Fman99

Section 208 I am told.

Hope he bought you a drink first.

="Willets Point":aq2lajma]="bmfc1":aq2lajma]Second, the Braves released Glavine. In one of the stranger comments I've read of late, Cerrone writes: "� i shutter to say this, but, the Mets need a starting pitcher, and he always had a strong relationship with Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon�"[/quote:aq2lajma] ::twitch:: ::twitch::[/quote:aq2lajma] Let's see if Armando Benitez wants to join him on the pitching staff. There's a reason these guys are ex-Mets. Frayed Knot Jun 03 2009 07:42 PM ="G-Fafif":pjxua9lt]="Frayed Knot":pjxua9lt]What that team really needs is hitting outfielders.[/quote:pjxua9lt] And they got one, according to Adam Rubin[/url:pjxua9lt], in the person of Nate McLouth.[/quote:pjxua9lt] Holy Shite ... I didn't mean THAT quickly!! It kind of helps us out for tomorrow but that's a major pickup for los Bravos. I can't believe Pitt dealt him. He just turned 27 and, unlike last year with Nady & Bay, is still a couple years away from FA-gency. I hope they got themselves a good return. If nothing else it'll piss off Francesa who declared McLouth to be "the perfect Yanqui" on numerous occasions last year. IOW, he's a young, under control All-Star who plays the one place the MFYs don't have a star so I suppose he figured it was inevitable that he be picking up his mail in the Bronx before long. Frayed Knot Jun 03 2009 08:20 PM ESPN: Atlanta gave up outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, one of their top prospects, along with pitchers Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke. Maybe those guys are good, but they have better prospects in both the OF & pitching. [to replace Glavine], the Braves called up highly touted prospect Tommy Hanson, who has dominated at Triple-A Gwinnett and will make his first major league appearance Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The minor league blogosphere has been saying that Hanson has been overdue for weeks now. Another plus: McLouth is under contract through at least 2011, having signed a three-year, $15.75 contract in spring training. The deal includes a team option for a fourth year at $10.65 million, with a $1.25 million buyout. So if Pittsburgh can't afford him who can they afford? By trading McLouth, Pittsburgh cleared a spot for one of its best prospects, 2005 first-round pick Andrew McCutchen. The 22-year-old outfielder was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was hitting .303 with four homers, 20 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. So why not him AND McLouth? "When we signed Nate to a long-term contract, we did so with the intent on having him remain part of our core of homegrown talent. said GM Huntington -- But the quality and quantity of talent we are receiving in this trade moves us closer to our goal of building that sustainable championship-caliber club." I hope they're right. If so it'll be the first time in a long while. metsguyinmichigan Jun 03 2009 08:35 PM If we signed Glavine, I'd be devastated, not disappointed. Edgy DC Jun 03 2009 09:40 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 04 2009 05:33 AM I think we're buying into Cerrone's foolery by even reacting to his speculation. As for McLouth, I don't think it was a lack of money so much as the right trade at the right time. Somewhere on your block is a dork getting his ass kicked in fantasy baseball but certain that his day will come because he has Gorkys Hernandez down on his virtual farm. Morton can step into a rotation now (the Braves had him filling a spot) and has done well at AAA. I can't telll you anything to get excited about Locke, but he was a second rounder. Obviously I want this trade to break for the Buccos, but I think it has a good chance of doing that. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 04 2009 04:55 AM ="Frayed Knot":37edpb1t]="G-Fafif":37edpb1t]="Frayed Knot":37edpb1t]What that team really needs is hitting outfielders.[/quote:37edpb1t] And they got one, according to Adam Rubin[/url:37edpb1t], in the person of Nate McLouth.[/quote:37edpb1t] Holy Shite ... I didn't mean THAT quickly!! It kind of helps us out for tomorrow but that's a major pickup for los Bravos. I can't believe Pitt dealt him. He just turned 27 and, unlike last year with Nady & Bay, is still a couple years away from FA-gency. I hope they got themselves a good return. If nothing else it'll piss off Francesa who declared McLouth to be "the perfect Yanqui" on numerous occasions last year. IOW, he's a young, under control All-Star who plays the one place the MFYs don't have a star so I suppose he figured it was inevitable that he be picking up his mail in the Bronx before long.[/quote:37edpb1t] That's the thing with McLouth -- he's a bit overrated. He's good, but not really great. Rotblatt Jun 04 2009 06:49 AM Re: Pitching News ="Willets Point":1znihsau]="bmfc1":1znihsau]Second, the Braves released Glavine. In one of the stranger comments I've read of late, Cerrone writes: "� i shutter to say this, but, the Mets need a starting pitcher, and he always had a strong relationship with Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon�"[/quote:1znihsau] ::twitch:: ::twitch::[/quote:1znihsau] Indeed. If we're going to bring on aged superstars, I'd rather sign Petey. Benjamin Grimm Jun 04 2009 06:58 AM Yes, but I think the Mets should sign Glavine just to aggravate everyone. HahnSolo Jun 04 2009 07:30 AM Has anyone seen, or commented on this, from Adam Rubin: ]After struggles in 8th inning continue, Mets drop J.J. Putz 7th inning BY Adam Rubin DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Thursday, June 4th 2009, 4:00 AM PITTSBURGH - Jerry Manuel met with J.J. Putz Wednesday and informed the ex-Mariners closer that he was being