Gwreck

Great game. Bad crowd. The pitch speed board didn't seem to be working but I wonder exactly how slow that El Duque pitch to Helton (hit for a comebacker to end an inning) was. Couldn't have been more than 55. Misc. Willets, the U2 isn't for El Duque, it's the song they use when everybody takes the field (last year it was Start Me Up, by the Stones.

Kinda tough to pin that one all on David, no? I think Billy Wagner (who seems to have skated through without taking any blame) and Steve Trachsel have gotta take some credit too.

I agree, but keep in mind that your alternatives are Jorge Sosa, Chan Ho Park, and Jason Vargas. Some ML-seasoning might be worthwhile, especially if Maine and Perez continue to pitch well.

We had a quasi 6-man rotation in late 2005 when Trachsel came back from back surgery. But didn't we have a real 6-man rotation in '99 after Rogers joined the team?

I think that Minaya will still go hard after anything he can get on the trade market. I see a lot of tradeable commodities around at AAA and in New York, plus I think he's likely to remember the problems of last year's postseason with respect to starters. Granted, I am on the record with believing that Pedro doesn't make a single start for the Mets this year.

I'm not so sure we can call the rotation "weak" anymore. Sunday notwithstanding, it would seem that the Mets will likely continue to win a great majority of the games pitched by Glavine, Hernandez and Maine. If Perez can continue to pitch 80% as good as he did in the two good starts he had, we'll make the playoffs. I worry about Pelfrey and who might replace Hernandez if he gets injured. D. Wright worries me very little actually, given the lineup he plays in. I would think the Mets will likely continue to win at least at the pace they are now, until the May 18-24 stretch of the schedule (vs. MFYs, at ATL).

Great KTE OO.

