MFS62

Lemur silly? Later

What NFL game was playing at 11:30 AM? Must have been a rerun. Its easy to bet on games when you already know the score. The tough part is finding a bookie who will accept that bet. Later

Angel Hernandez gets to blow the foam off David Wright's suds. Later

Maine 2 Delgado 1.5 Reyes 1.5 Lo Duca 1 RHernandez 1 Beltran 1 Wright 1 Chavez .5 Green .5 Later

Beltran 3 Loduca 2 Bannister 2 Heilman 1 Bradford .5 Feliciano .25 Later

I liked this line: ] the Yankees, with a lineup only a Black American Express Card could love Later

Melting pot of on-field success The Amazins are New York's one, big happy family By Troy E. Renck Denver Post Staff Writer Powered by the likes of Carlos Beltran (15) and Jose Reyes (7), the high-flying Mets bring the National League's best record (80-49) to Denver tonight. "They don't really have any weaknesses," Rockies reliever Jose Mesa says. (AP / Kathy Willens) ********************************************************** New York - At 11:30 a.m. at Shea Stadium recently, approximately an hour before first pitch, nearly half of the New York Mets were hanging around their lockers. Jose Reyes was sorting through mail with a smile. Catcher Paul Lo Duca and a few relievers watched an NFL game on a big-screen TV. Starter Orlando Hernandez swung a bat, practicing his golf swing. Pedro Martinez hobbled through with his boot and cracked a few jokes. Clubhouse commotion is common in the big leagues. What separates the Mets is their clubhouse communication. The barbs fly from each side of the room. No one is spared from Latinos to Anglos to blacks. This didn't happen by accident. Beginning in spring training, the Mets have organized team dinners away from the field to build chemistry and create a bond necessary to thrive in a carnivorous media market. "I give that a lot of credit for bringing everybody together," said shortstop Jose Reyes, arguably the game's most exciting player. "It's helped us get to know each other, so that when we are on the field we don't worry about anything but winning." Well, the team that eats together now feasts together. The Mets have devoured opponents, standing alone as the one National League team capable of making American League bullies perspire as the season creeps toward October. The Mets begin a three-game series tonight at Coors Field, swaggering into town with their playoff berth rubber-stamped. They mauled the Rockies nine days ago, effortless calisthenics before sweeping the Cardinals - a thrashing that has left Mets fans talking World Series or bust. There is so much to like about this team - an NL-best bullpen ERA (3.09), a resilient rotation - but the separating factor is the lineup. When left fielder Cliff Floyd returns, the Mets, winners of nine of their past 10 games, will have seven former all-stars in the top eight spots. "We can beat you in a lot of different ways," general manager Omar Minaya said. With the acquisition of outfielder Shawn Green, the Mets have an offensive attack that ranks with the ghosts of recent Yankees past. No National League team has scored more runs this season. And this group crushes when it matters most, delivering 43 home runs with runners in scoring position. "The Mets are the most unbelievable team: Boom-bah, wow, what a job they are doing," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen gushed. Picking up where Guillen left off, Rockies reliever Jose Mesa added, "Oh, man, they don't really have any weaknesses." That the Mets remain confident despite unsettling questions about top starters Martinez (calf) and Tom Glavine (finger numbness) is a tribute to their first five hitters. Reyes, Lo Duca, center fielder Carlos Beltran, first baseman Carlos Delgado and third baseman David Wright have blasted 112 home runs, with 400 RBIs. The Cardinals blush at those numbers, the Tigers aren't close and even the Yankees, with a lineup only a Black American Express Card could love, can't compare. "Getting Carlos (Delgado) was the key. It gave our lineup more balance," said Wright, who at 23 appears on Vitamin Water bus ads and jogs to batting practice with "Wright for President" signs above the dugout. "I am sure his average isn't where he wants it to be, but he's such a presence." Delgado, more than anything, allowed Beltran to regain his comfort level. His leg strength back after a rigorous offseason program, Beltran is in position to become the first Mets player to win league MVP honors. "You don't usually see a guy with his power who can run like that," said Reyes, whose 54 stolen bases are tops in baseball. "And if I get on, Lo Duca can move me over and you know one of those guys (in the middle of the order) will knock me in." Manager Willie Randolph, not known for hyperbole, admitted his team's lineup can be "devastating" when it gets pitches to hit. The sheer force of the bats masks concern about twin aces Martinez and Glavine. Martinez just began a rehab assignment in Florida, and Glavine is expected to return to the rotation this week after a blood-clot scare. "I can't be bragging when I am not playing," Martinez said. "Ask one of the guys in the lineup." Lo Duca and Reyes laughed. Martinez then disappeared, searching out a meal. Dinner would be served a few hours later, the Mets bearing knives, forks and bats. "It's like Pedro says, 'If you want to be on this team, you better bring your "A" game,"' reliever Roberto Hernandez said, "because everyone here is focused on winning a championship." Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com. ************************************************************************* Later

Willets Point wrote: Actually I bumped this (while in my Squid outfit) because it seemed like a good thread for a post I want to make. So..... make it. EDIT: do you change outfits in the Squid Cave? Later

Best wishes for a full and speedy diagnosis and treatment program for Papi. And kudos to Edgy for the clever thread title. Later

Edgy, don't dispair. I think most of those runs (5 or 6) were in one bad outing. Keep the faith. Later

I thought about it some more. If the Beatles (Yesterday), Electric Light Orchestra and the Eurythmics used celli in rock/pop music, count me in. Now I've just got to figure out where my cello went. My parents got rid of it over 40 years ago. Later

Fukk, I hat that guy. Later

Roberto just earned himself a cool one, and methinks Maine is buying. John left with two on, one out, and Hernandez got out of the inning without a run scoring. Later

Instrument - yes. Band instrument, no. Used to play the cello. Its a bitch to play if you're marching. Later

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Has anyone ever seen a stat that tells the average number of pitches that a batter sees during a plate appearance? I don't necessarily mean for a given pitcher, but for baseball as a whole? They've been printing/ reporting that stat for Abreau, so somebody's counting it. But I don't know where its recorded/ available. Later

Maine threw 60 pitches through the first 3 innings, and now has 86 for the game through 5. Anybody warming up? Later

Hillbilly wrote: Maine still looking for his first ML hit. Will be in 2006? You would think that Maine would have a decent shot for it against Moyer. He throws at "pitchers' bat speed". And they didn't pinch hit for Jamie. Are they trying to save their bullpen? Later

With all the abuse Howard has handed out, Pat the Bat is another reason the Mets don't want to see the Phillies in the playoffs. Later

Yahoo still has a 1-0 count. Later

And Delgado dies at third on an inning ending K by Woodward. Incidentally, Yahoo notes that the wind is blowing in from left at 13 mph. EDIT: Single by Victorino. That guy is starting to piss me off. Later

Moyer's changeup and command (he uses all edges of the strike zone) can be tough the first time you face him. I hope David can have a good game to bail out some of the lefty hitters in the lineup. Later

Yancy Street Gang wrote: DiFelice misses his chance to start and we get an extra game out of Sleazy Redass. We know how much Omar likes to build up the bullpen, but are you telling us he just signed John Rocker? Later

So do I.Does anyone remember who started the SC ratings here and why they were said to be necessary?BTW- that post was my meager atempt at humor. No sarcasm intended.Later

Memo to MFS62: Keep reminding yourself that Yancy doesn't include SC ratings in his posts.LOL!Later

I really hope both the Cards and the Reds finish with better records than the Phillies. With the addition of Moyer (who is very tough the first few times you hit against him) the Phillies have enough lefty pitching to give the Met lineup fits. Later