moved from an eighth-inning to seventh-inning role until he can rediscover his form. Putz was the primary culprit in a five-run eighth inning Monday night that resulted in the Mets' second loss in 22 games in which they led with sixouts to go. He will be replaced by rookie Bobby Parnell as the primary set-up man. Manuel described the move as temporary. "I watched some film today, and we think we've found a pretty big, glaring mechanical flaw that's kind of slowly progressed, maybe even through last year," Putz said. "I think we're going in the right direction." As for a lesser role, Putz added: "When you get into those pressure-packed situations, you really don't have a chance to work on anything. All you're really trying to do is figure a way to get somebody out. Maybe, by taking a step back, you're allowed to kind of pitch with a clear head and really think about what you're doing as opposed to just trying to think about getting a guy out." I like it in concept. I just dislike how they continue to try to define undefinable roles like "7th inning guy" or "8th inning guy". Benjamin Grimm Jun 04 2009 07:39 AM I agree. I approve of the demotion but not of the distinction. Hopefully more Mets starters will be completing the 7th inning. Frayed Knot Jun 04 2009 07:43 AM ]That's the thing with McLouth -- he's a bit overrated. He's good, but not really great. But legitimately good especially when you factor in 27 y/o and under team control for a while. Yeah, he's not really a superstar and ideally shouldn't be playing CF (despite his gold glove last year) - but compared to what Atlanta's been trotting out in CF this season: .198/.298/.271 with 2 HRs & 8 RBIs!! it's a huge upgrade (ditto when compared to Melky/Gardener). I mean, jeez, Atlanta pitchers have knocked in 6 in barely half the ABs. Braves, meanwhile, have re-demoted Jordan Schaefer and his 2 Ks/game bat. ]As for McLouth, I don't think it was a lack of money so much as the right trade at the right time ... I want this trade to break for the Buccos, but I think it has a good chance of doing that. I dunno. I'd opt for fair chance at best. Morton's already 25 and crashed in his not-so-brief trial last season. Doesn't mean he's destined to failure but I don't think he's a real high-upside guy. Hernandez is supposedly your classic speedy/slappy CF-type w/lots of speed and a real good glove but almost no power. Sounds like a guy who'll live or die on his OBP. He also sounds like a lesser version of their own prospect Andrew McCutcheon who the trade supposedly cleared room for. Locke is in Low-A ball. ]I think the Mets should sign Glavine just to aggravate everyone. That's the front office's main goal right? John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 04 2009 07:55 AM I predict PNC will soon be known as Gorkys Park. MFS62 Jun 04 2009 08:11 AM When I heard "Morton" I immediately thought it was this guy: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mortoca01.shtml And wondered how the Braves were still able to trade him. Later LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 04 2009 08:39 AM ="Frayed Knot"]]That's the thing with McLouth -- he's a bit overrated. He's good, but not really great. But legitimately good especially when you factor in 27 y/o and under team control for a while. Yeah, he's not really a superstar and ideally shouldn't be playing CF (despite his gold glove last year) - but compared to what Atlanta's been trotting out in CF this season: .198/.298/.271 with 2 HRs & 8 RBIs!! it's a huge upgrade (ditto when compared to Melky/Gardener). I mean, jeez, Atlanta pitchers have knocked in 6 in barely half the ABs. Braves, meanwhile, have re-demoted Jordan Schaefer and his 2 Ks/game bat. He's got significant power (ISOs of .210-.220 the last two years) that's just starting to develop. He's got decent plate awareness and patience (a rising walk rate that's just a shade above 11 percent). He plays a credible-- if not "Gold Glove"-quality-- outfield. And he runs a bit, with good baserunning instincts (20 steals each of the past two years, with a lifetime 93 percent rate). In essence, he'll be a poor man's-- maybe "homeless man's" would be more accurate-- Beltran for them. I'm with FK on the odds of this working out for Pittsburgh. But hell, if you're going nowhere, might as well pan for gold, right? Edgy DC Jun 04 2009 08:41 AM Well, in cases like Aramis Ramirez, sometimes the Pirates haven't known that the pan itself was golden, but I'm still hopeful. metirish Jun 04 2009 08:50 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3c1ay6lb]I predict PNC will soon be known as Gorkys Park.[/quote:3c1ay6lb] Love it....his at bat music should be the whistling from "Winds of Change" G-Fafif Jun 04 2009 12:48 PM ="metirish":2oy3itk5]="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2oy3itk5]I predict PNC will soon be known as Gorkys Park.[/quote:2oy3itk5] Love it....his at bat music should be the whistling from "Winds of Change"[/quote:2oy3itk5] But will he rock Pittsburgh like a hurricane? Frayed Knot Jun 04 2009 01:22 PM ]I'm with FK on the odds of this working out for Pittsburgh. But hell, if you're going nowhere, might as well pan for gold, right? That's essentially what they've been doing for the last year or so; going for decent up-side, though hardly guaranteed prospects - Jose Tabata as the main bait for Nady - Andy LaRoche for Bay - and now Gorkys Hernandez for McLouth plus some spare pitching parts thrown in on the side. If they all live up to their potential things could work out real nice for them. If not ... One thing they will have if/when Gorkys comes up is a nice relay team in their outfield: McCutchon, Morgan & Hernandez They might have a HR total for the season that's in single digits but they'll probably save a bunch of runs.

