metirish

It's amazing how smug Michael Kay is,I wonder if any Angel loving surgeons had to leave work early to make the 5:19 start time for the game yesterday, heck tonight they can work some OT and make the start time.

]I suspect the press corps misses him also.I saw Bob Ryan from the Globe talk about that the other day, he admits to missing him a lot.

Jeff should be fine for the 06 season, sucks that he got injured, he was having a great season..we sponsor him. http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/keppije01.shtml

]At playoff time, Red Sox missing their soul: PedroAt playoff time, Red Sox missing their soul: PedroOct 5, 2005CHICAGO -- He's either tending to the lovely petunias in his garden, or toe-tapping to salsa, or primping his pretty hair, or dancing around in a goofy lime green suit, or maybe all the above. One thing we do know, quirky Pedro Martinez, far away from Chicago at the moment, is wasting away at home.Which is where his former team will be in a few days, if this keeps up. You only had to see where the Mets finished the season, and how Matt Clement started the postseason, to know Pedro and the Red Sox blew it last winter when they decided to part ways. Pedro went to the Mets, who barely escaped last place in the National League East. The desperate Red Sox then signed Clement, who couldn't escape the fourth inning in Game 1 of the Division Series.Isn't it apparent by now that Pedro and the Red Sox, in hindsight, needed each other like a left shoe needs the right? As they began defense of their championship in earnest yesterday, the Red Sox were whipped at their own game. Meaning, the White Sox pulled a Papi and slugged their way to a 14-2 victory for an early edge in a short series. The White Sox bloodied Clement from the get-go, punishing the Red Sox starter with a five-run first inning to suck all the suspense from the game. Then the final insult, and the inevitable yanking from the game, came when Clement gave up a two-run homer to the No. 9 hitter, Juan Uribe.Therefore, the biggest fear of the Red Sox was frighteningly realized on a picnic-perfect afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, dis-affectionately known as the Cell. They came into this season without a certified ace, because Curt Schilling was mending from offseason surgery. And even if Schilling is fit enough to regain the imposing presence he had last October, he'll pitch only once this series.The issue isn't whether Clement is a capable, steady pitcher.He's coming off a respectable 13-6 season, Boston was 22-10 in his starts and at one point he was 9-1. Given all that, he's not Pedro, nor did he have the same impact on his team that Pedro had on his.Pedro brought fans to the ballpark and some long-awaited luster to the Mets in a debut that was borderline smashing. All season, he demonstrated that he was hardly finished as a dominant pitcher, and whenever Pedro was on the mound the Mets knew they stood a great chance of winning. Problem was, they often failed to support him when he did pitch, and couldn't win much when he didn't. In a sense, Pedro was Michael Schumacher behind the wheel of a mid-sized car and, given the rampant mediocrity of the Mets, was appropriately stuck in neutral.He came to a team that wasn't ready to win now, and left a team that might be a pitcher shy of winning it all again.That was his bad, and Boston's. Both allowed their ego to interfere last winter and spoil a seven-year relationship that produced Hall of Fame credentials and 117 wins. The Red Sox thought they could add Clement and David Wells and get by in a year in which they knew Schilling would be iffy. As for Pedro, he was, by most accounts, threatened by Schilling and hurt that he couldn't be the main diva anymore. When the Red Sox hesitated on a guaranteed fourth year of a new deal, which the Mets supplied, that cemented the separation.Well, boo on Pedro for being more about money than winning, even after he already pocketed $90 million on his previous deal. And boo on the Red Sox for not showing more respect to someone who meant so much to the franchise. They both got what they deserved.Curiously, the last time the Red Sox were blown out in a postseason game was also the last time they lost one. After taking a 19-8 punch to the mouth to fall behind 0-3 to the Yankees last October, they staged a historic rally and maintained it through the World Series."That was a long time ago," said manager Terry Francona. "This is a different team." Yes, with one noticeable absence. Subscribe to Newsday home delivery | Article licensing and reprint options

For prosperity here is the answer.. Roric Harrison was the last pitcher to hit a home run in the American League, he was pitching for Baltimore against the Indians, the O's won 4 to 3.

Congratulations to David, fully deserved, congrats to Cliff for a great season, here's to a healthy next season. Great job Yancy, excellent work.

I tuned out from TV coverage when Buck and McCarver started talking about the merits of Chone Figgins choosing Rocky V as his favorite movie ever, it's a fair point just not during a game, I had the feeling then that this game was over.