Maine 4.5 Valentin 4 Alou 1.5

This needed some updating. I guess I never quite realized how they turned over basically the entire team from 66 to 67. 1. Richie Ashburn (April 11, 1962) 2. Felix Mantilla 3. Charlie Neal 4. Frank Thomas 5. Gus Bell 6. Gil Hodges 7. Don Zimmer 8. Hobie Landrith 9. Roger Craig 10. Ed Bouchee 11. Bob Moorhead 12. Herb Moford 13. Clem Labine 14. Jim Marshall 15. Joe Ginsberg (April 13, 1962) 16. Sherman Jones 17. Elio Chacon 18. John DeMerit 19. Ray Daviault 20. Bobby Smith 21. Chris Cannizzaro (April 14, 1962) 22. Al Jackson 23. Jim Hickman 24. Craig Anderson 25. Rod Kanehl (April 15, 1962) 26. Ken MacKenzie 27. Jay Hook (April 17, 1962) 28. Bob L. Miller (April 21, 1962) 29. Harry Chiti (April 28, 1962) 30. Dave Hillman 31. Sammy Taylor 32. Cliff Cook (May 8, 1962) 33. Marv Throneberry (May 11, 1962) 34. Vinegar Bend Mizell (May 15, 1962) 35. Joe Christopher (May 21, 1962) 36. Willard Hunter (June 1, 1962) 37. Gene Woodling (June 17, 1962) 38. Joe Pignatano (July 14, 1962) 39. Choo Choo Coleman (July 16, 1962) 40. Bob G. Miller (July 24, 1962) 41. Rich Herrscher (August 1, 1962) 42. Sammy Drake 43. Galen Cisco (September 9, 1962) 44. Larry Foss (September 10, 1962) 45. Ed Kranepool (September 22, 1962) --- 46. Larry Burright (April 9, 1963) 47. Duke Snider 48. Tim Harkness 49. Al Moran 50. Don Rowe 51. Tracy Stallard (April 10, 1963) 52. Norm Sherry (April 11, 1963) 53. Carl Willey 54. Ted Schreiber (April 14, 1963) 55. Ron Hunt (April 16, 1963) 56. Larry Bearnarth 57. Chico Fernandez (May 11, 1963) 58. Jim Piersall (May 24, 1963) 59. Jesse Gonder (July 6, 1963) 60. Joe Hicks (July 12, 1963) 61. Grover Powell (July 13, 1963) 62. Dick Smith (July 20, 1963) 63. Duke Carmel (July 30, 1963) 64. Ed Bauta (August 11, 1963) 65. Pumpsie Green (September 4, 1963) 66. Steve Dillon (September 5, 1963) 67. Cleon Jones (September 14, 1963) --- 68. Amado Samuel (April 14, 1964) 69. Hawk Taylor 70. John Stephenson 71. Larry Elliot (April 15, 1964) 72. Jack Fisher (April 17, 1964) 73. George Altman 74. Jerry Hinsley (April 18, 1964) 75. Bill Wakefield 76. Ron Locke (April 23, 1964) 77. Charley Smith (April 24, 1964) 78. Roy McMillan (May 9, 1964) 79. Tom Sturdivant (May 10, 1964) 80. Frank Lary (May 31, 1964) 81. Darrell Sutherland (June 28, 1964) 82. Bobby Klaus (July 30, 1964) 83. Wayne Graham (August 7, 1964) 84. Dennis Ribant (August 9, 1964) 85. Gary Kroll (August 22, 1964) 86. Tom Parsons (September 15, 1964) --- 87. Billy Cowan (April 12, 1965) 88. Johnny Lewis 89. Ron Swoboda 90. Jim Bethke 91. Warren Spahn (April 14, 1965) 92. Danny Napoleon 93. Tug McGraw (April 18, 1965) 94. Yogi Berra (May 1, 1965) 95. Chuck Hiller (May 18, 1965) 96. Larry Miller (June 3, 1965) 97. Gordie Richardson (July 9, 1965) 98. Dennis Musgraves 99. Gary Kolb (July 21, 1965) 100. Jimmie Schaffer (July 28, 1965) 101. Dave Eilers (August 22, 1965) 102. Rob Gardner (September 1, 1965) 103. Kevin Collins 104. Bud Harrelson (September 2, 1965) 105. Dick Selma 106. Greg Goossen (September 3, 1965) --- 107. Ken Boyer (April 15, 1966) 108. Dick Stuart 109. Jerry Grote 110. Eddie Bressoud 111. Billy Murphy 112. Jack Hamilton (April 16, 1966) 113. Al Luplow 114. Lou Klimchock (April 17, 1966) 115. Bill Hepler (April 23, 1966) 116. Gerry Arrigo (May 22, 1966) 117. Dick Rusteck (June 10, 1966) 118. Bob Shaw (June 13, 1966) 119. Dallas Green (July 23, 1966) 120. Bob Friend (JUne 18, 1966) 121. Ralph Terry (August 11, 1966) 122. Shaun Fitzmaurice (September 9, 1966) 123. Nolan Ryan (September 11, 1966) --- 124. Don Cardwell (April 11, 1967) 125. Don Bosch 126. Tommy Davis 127. Jerry Buchek 128. Tommie Reynolds 129. Don Shaw 130. Tom Seaver (April 13, 1967) 131. Chuck Estrada 132. Larry Stahl 133. Sandy Alomar 134. Ron Taylor 135. Jerry Koosman (April 14, 1967) 136. Bart Shirley 137. John Sullivan (April 15, 1967) 138. Bill Denehy (April 16, 1967) 139. Jack Lamabe (April 28, 1967) 140. Ed Charles (May 12, 1967) 141. Bob Johnson 142. Nick Willhite (June 11, 1967) 143. Bob Hendley (June 17, 1967) 144. Dennis Bennett (JUne 27, 1967) 145. Hal Reniff (July 1, 1967) 146. Phil Linz (July 13, 1967) 147. Danny Frisella (July 27, 1967) 148. Cal Koonce (August 6, 1967 - Gm 1) 149. Billy Wynne (August 6, 1967 - Gm 2) 150. Joe Grzenda (August 15, 1967) 151. Bill Connors (August 22, 1967) 152. Joe Moock (September 1, 1967) 153. Bill Graham (September 3, 1967) 154. Amos Otis (September 6, 1967) 155. Al Schmelz (September 7, 1967) 156. Bob Heise (September 12, 1967) 157. Ken Boswell (September 18, 1967) 158. Les Rohr (September 19, 1967)

This week's Mets Weekly (focusing on New Orleans and the Zephyrs) was very well done. Interview with Barry Lyons as well, who lost his Biloxi, MS house in Hurricane Katrina.

The deep drive to the warning track in right field was an encouraging sign for our third baseman. Regardless, I think we see Mr. Newhan starting at third either tomorrow or (more likely) Wednesday afternoon.

One would think that good lineups can usually sustain one no-hit glove man (see Santana, Rafael), especially a nine-deep AL lineup.

Thanks Martin! Will add it to the list. Willets, sorry, it seems like I Just Want to Celebrate was an Opening-Day-only song. Saturday was the only other win I've attended, but I understand TCB was used at the other wins too.

#4 actually. #2 was Friday, April 13: Mets 3, Nationals 2 Florida 11, Atlanta 4 Oakland 5, MFYs 4 #3 was Saturday, April 22: Mets 7, Braves 2. Boston 7, MFYs 5. Edit: Typo.

If you're familiar with the area, by all means, go with that. Some of the better stops along the 7 train for parking are in Long Island City, or closer to the stadium (90th, 103rd streets). The Junction Boulevard stop area is also a viable option, and will be easier to find given its proximity to a more major road. All are fine for weekend games.

Hail! (but I thought you had more than 41 posts already).