My favorite is Joe Buck's "Slamma-lamma-ding-dong!" I know it was for a beer commercial but it's actually the best catch phrase/signature call ever.

The word "suck" called, it wishes to be disassociated permanently from John Sterling.

...Brian Stokes[/url:39tz05cq], courtesy of the Amazin Avenue blog. Hilarious stuff.

No trip to Pittsburgh for us. Timing isn't good, maybe next year. I will be at Sunday's Nats/Mets tilt in DC courtsey of my cousin, with Fwife and I joining her and her husband. Edgy are we going to meet up for a beer at some point?

="Frayed Knot":id25ilof]... against the Nationals tonight. I'm kind of thinking that if he gets it there should be an asterisk.[/quote:id25ilof] *Pitched with mullet metirish Jun 03 2009 11:47 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 03 2009 11:52 AM This is the reaction I expected. The thing is that ever since I have been following baseball I've heard about certain magic numbers....300 wins , 500 home runs . I've yet to get excited about any of it. Obviously I'm a relativity new fan and before I came to this country I knew notihng of it except what I saw in the Dire Straits video. Things that might excite me in baseball I might get excited I think if a NL player made a run at hitting .400 , still it would depend on who the player was. Pujols would excite me I think as he's one of the greats , obviously Wright doing it too. But if a Freddy Sanchez made a bid for it I wouldn't care much . A player making a run at the coveted DiMaggio hits record(is that coveted?) , again it would depend on the player....not counting Mets players here because I am biased , but if Rollins made that run I would root against him. That's shallow of me but I don't care for him , he's turned into a prick IMO. A NL pitcher going for win #25 might excite me , again depending who it was. Adrian Gonzalez is on pace to hit 63 home runs which is cool but I have seen maybe two of them..not exciting I think I am more excited at the prospect of watching a game with a starting pitcher striking out hitters at a high rate. I love watching a pitcher so tuned in that the prospect of 20 SO game is possible , even if it were against the Mets that excites me. I'm definitely more of a pitching fan yet none of the recent 300 game winners do anything for me. I'm sure I was happy for Glavine but looking back it means nothing to me. soupcan Jun 03 2009 11:50 AM I love 3,000 hits so much that if Jetah evah gets there, I'd actually have to consider him a HOFer. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 03 2009 12:01 PM I will tip my hat to Johnson, now that he's no longer a MFY, for having a nice career. I always got the impression he was one of those really tall guys who is forever embarrassed about how tall he was, plus being you know, kinda ugly, and so probably had to overcome social and physical awkwardnesses to achieve what he has. I also asdmire that he's plugging away still even though he's not nearly what he used to be power-wise. Benjamin Grimm Jun 03 2009 12:10 PM When I was a kid, there were three hallowed Yankee records that I wanted to see broken, preferably by non-Yankees: 1. Roger Maris' 61 home runs. 2. Lou Gehrig's 2130 consecutive games. 3. Joe DiMaggio's (Gummo's brother) 56-game hitting streak. (Babe Ruth's 714 would also have been on the list, but it was already in serious jeopardy by the time I started paying attention.) I would be most intrigued, I think, by an attempt at the 56-game streak, and by a run at a .400 batting average. (As long as it's not by a disliked player, like Rollins or Jeter.) Also 30 wins by a pitcher, but that seems almost impossible today with the five-man rotation. Pitchers only get a handful more than 30 starts in a season. Big save totals do nothing for me. 500 homers is no big deal anymore. (I never would have anticipated that.) And once Harold Baines got to 3,000 hits (or at least, close to 3,000 hits; I'm not even sure anymore that he made it) that number lost its magic as well. Edgy DC Jun 03 2009 12:12 PM Harold and his purple crayon finished with 2866. MFS62 Jun 03 2009 12:20 PM ="soupcan":gnlthwfq]I love 3,000 hits so much that if Jetah evah gets there, I'd actually have to consider him a HOFer.[/quote:gnlthwfq] As long as he doesn't end his career as a full time DH to get there. Later LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 03 2009 12:21 PM ="Benjamin Grimm"] I would be most intrigued, I think, by an attempt at the 56-game streak, and by a run at a .400 batting average. (As long as it's not by a disliked player, like Rollins or Jeter.) Also 30 wins by a pitcher, but that seems almost impossible today with the five-man rotation. Pitchers only get a handful more than 30 starts in a season. 56 is probably about it-- not least because of all of the good luck that factors into it, and the fact that it involves more than just showing up (Cal Ripken-- father of "Absenteeism?"). [Rollins was pushing it when he got to 38, methinks, and while Young Soft Rain could've done it-- maybe-- I don't think he's got the horses anymore. My guesses for the next-gen guy to come close? One of two O's-- Adam Jones or Markakis. Nice contact/line-drive rates on both, and speed to burn.] The freakish one-gamers-- the twenty-strikeout game, the 4-HR job-- hold some allure for me, but you can't plan around 'em, and, frankly, if those sorts of things don't do it for you, you don't enjoy baseball. Willets Point Jun 03 2009 12:23 PM I'm not all that interested in arbitrary round number wins. Randy Johnson's 300th win isn't all that different than his 299th or 301st win. Same goes for Gary Sheffield's 500th homerun. I was only interested in that it was a home run for the Mets. What would get