Centerfield

It's amazing isn't it? You can post those stats but almost no one has any memory of those games every happening. All I'm hearing today is how Armando can't handle pitching against the Mets.

I really don't know why it seems like Benitez sucks so bad. Looking at his stats, he is 9 of 11 in save opportunities...his only blown saves coming against the Mets. And for those who say he can't handle pitching against his old team, prior to these last two games, he was 14 of 15 in saves with a 1.42 ERA.

Delgado 3 Perez 3 Beltran 1 Reyes 1 Feliciano .5 Heilman .5 Reyes .5 Wagner .5

My first instinct was that Delgado should have thrown home. In a situation where you have the infield in, you're not looking to get the sure out...you're looking to cut off that run. Had he gone immediately home that might have been the difference. Reading Sal's explanation makes a lot of sense though. I'm brain cramping right now over who the batter was, but Delgado has to take that into account before the ball is hit. On Edit: The replay of Vizquel coming down the line was weird. He broke on contact, slowed up, then started took off again. I'm wondering if his slowing up was when he saw Delgado go to the bag. I wonder if he had made an immediate move home, whether Vizquel would have gone at all.

Quadruple Triple Happiness!

As it is it's the first Double Triple Happiness I can remember. Boston wins on each of the last night make it sweeter.

"We're happy because the progress the Braves made in that series disappeared tonight."

Shawn Green has a break in a small bone in his foot. Day-to-day...DL a possibility per the SNY report. Good news is that Valentin may be back in a week or so according to Gary and Keith.

In that pic, Treanor looks like he's not sure whether he's good enough to be dating the hot volleyballer with the porn star name.

Cool KTE. Now I know my fish.

Glavine 3 Heilman 1 Schoeneweis 1

soupcan wrote: If Franco gets the hit do you still diasgree with the bunt? Yes. A manager cannot get results, all he can do is try to maximize the chances of success. Bunting (and giving away an out when you have only 3 left) for a guy hitting under .200 hardly qualifies as that in my book. It's the same way I agreed with letting Floyd hit away in Game 7 last year.

Why does it have to be Weaver or nothing? I'm not saying he has to get hysterical. There are lots of steps between Randolph and Weaver and I'm saying I wish Willie would find a spot somewhere in between. On some of these calls, Willie does nothing. On the pickoff play last night, he didn't even get out of the dugout...and that could have turned into a huge run. I'm not kidding when I say this, just standing out there with his arms crossed would probably do the trick. Make it uncomfortable. Make them send you back to the dugout. He never has to lose his cool...all he has to do is look visibly irritated. Umpires know that the longer a manager argues, the more times the play is being shown on replay. And I believe some umps know that they might have missed one...and the last thing you want to do is let it get swept under the rug.

What value system could that be? To not question authority? He's a manager...it comes with the territory. He's the one guy that can get rung without changing what takes place on the field. It's part of job description. If you're saying that Willie tends to be more a gentleman and stay even keel, that's fine. He doesn't need to throw any bases or stomp out lines. Just go out there. Question the call. Look upon the ump disapprovingly. Ask your player whether they're sure. Even just standing there with your arms folded shaking your head sends a message. Don't just sit in there in the dugout.

I realize that's not Willie's style...I'm saying that I wish it was. Umpires are human beings...I think they know somewhere in the back of their heads that if you call a close one against Atlanta, you're getting an earful. And maybe it only makes a difference once in a great while, but if there's no penalty for it like there is in basketball, there's no harm in doing it. (I don't see getting tossed as a penalty, it has no effect on the score/count and you can manage from the dugout) Besides, if that's not Willie's style, why argue at all? In the Washington game, I believe there were three bad calls before Willie got tossed. What's the message there? "We're ok with two bad calls, but man, if you try to push it to three, we're gonna be pissed." And the frustrating thing is, I can see Willie animated in the dugout...griping with Glavine and LoDuca that they should be strikes. Go out and defend your guy then. Give the ump an earful. Get tossed if it means you send a message. Better Willie than LoDuca.

Not that I'm blaming Willie for last night's loss (ok, maybe a little bit) but last night's game kind of sums up most of my problems with Willie. First of all, there have been a bunch of calls that have gone against the Mets in this series, the "catch" at second, the pickoff last night, Wright's checkswing...Willie didn't get tossed in any of them. I realize arguing with the ump isn't going to get a call reversed, but maybe making a big deal out of it leads to makeup calls later on. At the very least, it shows your guys you're into the game and willing to go to the mat for them. When Wright checked his swing, Willie came out to get him, and get him only. At that point he's got to take up his argument...even if he doesn't go as far as getting tossed (and if he does, get your money's worth). If Glavine is getting squeezed, bark at him from the dugout. The umps need to know that if you squeeze the Mets, you're in for a headache. I see Willie get confrontational and snide with reporters after a game but can't get up the courage to go to bat for his players. And the bunt, you have to be absolutely fucking kidding me. Three outs left in the game and you give one away. In Game 7, even though it didn't work out, I gave Willie props for going for it...re-naming him Wild Willie Big Balls...I take that back. He is Wee Willie again. Bunting to set it up for Franco who is hitting a buck thirty. On the road too. Small and stupid. Itty bitty stupid balls.

It seems like with all the other deals referenced there, the other teams got something for their money, even if it was largely ineffective pitching. I've just can't think of a guy who signed a four-year deal and took the field less than Pavano (and wasn't very good when he did).

An afterthought...if you're a Red Sox fan, Carl Pavano is nothing but good news. He was the centerpiece of the deal that landed them Pedro Martinez...and he had the decency never to live up to the promise with the Expos to ensure no one in Boston ever regreted the deal (not that they would have anyway.) He had a good season in Florida, leading the MFY's to dump money on him that would go largely wasted.

Finally official despite everyone knowing for weeks. Story: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2880745 The article says he will likely miss all of next year too, meaning for their $40 million the Yankees got 19 starts...$2 million per start. What a country. Worst return on a free agent signing ever? I'm having a hard time thinking of a worse one.

soupcan wrote: Bad guy all around. ]"Hey, dawg. It's on, dawg. You dead, dawg. I ain't even bulls-------. Your kids too, dawg. It don't even matter to me who is in the car with you. N-----, all I know is, n-----, when I see your m-----f------- a-- riding, dawg, it's on. As a matter of fact, I'm coming to your m-----f------ house." How do they know that he was saying 'dawg' as opposed to 'dog'? Because he's black.

] He referred to a statement provided by Rick Vaughn, team vice president. No wonder this guy is in trouble. Look who his influences are.

Perez 5 LoDuca 1 Wright 1 Delgado 1 Smith 1 Wagner 1

A Met and a... NL East Brave: Tom Glavine Phillie: Len Dykstra Marlin: Cliff Floyd National: Endy Chavez Expo: Gary Carter NL Central Astro: Nolan Ryan Red: Tom Seaver Cub: Shawon Dunston Cardinal: Keith Hernandez Brewer: Jeff D'Amico Pirate: Kris Benson NL West Giant: Armando Benitez Dodger: Orel Hershiser Padre: Mike Piazza Rockie: Mike Hampton Diamondback: Shawn Green AL East Yankee: Darryl Strawberry Red Sock: Tom Seaver Oriole: Eddie Murray Blue Jay: Mookie Wilson Devil Ray: Scott Kazmir AL Central Indian: Keith Hernandez Tiger: Damion Easley Royal: David Cone Twin: Rick Aguilera White Sock: Tom Seaver AL West Mariner: Mike Cameron Angel: Nolan Ryan Ranger: Nolan Ryan A: Mike Piazza

LoDuca 2 Beltran 1

What Johnny said.