White Sox up 1 to zip ]Matt Clement pitching for Boston BOS CHW S Podsednik hit by pitch. 0 0 T Iguchi sacrificed to catcher, S Podsednik to second. 0 0 J Dye hit by pitch. 0 0 S Podsednik stole third. 0 0 P Konerko grounded into fielder's choice to third, S Podsednik scored, J Dye out at second. 0 1 C Everett singled to right, P Konerko to second.

I totally misinterpreted this question it looks like, sorry.

I've no problem with Dombrowski hiring who he thinks is the best man for the job, the process stinks though, Juan was part of Trammells staff, he gets an interview, Dumbrowski calls Leyalnd Monday and he's hired Tuesday, you think Samuel was wasting his time? Leyland was the manager when the Marlins won the WS in 97, Dumbrowski ws the GM.

Jesus, so much for my theory...IIRC Pedro Astacio is pitching game two for the Padres, not looking good for them.

This could be a very tricky series for the Cards, their pitching has not been the best lately and Carpenter has not been that great the last few weeks.

Adam Rubin in the Daily News stokes the hot stove...in a big way... in regrads to second base... ]SECOND BASE: Matsui is owed $8 million in the final year of his contract and has a no-trade clause to all but the Angels, Dodgers and Yankees. He indicated he intends to fulfill the deal rather than return to Japan. Still, the Mets figure to try to upgrade, even if it means eating a sizable chunk of Matsui's contract. One intriguing possibility: Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal, a free agent after the postseason, has purportedly let it be known he would be willing to play second base in Flushing. Rookie Anderson Hernandez can field, but odds are he'll be insurance. Furcal at second would be interesting. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/352325p-300441c.html

More reasons to vote Angels...A-Fraud...from Bob Raissman. CALL HIM 'A-READ': Listening to Alex Rodriguez during Saturday's postgame celebration gave every indication that he prepared a script for the occasion. In three interviews - with Fox's Chris Myers, Sterling and Kay - A-Rod used the following line: "This is emotional for me. Over the last year or so, I've grown so much as a person and a player. I thank the city of New York and the pinstripes for that." Now that's sappy. . . . I saw the Myers interview, A-Fraud all but shoved himself in front of the mic after Myers was done with Sheffield, and I swear he used the same line with Kay on the post-game...ass-hole.

On this date in 1972 the last home run by an American League pitcher was hit before the AL adopted the DH rule in 1973. Who hit the homer and what was the score?

Talk was that ownership wants Dusty Baker, although that's old talk, Trammell got fired from the Tigers as well.

I'll go 1 through 10.. # 1 SP - Dontrelle Willis - Marlins # 2 SP - Pedro Martinez - Mets # 3 SP - C. Sabathia - Indians # 4 SP - Livan Hernandez - Nats # 5 SP - Smoltz - Braves # 6 RP - Brad Lidge - Astros # 7 RP - Francisco Rodr�guez - LAA # 8 RP - Scott Shields - LAA # 9 RP - Gange - Dodgers # 10 the closer.....C. Cordero - Nats that's my ten.

]is matsui too terrible to even be a bench player? at least he is fast? not for the money he's making Martin, from what I read Kaz expects to be back as a Met and that's what he's gearing up for.

Thanks for the re-link.... Mark you wrote.. ] cleanup hitter, a complimentary offensive player and a catcher. Add a top flight closer and possibly a setup man _ and don't forget a lefty specialist _ to Mets general manager Omar Minaya's offseason shopping list this offseason. Mets fans should not kid themselves. The only way to bring in All-Star caliber talent, the kind of players Omar loves to collect, is to part with the Petits, the Bannisters and Milledges of the world. Billy Wagner is a FA as you know, so he'll cost money, isn't BJ Ryan a FA?,are there any top of the range clean up hitters available via a trade?, lefty specialists should come form what we have already I would think, certainly Omar shouldn't be giving up anything of value for one, the Angels don't have one.

Are you taking the piss outta this guy or is there a beef?, the link doesn't work still.

Piazza coming back to the Mets speculation has started, When did Wally Mattews resurface?.. http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-spwally1004,0,6529628.column?coll=ny-sports-columnists

Why am I surprised you used the term "supper"?, I honestly don't think my American friends or the ones i work with use it ,I'll have to ask.I'm just curious because the term supper is used in Ireland and Britain.

Yeah it sucked when the Mets were just not playing on Mondays, but this is hard, I did find a good show about the Holy Land on History International,still I'd rather be gearing up for Pedro start tomorrow.

I'm probably wrong but I think Willie Tavarez leads the world in infield hits, IIRC the last time the Mets were in Houston is was mentioned that he had 27 or 28 at that time.

Good work,Bert Hernandez and Marlon Anderson have both expressed a desire to come back, I guess the future on Solor is bleak?