me interested is if a player breaks (or gets close to breaking) an all-time or single-season record. I was even intrigued when Craig Biggio got close to the record for HBP's. metirish Jun 03 2009 12:30 PM Bobby Cox "breaking" the ejection record really got me excited...how could I forget it. metsguyinmichigan Jun 03 2009 12:40 PM I was able to see Seaver's 300th with my whole family, and it was a glorious thing. We were in attendance for Clemens' attempt at 300 against the Tigers. We bought tickets far in advance with friends, never thinking that it had potential to be an historic game. It was a real tough day. All of us are big baseball fans, so you can't root against Clemens. But he and his cohorts are just so vile, we almost had to. Sort of sucked some of the potential joy out of it. So Clemens left in the sixth with a lead. And then the Yankee infield started throwing the ball around, and the Tigers tied the game. The fans were all cheering, and my buddy Will was saying, "What are you cheering about? 'Yea! We DIDN'T get to see history'" Keep in mind that this was the year the Tigers lost 139 games or something. Being the Tigers, they tied it up, and couldn't push across the winning run. The game went something like 17 innings, with David Wells almost pitching a full game in relief. It was the worst of all worlds. Yankees won, and we didn't get to see the historic game. Oh, they vex me in so many ways. On the bright side, I got to boo Jeter six or seven times instead of just four. holychicken Jun 03 2009 12:42 PM I got real excited when Annabel Chong set a world record by engaging in 251 sex acts with about 70 men over a ten-hour period. But I have a feeling that is not what we are talking about here. Frayed Knot Jun 03 2009 12:47 PM I don't get overly jazzed up about "counting number" stats either ... mainly I just wanted to get the joke about the Nationals in. Hell, I used a variation of the same one almost 30 years ago when Len Barker tossed a perfect game against the then-pathetic Blue Jays (I recycle more than Al Gore). But I also wanted to acknowledge the (potential) feat and, like JCL, I'll tip my hat to the guy for hanging around and succeeding as long as he did. He's a guy who was MUCH better in his mid/late 30s than he was in his mid/late 20s and even as little as two or three years ago I thought he was going to come up short. I won't have to hang on every pitch (he'll probably be 3 or more innings gone from the game if/when the Giants win anyway) to appreciate the accomplishment. His will also be the last one for a while. Even Moyer's recent 250th will hold up for some time. Edgy DC Jun 03 2009 12:55 PM ="metsguyinmichigan"]All of us are big baseball fans, so you can't root against Clemens. Oh, yes you ke-hen. Johnson won 17 games (or, I should say, received credit for 17 wins) for the Yanks while posting a 5.00 ERA. That's got to be some kind of record. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 03 2009 01:09 PM ="Edgy DC"]="metsguyinmichigan"]All of us are big baseball fans, so you can't root against Clemens. Oh, yes you ke-hen. Johnson won 17 games (or, I should say, received credit for 17 wins) for the Yanks while posting a 5.00 ERA. That's got to be some kind of record. Snail Trachs' 2006-- 15 wins, 4.97-- is comparable. So's Livan's 199...8? (13 wins, 5.24). G-Fafif Jun 03 2009 02:10 PM I'm diggin' on the 5-0 record the Unit compiled in the '95 ALDS and the '01 WS combined at the expense of MFYs to delay and dismiss their dynasty, respectively. Those are the money wins, yo. metsguyinmichigan Jun 03 2009 02:24 PM I think our concensus for the Clemens was that we rooted for a win so we could see history made, then to root for lightening strike him during the post-game celebration. We were denied on both accounts. Frayed Knot Jun 03 2009 08:25 PM Washington must have sold a bunch of tickets for this potential milestone because it's been raining all night and now, more than 3 hours past the scheduled game time, they still haven't called the game nor do they have a target time for first pitch!! LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 03 2009 08:49 PM ="Frayed Knot"]Washington must have sold a bunch of tickets for this potential milestone because it's been raining all night and now, more than 3 hours past the scheduled game time, they still haven't called the game nor do they have a target time for first pitch!! Also, there's the west-coast team on an east-coast road trip thing. I'm not sure, but I don't think any of the Giants' road off-days line up with a Washington off-day/homestand. Frayed Knot Jun 04 2009 07:20 AM Well it turns out that they'll play an old-fashioned "twi-night" DH today with Unit going in game 1. But I don't care what the circumstances were, four hours is way beyond reasonable for a game to be called. Especially when you see films of water pouring into dugouts like the stadium had been transported to Niagra. Edgy DC Jun 04 2009 07:54 AM It was a monsoon here last night. There would have been nine fans left out there. Hil Clinton needs to show up at the Nationals ballpark with that re-start button of hers. What a disastrous season. G-Fafif Jun 04 2009 02:57 PM First pitch delayed to 5:10. Game to be shown on MLBN. Frayed Knot Jun 04 2009 04:48 PM Unit goes 6 innings of 1-run/2-hit ball. Leaves after that (possibly for an injury) leading 2-1 And, yeah, it's raining. Frayed Knot Jun 04 2009 05:53 PM Nats had a chance to ruin it - had the sacks loaded w/2 outs in the 8th - but Adam Dunn K'd on a borderline pitch that would have tied the score if it went the other way (and given RJ an ND in the process). Then the Nats pen followed the script by giving up several more runs in top 9 and #300 was sealed.

