Centerfield

I don't know about "big blow", but the one play that made me shift from pessimistic to optimistic was the walk to Old Man Franco.

Do her in the parking lot before the game to break the ice.

Dice-K: Hello Mr. Suzuki. Having only recently immigrated from Japan, I remain respectful removing both my hat and my glove before shaking hands with you. Ichiro: What's up Dice-K. I've been in the US for 7 years now. Not only am I going to keep my hat and glove on, I wear my shades on top of my brim. This practice may seem inane to you, but it makes me feel good about my bad-ass self.

Isn't it pretty obvious why Willie left Burgos in the game? He had gotten himself into a jam and had just about worked out of it. By leaving Burgos in to face the reigning NL MVP, Willie probably thought it would give Burgos a huge lift in terms of confidence, get the Shea faithful on his side, and go a long way to leaving his troubles in KC behind. After all, Burgos' splitter looked sharp and Howard had been struggling, so Willie decided to give it a roll of the dice. But since it didn't work, Willie can't give the real reason...because then the follow-up questions, and the logical conclusion, would be that since he didn't get him out, his confidence should be shattered, the fans should be on his back, and his struggles in KC have followed him here. So Willie has to make up excuses, and is stuck with lame ones. I don't agree with the move, not because I think Willie is a moron (though I may have said so during the IGT) but because I don't think that is the right time to be taking those chances. With Ryan Howard batting, a lefty warm in the pen, and a 1-run game with 2 runners on, you go with the percentages. And you leave the confidence builders for other, less dire, situations. (One could even make a case if Howard were the tying run at the plate, but with runners on 2nd and 3rd, even a single gives up the lead.) As to Willie's in-game moves, there have been plenty of times I've had to scratch my head. (For example, his use of Endy as the trail runner is mind-boggling. If you sub him for the trail runner, that means you are playing for the win...so why bunt? If the idea is to get the runner to third, wouldn't you want your fast guy to be in that position?) But for every manager the Mets have ever had, even Bobby from time to time, I've questioned moves and disagreed and called them idiots. It's just the nature of the game.

What? You don't speak jibberish? It's clear that Carlos is saying that the Phils are a young team that today losses integrity game-playing little things decide build upon.

Carlos Beltran on the Phillies after the Mets beat Philadelphia in their home opener: "They have a good team. Young guys, they play hard. Days like today, it's one of those days where being them, winning that ballgame and losing that ballgame, it really turns everything down for them to me."

The problem with thinking along the lines of "let's see what this kid's got" is that success in April doesn't necessarily translate into success later on. How many times do you let him face Howard (or another LH slugger) before you have a "feel" for him? I like trying stuff to see if they can do it (can Jeromy Burnitz lay down a bunt etc.), but as far as pitching matchups, I say you play the better odds...April or October.

Delgado 3 Beltran 2 Alou 2 Wright 1 Smith 1 Reyes .5 Maine .5

Home crowd must have loved it. I can't wait to see the game on replay tonight.

Yawn. Never a doubt.

Willie = Genius

Gamecast is making me think John Franco is on third.

Why is Endy pinch running for the go-ahead run instead of the tying run? Especially if you're going to bunt? WTF is Willie thinking? Willie is a dumb stupid hippo.

So by Willie's book, Manuel should bring in a righty to face Delgado right?

Philly bullpen. Ok, let's go to work.

Willie is going to get killed for this one. No way you leave a righty in to face Howard. Bad bad move.

Why is Feliciano not in to face Howard?

I have no idea what the fuck is going on when Tom McCarthy calls the game.

Gamecast says ball 2 to Utley was in the strike zone.

The Mets suck. They need to trade Heilman and get somebody like McCann.

Years back I had read that if a pitcher was ambidextrous, he could switch arms, but then he could not switch back later. The reasoning being that the right-handed version of the pitcher had been removed for the left-handed version, and therefore, the right-handed version of the pitcher had been removed from the game. I guess that's wrong. On Edit: Oh, and that guy kinda throws like a girl from the left side.

It's been mentioned by someone before that Tony sounds like Eddie Murphy's "white person" voice.

Brutal schedule to start the season...Cards, Braves, and then the self-annointed team to beat in the NL East.

soupcan wrote: Calling Centerfield...Yeah right. After you guys stiffed me on my last bill.