless platitude made popular by the hive mind of the mouth-breathing members of the sports media. What the hell does "best" mean in this context? The thing is, Major League Baseball, despite being called the National Pastime, is largely a regional sport. It's immensely popular in New York and Boston and it has a significant following in a few other spots in the country, St. Louis being one of them. It stands out only because of the contrast with its surroundings. Saying Cardinals fans are the "best" is like saying Austin is the "hippest" city. metsguyinmichigan Jul 12 2009 09:28 PM I have to tell you, it's a damn good baseball town. When I went to college at Mizzou, I was pretty impressed by how many people were into the Cardinals. I'm not saying they can recite stats and the rule book, but people who you would not expect to be into sports seemed to know the players. If I asked people here in Grand Rapids to start naming people in the Tigers' current starting lineup, I bet three of five would tell me Alan Trammell and one in five would say Al Kaline. I don't know if you can say a team has the "best" fans, but you can clearly say that it's not that big a city and the team has always been supported, even in the rare years that they stink. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 12 2009 09:49 PM ="Frayed Knot":2lxptp3e]Although you do need to keep in mind that it's pretty much a self-label which has been picked up by various media members. StL fans love calling themselves "the best fans in baseball" - although saying so doesn't necessarily make it true.[/quote:2lxptp3e] Never had much use for folk what self-appellated. Folk what give 'emselves superlatives? Well, them ah got even less use fer. /Spits, chews on an ear of wheat G-Fafif Jul 12 2009 09:59 PM My just-passing-through experience in 1992 (old Busch) and 2006 (new Busch) was remarkably similar to JCL's and 'wreck's. Big disappointment as I was expecting the sort of atmosphere MGIM describes. I'm sure there's something to it, but it doesn't translate immediately. They sure do wear red and they sure do show up. Now that MFYS II is shuttered, it's probably the closest we'll ever get to mindless, lockstep, peer-pressure, conformist Japanese-style rooting in this country. (MFYS III is overbearing but the inhabitants don't seem as fascistly organized as they used to.) I remember much was made in 2004 when Larry Walker came over, got a standing O, struck out and got another standing O. It didn't seem all that remarkable on TV. Mets fans give their big acquisitions plenty of support for the first 24 hours, too. Wayne Hagin offered an interesting take here regarding Cardinal fan reaction to the Red Sox winning on their field for the first time in 86 years and how Mets fans would never be as accommodating. ]I am asked by the multitudes about broadcasting in New York City as opposed to other cities where I worked and resided. The answer is, broadcasting in New York brings you face to face, mind to mind, and heart to heart with the fan. In this case, the New York Mets fans. People designate the St. Louis Cardinals fans as "baseball's greatest fans" and Keith Hernandez and I have spoken often about the Cardinals fortune of having a collegiate type of following. Mistakes are made on the field but the fans will support you as if you were a member of the family. They revel in their midwest hospitality and that transcends to the baseball diamond at Busch Stadium. It's their legacy and there was no better example of that then when the Cardinals played the Red Sox in the 2004 World Series. Game four was played in old Busch Stadium and Derek Lowe shut down Albert Pujols and company to win the game, the World Series, and beat the demons of not winning it all over the past 86 years. What did the St. Louis crowd do? They not only clapped their hands in tribute but ushers and stadium officials actually let Red Sox fans, who didn't have seats and had stood outside the stadium, come in and join in the history of the moment. That was St. Louis and as you know, that wouldn't have happened at Shea nor will it happen at Citi Field. It doesn't make one city "better" than the other. They are different cities altogether and that's what makes my experience special to me. I love the heart and soul of the Mets fan. I work with a man, Howie Rose, who exemplifies the Mets fan. Howie is a true pro and it's fabulous to sit next to him broadcasting a game. (I should point out I fucking hate the fucking Cardinals, so my opinions may be biased, but I tried to put all that on hold when I visited because I generally like to enjoy myself in other parks and thus think the best of their folks.) MFS62 Jul 13 2009 05:57 AM I think some of the St. Louis reputation comes from when they were the Westernmost outpost of Major League Baseball. Fans could hear their broadcasts on KMOX and would travel hundreds of miles to attend a game there. Later

Right field is the new third base. 97 Huskey 98 Huskey 99 Cedeno 00 Bell 01 Perez 02 Burnitz 03 Cedeno 04 Hidalgo 05 Diaz 06 Nady 07 Green 08 Church 09 Francoeur (?) If Francoeur doesn't play every day, Church has a decent shot at being the first player to lead the team in innings played in RF for two consecutive years since Butch Huskey.