This never happens where I work. Well, not since I had my "counseling" anyway.

="Edgy DC":28rds1sz]And isn't it time for the new issue to drop?[/quote:28rds1sz] Wow. I love their tagline. "All gave some. Some gave all. Others gave donuts." John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 03 2009 07:55 AM Best issue ever. soupcan Jun 03 2009 08:21 AM Um....'Dougnuts'? Edgy DC Jun 03 2009 08:29 AM Don't be such a soupcan. I have real work to do. Typos will happen. metirish Jun 12 2009 09:00 PM 6/12/2009 The Castillo game... Frayed Knot Jun 12 2009 09:01 PM This contest is over. Fman99 Jun 12 2009 09:06 PM What's worse is that YES will add this to their rotation of "classic Yankee games" to play during rainouts and such. Swan Swan H Jun 12 2009 09:35 PM The Mets have lost games before under bad circumstances - errors, bases-loaded walks issued, all sorts of stuff - and I understand that fresh wounds sting worst, but I've been watching this team since Ed Kranepool couldn't vote and I can't remember one that hurt worse. Consider: First game at that fucking sewage plant in the Bronx Punked their big-mouth starter Exposed their shabby bullpen Our golden boy beat their infallible closer While our closer popped up their 25 million dollar juicehead in the most clutch of situations And it's the Yankees. The motherfucking cocksucking evil Yankees. We hashed all of this out during the Sox series, but to me a loss to these scumbags is worse than a loss to anyone else. You disagree? I don't give a fuck. In my world this is worse than losing to the Phillies or Braves. Way worse. I know it's regular season, and compared to Beltran v. Wainwright or the Stone/Seaver/Matlack fiasco it's small potatoes, but Damn! this one hurts. MFS62 Jun 13 2009 08:20 AM Swannie, I'll ditto everything you said and add one more to what fman said. My boss is a Yankee fan. It won't have to wait for replays on YES before I have to endure the pain again. It will happen on Monday. Later Swan Swan H Jun 13 2009 09:18 AM My response to Yankee fans (and I have had to do this a couple of times already) is pretty simple - we had you beat, and you know we did. Wright beat Rivera and Frankie beat A-Rod, Joba nearly pissed himself out there, and you won on a miraculous fluke. Savor it all you want, but you know we had you. Gotta keep pushing their couple of failures in their face, hoping to distract from the hideous bottom line. I feel like Sean Hannity in October '08. Benjamin Grimm Jun 13 2009 11:31 AM Whatever argument we can make about how the Mets lost on a fluke can be made by Red Sox fans about Game 6. Swan Swan H Jun 13 2009 12:05 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":15t9dwqh]Whatever argument we can make about how the Mets lost on a fluke can be made by Red Sox fans about Game 6.[/quote:15t9dwqh] Well, the Mets had tied that one already, but otherwise I'm fine with that. Gwreck Jun 13 2009 03:41 PM Yeah, for that reason alone, that analogy doesn't work. dgwphotography Jun 13 2009 04:45 PM ="Frayed Knot":1iap5wrc]This contest is over.[/quote:1iap5wrc] So is the contest for worst loss of the decade... Edgy DC Jun 13 2009 05:04 PM Benitez 2001 is so relieved. Centerfield Jun 15 2009 08:03 AM Who said Benitez is not to blame for last Friday? Gwreck Jun 23 2009 10:09 PM It might not be top 3 but the 6/23 game (2 hits over 9 innings) is on this lsit. Nymr83 Jun 24 2009 12:21 AM ="Gwreck":1a8sk3gv]It might not be top 3 but the 6/23 game (2 hits over 9 innings) is on this lsit.[/quote:1a8sk3gv] to me its not, i'd consider the "worst losses" to involve blowing leads in spectacular fashion, failing to tie up a game despite loading the bases with nobody out, etc. when the other pitcher just shuts you down you shrug your shoulders and get ready for tommorow. i wont remember this loss soon enough. metirish Jun 24 2009 04:45 AM It's on my list. I thought it was embarrassing they way Pineiro mowed them down . I've no problem with getting shut down by an elite pitcher , he is not one of those. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 24 2009 06:49 AM Pineiro handled a healthier version of this team during the St. Louis games, so this didn't exactly come out of nowhere. "This team," by the way, was a couple of different roster moves away from starting Wily Mo Pena and Argenis Reyes. All of which is to say, I respectfully disagree-- this doesn't come close to the neighborhood of being in the vicinity of shouting distance of my list. Centerfield Jun 24 2009 07:54 AM Last night's game pissed me off, and it's about as "unfun" as a game can be, but it wasn't the kind that rips your heart out and stomps on it. I'm serious, I think this contest is over after the Castillo game. Gwreck Jun 24 2009 07:58 AM I don't disagree, but the thread title says "Losses" (ie. plural). Centerfield Jun 24 2009 08:03 AM That's true. For me, the Castillo Game, the Pittsburgh game, the Church Misses Third Game, and the Murphy Drops the Fly Ball game were all worse. I think last night would have been a miserable game to go to. But as long as I could change the channel, last night wasn't excruciating. metirish Jun 24 2009 08:05 AM I'm sure there will be worse losses and yeah the Castillo game will live long in my