Hahn, where are you coming from? I agree with Yancy's strategy but where you are driving from could indeed give you better alternatives. There is no Fanfest this year. The area behind the bullpens is extremely tight, and between a fire lane and the players parking lot that whole area is basically gone. With respect to parking at Shea -- between the lost spaces and the high attendance (sellouts both Saturday and Sunday) -- it's pretty bleak, especially on the weekend. Unless you are able to get there, say, at least 90 minutes before the game don't bother trying for the lots close to Shea. --- Weather today is just beautiful. Serious consideration to going tonight.

Reyes 3 Green 3 Glavine 2 LoDuca 1 Sele 1

Perez 3 Beltran 3 Reyes 2 Castro 1 Easley 1

Chris Rock. "Hey everybody, it's time to get out of your seats and yell 'Let's Go Mets! Let's Go Mets!'" Video of the above played on the Diamondvision twice today.

Updated with a new LoDuca song and some confirmations of people keeping the same songs from last year. Entrance Music 2007 Starters Tom Glavine - Sweet Child O'Mine, Guns N Roses (Pitching) Tom Glavine - What You Gonna Do, Lil' Jon (Batting) Relievers Aaron Heilman - London Calling, The Clash Scott Schoenweis - I'm told it was something by Incubus but I can't figure out which song. Billy Wagner - Enter Sandman, Metallica C Paul LoDuca - Stayin' Alive, Bee Gees; No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn, Beastie Boys; Rockit, Herbie Hancock IF Jose Reyes - Walk It Out, DJ Unk; This Is Why I'm Hot, Mims; two reggaeton beats, including one created by Reyes himself. David Wright - Me and You, Cassie; The Second Coming, Julez Santana; Fame, David Bowie; I'm Not a Player - Big Pun OF Moises Alou - Requests that no music be played. Carlos Beltran - El Esta Aqui, David y Abraham Shawn Green - Song 2, Blur; Be Yourself, Audioslave Bench Ramon Castro - Imperial March, John Williams and the London Philharmonic Orchestra (fr. the Star Wars Soundtrack) Julio Franco - People Get Ready, Crystal Lewis David Newhan - We Fly High, Jim Jones

Sucked. Braves fans are almost as annoying as Yankees fans, especially when they win in your house. Dammit. Franco batting instead of Newhan or Endy, with a righty pitcher up. If we were playing for the sac fly, would've used Easley or Castro first. Strange. Leaving Feliciano in to intentionally walk the bases loaded instead of pulling him and going after Francoeur. Strange. Also, where was Smith? Second time in two games that Schoenweis has come on and walked the first batter he faced. Figured he would've gotten pulled after the walk, like he was on Saturday. Strange.

I forgot to post about this in Friday's IGT. It was completely random, the umpire came running over and pointing at a guy sitting in the really expensive seats (not the blue seats, but just behind them) behind home plate. I wondered at the time if it had perhaps been a laser pointer he'd been using. One wonders how effective exactly something like that would've been.

Not much to add, given that my seats were of the type that I couldn't tell that they were actually wearing the pinstripes today (first time this year). Of course, it was with the black hats. WTF? Lots of Braves fans there today. Annoying Braves fans. Also way too much Yankee gear. I do like that fans at Shea seem to be getting much more intolerant (and not just "Yankees suck" chants either) of the morons wearing their Yankee stuff to random Mets games. Endy Chavez got a loud ovation for coming in as a defensive replacement. Even going back to opening day, he's been getting ovations Beltran and Reyes have a new home run dance. Revese low-five, triple-tap high five and then a salute. Not bad but the Delgado dance is still the best. Carlos Delgado was seriously cracking up at Jose Reyes' Spanish lessons bit that plays on the Diamondvision between innings. Some sponsor is showing a poll each game about players that they are encouraging fans to text-message their answers to. Problem is, it's really, really stupid questions. Example: What is Moises Alou's favorite ice cream flavor? A. Chocolate B. Vanilla C. Strawberry. Today's question? "What is Billy Wagner's favorite animal?" Alpaca was not a choice. (Turns out he favors Cows). Sellout crowd this afternoon. Nice.

iramets wrote: ="Gwreck"]iramets wrote: but when a steaming turd is staring you in the face on your dinner plate, it's fine when it's Willie's steaming turd.As long as the Mets are winning, Willie can tell boldfaced lies to the press every day and I'll be just fine with that. Thank you for your honesty. Not many here are willing to agree that they care only about the bottom line, and Willie can be a retarded chimpanzee, for all they care, as long as the team wins. Big difference between what I wrote and what you did. A retarded chimpanzee is not OK. I'm on the record with typically criticizing Randolph one to three times per game, usually on strategic decisions or bench/bullpen management. As I said earlier though, what he says to the press is basically completely irrelevant to my evaluation of him, given the results he's produced. I'll give a re-eval to the sitatuation if and when the Mets endure losing under Randolph.