Elias sez: Terry Mullholland's no-hitter in 1990 was the last one. Charlie Hayes error and the runner was erased via DP, so Mulholland only faced 27 batters.

Jonathan Sanchez of the Giants threw a no-hitter against San Diego. 11 Ks, 0 BBs. Only baserunner was due to a Juan Uribe error in the eighth inning. Caught the end of it on MLB network, where I was waiting for them to tell me (via Elias) when the last time a perfect game was broken up by an error...I can't remember it ever happening. Maybe they're still checking.

Watched Church's meeting with the media on SNY. Rubin pressed Church (talking about "the censor button off now") to see if Church would offer an opinion about the concussion, after Rubin proffered that "obviously it was handled incorrectly." Didn't get much of a response from Ryan though. I did like that Church thanked the NY fans.

Church has one more arbitration year. Francoeur has two. That's about the extent of the advantage to the Mets in this deal. Seems like a stupid, trade-for-the-sake-of-making-a-trade deals.

Argenis Reyes batting seventh? Seriously? Take two-by-four. Apply J. Manuel. Repeat until Argenis Reyes is no longer in lineup.

="G-Fafif":osrg6an9]It was '05; in '06 Howie and Gary were not sharing the 'FAN booth. It was the Mr. Koo game (a Fox presentation, which meant I had the TV sound off).[/quote:osrg6an9] Thanks. Guess I had my memorable defeats of the MFYs confused.