memory but last nights game while it didn't claw my heart out it was in my opinion a shitty loss, we waste a fine start by Hernandez and can't touch the other guy and our manager didn't paint himself in glory either. themetfairy Jun 24 2009 08:11 AM I'm with CF here. The worst losses are the Castillo-esque ones. Last night was just a bad game, but it didn't grab defeat from the jaws of victory in a heart-wrenching manner. Hawkeye57 Jun 24 2009 08:23 AM Agreed, two hitters happen every now and again and aren't always remembered. Castillo's error, missing third base, those things will probably be remembered more than a two hitter. Wouldn't rate yesterday as a huge loss, but it was tough. Gwreck Jun 24 2009 08:44 AM I'm very surprised to be so strongly outvoted here. For the record, there have been a total of three other games put in this thread: 1. Church misses third/Reed throwing error to end game (at LA) 2. Bullpen meltdown (at Pittsburgh) 3. Castillo drops flyball (at Yankees). --- I guess I missed the memo where this list was limited to 3 games. Edgy DC Jun 24 2009 08:49 AM It seems to be elusive that you're not trying to knock the Castillo game down the list, but rather trying to add to the bottom. I think you should flesh out a top ten right NOW!!!! and then we can argue and (hopefully not) add to the list and knock some games off of it as the season progresses. As long as we similarly maintain the list of top wins. metirish Jun 24 2009 08:53 AM ="Gwreck"]I'm very surprised to be so strongly outvoted here. For the record, there have been a total of three other games put in this thread: 1. Church misses third/Reed throwing error to end game (at LA) 2. Bullpen meltdown (at Pittsburgh) 3. Castillo drops flyball (at Yankees). --- I guess I missed the memo where this list was limited to 3 games. Thanks for this little list......I am going to add last nights game to that list , will it be there at the end of the season as one of the worst losses? , maybe not but right now it is. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 24 2009 09:21 AM I'm gonna throw last Thursday's game onto this list, at No. 4, and suggest April 21 at St. Louis for No. 5 (Perez blows a 4-0 lead, Murphy misplays a fly ball into a triple, Putz sucks, Mets lose 6-4). Edgy DC Jun 24 2009 09:25 AM 6-4 is the score of the season. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 24 2009 09:35 AM Second all of JCL's choices. We're missing a bunch of Phil losses, no? The two blown-in-the-seventh Phils losses on 6/10 and 6/11 (Beltran dropped flyball opens gates for three runs in 7th, 5-4 loss in extra innings on Utley HR, spoiled Pelf start; and Redding spoils his own 3-1 lead/Ibanez nails Takahashi in 11th) stung. Also, I was in CBP for the walking party on 5/2 (Ollie walks 6/doesn't last 3; Takahashi makes great debut, but Feliciano tagged by Ibanez; Mets come back behind Castro and Murphy HRs; Beltran first-and-third DP in top of 11 kills a threat, followed by Bad Sean Green walking Victorino for winning run). It sucked. Fman99 Jun 24 2009 09:58 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":ys44xiw2] Also, I was in CBP for the walking party on 5/2 (Ollie walks 6/doesn't last 3; Takahashi makes great debut, but Feliciano tagged by Ibanez; Mets come back behind Castro and Murphy HRs; Beltran first-and-third DP in top of 11 kills a threat, followed by Bad Sean Green walking Victorino for winning run). It sucked.[/quote:ys44xiw2] I'd add this one. I watched this on TV and it was a turd. Anytime the Cryin Hawaiian is scoring the winning run against the Mets auto-qualifies for this list doesn't it? Frayed Knot Jun 24 2009 10:43 AM I view this thread a way to track those games which either are, or will be, eligible for a 'Top 10' (read: bottom) at the end of the year. We've had those best/worst 10 threads in the past although it's much tougher trying to reconstruct those by looking back than it is tallying them as they go by. Bottom line: I'm OK nominating last night's even though I agree with the view that I don't think it'll make my final cut. Gwreck Jun 24 2009 11:46 AM I guess the Johan meltdown in the Bronx also goes in the bottom 10. SteveJRogers Jul 05 2009 02:20 PM I'm nominating all three games from this weekend, 7/3-7/5. As much of a must sweep/take two out of three as a series can be in the first week of July, and the Mets end up getting swept, falling 5 back in the loss column. A lost weekend to be sure. Fman99 Jul 05 2009 07:16 PM This was an awful series to be sure, but none of these games have that crotchpunchitude that some of the other ones do. Even the bad defense on Saturday was after they were trailing and didn't really affect the score. So, to me, none of these games as individual events make this list. metirish Jul 05 2009 07:30 PM I think I have become immune to such losses and this weekend sweep was not the least surprising. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 05 2009 10:25 PM This weekend-- right up to and including today's Johan Game TM-- had a sick inexorability to it. Depressing, yes. But, sadly, all too expected. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 17 2009 08:56 PM I'm going to nominate Thursday's game, a 5-3 loss to the Braves in the first game back from the Break. Very typical of the 09 Mets but for the fact nobody got hurt and nobody made an egregious error. But a loss like so many others: Not enough offense, all the scoring confined to a single inning, outs and at-bats given away. We were tied and played not to lose, wasting our best relievers who needed (and received) bailouts from the back-end anyway, so everyone is good and used up in the first game of a 10-game road trip. Not to mention it snapped another modest win streak at 2-games, cost us third place in the standings, illustrated the folly of the Francoeur trade in his first chance for revenge, and brought everyone's spirits down in time for a 11-run waffling Friday and another series we won't win. Despite all the worthy candidates already on this fine list, this was the first loss of the year after which I said, yes, I think they're done. Pull the plug. Farmer Ted Jul 17 2009 09:47 PM They're sellers at this point. Mos def. Fman99 Aug 04 2009 08:30 PM Ha! Found it first. Pujols extra innings grand slam. Assuming the Cards hold on, 12-7. Edgy DC Aug 04 2009 08:35 PM Ugh. Premature bookage. Kong76 Aug 04 2009 08:42 PM Have to admit I went fishing for this thread too before it was over. Fman99 Aug 04 2009 08:44 PM ="Edgy DC":10jo8uvo]Ugh. Premature bookage.[/quote:10jo8uvo] Yeah, as soon as the ball left PooHoles' bat. I know, ya gotta believe, yada yada yada, but hell. Edgy DC Aug 08 2009 09:02 AM August 7: The Mets score two in the first and then go into offensive cryongeinic sleep, which is a pity because Oliver Perez turns in his best outing of the year, absoultely dominating the Padres with six innings of non-walky shutout ball. When he falters in the seventh abnd gives up half his two-run lead, Brian Stokes comes in and bails him out huge time. No matter, as Francisco Rodriguez enters in the ninth, has nothing on his fastball, and walks the leadoff batter. Ultimately, he faces five batters, retires none, and tops his appearance by giving up a game-winning grand slam to a mostly punchless shortstop scarcely out of A-ball. Chunky and grumpy ex-Met Heath Bell walks off with the win. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 08 2009 04:52 PM ="Edgy DC":2zh033cf]August 7: The Mets score two in the first and then go into offensive cryongeinic sleep, which is a pity because Oliver Perez turns in his best outing of the year, absoultely dominating the Padres with six innings of non-walky shutout ball. When he falters in the seventh abnd gives up half his two-run lead, Brian Stokes comes in and bails him out huge time. No matter, as Francisco Rodriguez enters in the ninth, has nothing on his fastball, and walks the leadoff batter. Ultimately, he faces five batters, retires none, and tops his appearance by giving up a game-winning grand slam to a mostly punchless shortstop scarcely out of A-ball. Chunky and grumpy ex-Met Heath Bell walks off with the win.[/quote:2zh033cf] Add the aspect of a blown call to let the tying run score that nobody-- save G-Fafif-- is really complaining about, since the BS felt so sickeningly inevitable anyway, and the ump didn't put the leadoff guy on or let Venable whack it, yadda yadda yadda. The 10:05 start always gives a bad west-coast loss five points extra-credit, as well. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 16 2009 11:06 AM 8/15, Giants, 5-4 (10). Let's go through the nightmare scenario checklist: Last man standing/face of franchise/best all-around player during the last four years hit in head by 94-mph fastball? Check. Ace/only Met to believe in roughed up by a free-swinging lineup Bobby Parnell shut down a day earlier? Check. Dongs for insurance and go-ahead runs hit by two players against whom said ace "sent a message?" Check. Gift of blown save (again) from Giant sorta-closer promptly returned? Check. No dropped popups, and not to the Phils/Yanks/Braves, but it's a contender. Kong76 Aug 16 2009 11:18 AM Funny, I was thinking on the subway that the only thing that didn't go wrong was Murphy and Castillo didn't hurt each other in right field on one play. Castillo was limpy for a minute but he's kinda limpy anyway. I hope they shut Wright down for the rest of the season at this point with the team's luck and track record with injuries especially ones to the coconut. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 23 2009 11:04 PM This one[/url:3q7nwdhz]'s got to go in the scrapbook, no? Demoralization early, then increasing interest with the scrapping and the Misching (even as chances get squandered), then the adrenaline rush of the 9th-inning comeback... and the car crash cardiac arrest of the close. And all against our favorite delinquents from down the 'Pike. For a game in which a literal once-in-a-lifetime play delivered the sword stroke to the shoulder blades, what's startling is how routine this feels by now. We're about one game-lost-by-catcher's-interference-followed-by-South-American-football-stadium-style-Pepsi Porch collapse from filling out the "Worst Season Ever" bingo card. metirish Aug 24 2009 07:50 AM Just me but no loss this past month and more warrants being in this thread , nothing surprises , nothing even hurts anymore......it's nothingness . G-Fafif