="G-Fafif":cc8fp5wz]Also did an inning with GC in 2005 when, for fun, Mets and MFY casters joined each other during a Subway Series game. It was Gary and Suzyn, Howie and Sterling.[/quote:cc8fp5wz] I remember that but thought it was '06, and in the David Wright-Mariano Rivera game to boot. Is my memory failing me? John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 09 2009 09:01 PM ="G-Fafif"]="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]I am becoming a softie in my old age but I don't hate Waldman anymore either. I mean, I probably would if she was a Met announcer. Ah, but she was a Mets announcer, for one series in Houston when Murph had begun to not make some road trips and the Mets decided to try and make some history by having a woman in the booth. I'm fairly certain it was 1993, maybe even the series when Darryl Kile threw his no-hitter. The concept outpaced the delivery. ETA: It was June 1993, three months before the series with the no-hitter. She did color, no PBP, alongside Gary Cohen. Also did an inning with GC in 2005 when, for fun, Mets and MFY casters joined each other during a Subway Series game. It was Gary and Suzyn, Howie and Sterling. I remember the radio switcheroo, but never knew she filled in in 93. I was more or less out of the loop that year. Frayed Knot Jul 09 2009 09:19 PM ="MFS62":2y9du1rs]There were rumors (or maybe just snide speculation) a few years ago that she was George Steinbrenner's girlfriend.[/quote:2y9du1rs] That's just plainly absurd. Bob Raissman nicknamed her 'Georgie Girl' a bunch of years back, but he nicknames everyone and hung that one on her because of her see-no-evil approach to the Yanx - although that's pretty much required by everyone who does their games. There was also a time when Imus's gang was getting a kick out of some interview she did w/Steinbrenner while still with FAN which they thought was so soft that it was akin to post-sex pillow talk but no one took that seriously. I actually thought she was OK when she first started on FAN (and the fact that she was the first broadcaster on the "Mets station" was nothing more than it being her shift to do updates). Maybe I was giving her too much credit for being a chick in the sports business (though she did take a lot of shit for it) but she always seemed to know her stuff (both baseball & hoops) and I never minded hearing her. Her problem, as things went on though, was that she got too emotionally involved in the teams she was covering. First the Knicks when she was the FAN beat reporter for them during their almost hey-day of the early '90s*, and then later on with the Yanx. She even admitted to crying when the Knicks got knocked out of the playoff one year and we all heard the Clemens on-air orgasm thing. Her contributions now are really pretty minimal since Sterling handles every second of the play by play and hasn't missed a game since they hired him some 20 years ago. So her job mainly consists now of reading the umpteen promos and tie-ins that invade virtually every aspect of Yanqui-casts these days as they've 'billboard-ed' themselves to death. * How telling is it - not only in the fortunes of the Knicks & Yanx since the early '90s but also in baseketball and baseball in this town - that they didn't even send her to cover the Yanx until the Knicks season was over in those days - which was sometimes as late as June. FAN would just use fill-ins or sometimes no beat reporter at all for the first 1/3 of the MFY season. G-Fafif Jul 09 2009 09:20 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 09 2009 09:41 PM ="Gwreck"]="G-Fafif"]Also did an inning with GC in 2005 when, for fun, Mets and MFY casters joined each other during a Subway Series game. It was Gary and Suzyn, Howie and Sterling. I remember that but thought it was '06, and in the David Wright-Mariano Rivera game to boot. Is my memory failing me It was '05; in '06 Howie and Gary were not sharing the 'FAN booth. It was the Mr. Koo game (a Fox presentation, which meant I had the TV sound off). ETA: One supposes they could have repeated the gimmick in '06, but it would have been with Tom McCarthy, who presumably is still calling a play that was completed three years ago. G-Fafif Jul 09 2009 09:21 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]="G-Fafif"]="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]I am becoming a softie in my old age but I don't hate Waldman anymore either. I mean, I probably would if she was a Met announcer. Ah, but she was a Mets announcer, for one series in Houston when Murph had begun to not make some road trips and the Mets decided to try and make some history by having a woman in the booth. I'm fairly certain it was 1993, maybe even the series when Darryl Kile threw his no-hitter. The concept outpaced the delivery. ETA: It was June 1993, three months before the series with the no-hitter. She did color, no PBP, alongside Gary Cohen. Also did an inning with GC in 2005 when, for fun, Mets and MFY casters joined each other during a Subway Series game. It was Gary and Suzyn, Howie and Sterling. I remember the radio switcheroo, but never knew she filled in in 93. I was more or less out of the loop that year. If you missed 1993 the first time around, congratulations on getting a taste of its competitive contours since June 1. Gwreck Jul 09 2009 09:43 PM ="G-Fafif":osrg6an9]It was '05; in '06 Howie and Gary were not sharing the 'FAN booth. It was the Mr. Koo game (a Fox presentation, which meant I had the TV sound off).[/quote:osrg6an9] Thanks. Guess I had my memorable defeats of the MFYs confused.

That was fucking awful. Great to meet Triple D. Sorry I won't be around to see everyone else on Sunday afternoon but was nice to meet our Australian correspondent. True story: Walk down to the Caesar's Club level where the usher demands my ticket. He tells me my section is upstairs and I say "yeah, I know. I came down to say hi to a friend in section 330." Has no response and lets my by. Worth remembering this for the future.

Cueto was the starting pitcher in that 22-1 debacle the Reds had earlier this week in Philly. He didn't get out of the first inning.

Section 514, Row 14.

I think this is moot: if Sandoval wins, Victorino probably still makes the team as the obvious replacement for Beltran.

Reed leads on my ballot.

Hope they don't know about the burgers*; as those'll do a fine job of curing the hangovers. * Well, except Broxton. No doubt he knows.

Dessens 1 Evans .5 Green .5

Reed 2 Parnell 1.5 Wright 1.5 Perez 1.5 Castillo 1.25 Murphy 1 Schneider .5 Rodrigez .25 Feliciano .25 Green .25

Walk to Blake is just moronic. Is he gonna hit it out too? Try a strike Francisco.

No walks. Manny either makes an out, or hits it a million miles. Gotta throw him a strike.

="Edgy DC":178yz4co]I espect (my typing sounds like Ricky Ricardo today) to be scratching each of these off the list tonight.[/quote:178yz4co] Howie mentioned "scratch that one off the list" tonight when Murphy got his double. Edgy DC Jul 08 2009 07:18 PM Re: Drought ="dgwphotography":2khyt1i6]="Edgy DC":2khyt1i6] Games without a run: two (22 innings) Games without an extra-base hit: three (22 innings) [/quote:2khyt1i6] Something doesn't add up here...[/quote:2khyt1i6] Sorry. That second one should be 29 innings. Edgy DC Jul 08 2009 07:19 PM Re: Drought ="Gwreck":a3l84d4v]="Edgy DC":a3l84d4v]I espect (my typing sounds like Ricky Ricardo today) to be scratching each of these off the list tonight.[/quote:a3l84d4v] Howie mentioned "scratch that one off the list" tonight when Murphy got his double.[/quote:a3l84d4v] Hi, Howie! seawolf17 Jul 08 2009 07:23 PM I thought it was Gary who lurked. Guess it's both of them. Edgy DC Jul 08 2009 07:27 PM Getting there. Games without a win: four (36 41 innings) . Games without a run: two (22 innings). (Ended at 23 in the second inning.) Games without an extra-base hit: three (29 innings). (Ended at 29 in the first inning) Games without a homerun: four (40 45 innings). Games without a triple: seven (66 71 innings). Games without a stolen base: four (36 41 innings). And just so it's clear, we're currently on three innings without a hit. (Ended in the first after three innings.) Frayed Knot Jul 08 2009 08:19 PM Let it rain!! Edgy DC Jul 08 2009 08:29 PM Let it rain outs by Rodriguez. Edgy DC Jul 08 2009 09:11 PM Drink from the well of Met winliness. Games without a win: four (ended at four games and 45 innings.) Games without a run: two (22 innings). (Ended at two games and 23 innings.) Games without an extra-base hit: three (29 innings). (Ended at three games and 29 innings.) Games without a homerun: five (49 innings). Games without a triple: seven (75 innings). Games without a stolen base: four (45 innings). And just so it's clear, we're currently on three innings without a hit. (Ended at four innings.)Ah, slake yourself. Triple Dee Jul 09 2009 12:56 PM While I'm in town they're gonna go 8-0 Edgy DC Jul 10 2009 08:05 PM No walkies tonight, no extra-base hits, and no steals. Argenis Reyes' bunt hit was the best sign of offensive life of the night. dont' have the engergy to revisit the tallies. G-Fafif Jul 10 2009 08:21 PM Midway through, Gary noted it was the first time in 30 years that the Mets had gone without either a homer or a steal for six straight games. Farmer Ted Jul 17 2009 04:49 PM Came across an article on espn.com from July 2. Says that, at the time, 36 fly balls that stayed in the park at Citi would have been home runs at Shea. Two homers at Citi, both by Utley, would have been held in at Shea. Only 15 of the 38 were hit by Mets. Let's go to a Citi re-design and bring back the Polo Grounds dimensions. That would be tons 'o fun. Left Field - 279 ft Left-Center - 450 ft Center Field - 483 ft Right-Center - 449 ft Right Field - 258 ft http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?id=4284640 Edgy DC Jul 17 2009 06:10 PM I'm perfectly fine with a stingey park, though I admit I'm tempted by a Polo Grounds-like horseshoe void in center. MFS62 Jul 17 2009 06:18 PM When batters are looking at those Polo Grounds type dimensions down the line, it must be tough for them to listen to a coach who is telling them to "just hit the ball up the middle". There were some fun games played there. Later

I don't expect the defense or the range of Carlos Beltran or Jose Reyes when we have replacements in the field. Nor do I expect the offensive output. But it is not unreasonable to expect those players to be fundamentally sound. You cannot be a professional baseball player (major or minor league) and not be able to catch popups, position yourself correctly, hit the cutoff man, and generally make consistent throws. Even worse is that some of our everyday players -- those who would be in the lineup regardless of the injury status of others -- are also making these mistakes. I don't like losing, but I understand why it happens when you lose your best players. I cannot accept losing sloppily, and the Mets shouldn't either.

Fman99 wrote: First ever Mets no hitter. You read it here first, kids. Sure, why not. Still not a guarantee that the Mets will score any runs though.

Halladay has a no-trade clause and it would take Santana money to get him. Plus a comparable, if not greater, package of prospects.