Aug 24 2009 07:52 AM It might be more efficient to start a thread cataloguing which losses aren't the worst of 2009. Tidier anyway. metsguyinmichigan Aug 24 2009 08:04 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":7lkl3daw]This one[/url:7lkl3daw]'s got to go in the scrapbook, no? Demoralization early, then increasing interest with the scrapping and the Misching (even as chances get squandered), then the adrenaline rush of the 9th-inning comeback... and the car crash cardiac arrest of the close. And all against our favorite delinquents from down the 'Pike. For a game in which a literal once-in-a-lifetime play delivered the sword stroke to the shoulder blades, what's startling is how routine this feels by now. We're about one game-lost-by-catcher's-interference-followed-by-South-American-football-stadium-style-Pepsi Porch collapse from filling out the "Worst Season Ever" bingo card.[/quote:7lkl3daw] Brilliant! Actually, you're missing the "best player tagged in steroid scandal" box on the card, but the Yankees already filled that one in this year. Benjamin Grimm Aug 24 2009 08:09 AM ="metirish":2gf3l66x]Just me but no loss this past month and more warrants being in this thread , nothing surprises , nothing even hurts anymore......it's nothingness .[/quote:2gf3l66x] I agree. The losses are worse (and the wins are better) when the games aren't meaningless. metsmarathon Aug 24 2009 08:10 AM i'm really not sure if the circumstances surrounding last night's game warrant its inclusion in this thread. i feel its much more of a tip-your-cap kind of loss. this was a different kind of loss than the luis castillo popup. a very different animal. this was no blown save, no missed third base. if the roles had been reversed - the phils down two, two men on, no outs, top nine - they send the runners, castillo moves over to cover the bag, and gets a screaming liner hit right at him... that pops out of his glove as he prematurely looks down to step on the bag for the second out, and subsequently allows both runners to score - well, then it would belong in this thread. history jumped up and bit us on the ass. c'est la vie, i guess... LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 24 2009 09:13 AM ="metsmarathon"]i'm really not sure if the circumstances surrounding last night's game warrant its inclusion in this thread. i feel its much more of a tip-your-cap kind of loss. this was a different kind of loss than the luis castillo popup. a very different animal. this was no blown save, no missed third base. if the roles had been reversed - the phils down two, two men on, no outs, top nine - they send the runners, castillo moves over to cover the bag, and gets a screaming liner hit right at him... that pops out of his glove as he prematurely looks down to step on the bag for the second out, and subsequently allows both runners to score - well, then it would belong in this thread. history jumped up and bit us on the ass. c'est la vie, i guess... Fair point. And I'd be lying if I said this killed me as much as even the Pittsburgh game from June. These games don't sting anymore. But on a lazy Sunday, driving back from southern NJ, Howie and Whatshisface dragged me back somewhat in for a day. Plus, losing to Philly when you've got a legitimate shot at the end that didn't seem at all possible an hour earlier... doesn't it ache something fierce? (Spoiling the Phils is about the only thing I'm really hoping for, Mets-wise, for the season's remainder. Hate is all I have left.) metsmarathon Aug 24 2009 10:08 AM it does. but this is an ache i can live with - an 'oh well, you got me' kind of ache. like when your pitcher puts his pitch right were he wanted to, and the batter still manages to push a soft fly ball into short right field. you do your best, and if they beat you they beat you. its like that pitch vlad hit a week or so ago that actually bounced in front of home plate - i mean, what are you going to do there but say, "damn, he got me there"? dgwphotography Aug 24 2009 01:58 PM ="metsmarathon":1snick2b]history jumped up and bit us on the ass. [/quote:1snick2b] Your 2009 marketing slogan. Edgy DC Aug 24 2009 02:00 PM Well, something has to be 10th. metsmarathon Aug 25 2009 08:22 AM i'm gonna wander out on a limb and suggest that johan santana might well be the worst loss of 2009...

mario25 wrote: We need our regulars back ASAP. Give Beltran some Pepto stat!!!! B team is not cutting it and Wright stinks right now. Seriously. Put the Jayvee squad away, let the big boys play.

="Edgy DC":6cnbj2zu]Seems obvious, doesn't it? Thing is, they did downgrade him. They just won't keep him down. Even that save he got was only because of an emergency shortage for that night.[/quote:6cnbj2zu] Not only that, that save was the one punctuated by two tremendous plays on defense, on balls that were hit hard and turned into outs by Castillo/Wright and Ramon Martinez. Benjamin Grimm Jun 02 2009 01:49 PM Yeah. I took the Schaefer point I'd normally give for a one-inning save and divided it among Wright, Castillo, and Martinez.

For those of you not clicking on external links, it should be noted that Julio is in the news because he was released by Milwaukee, who will now pay him the rest of his $950,000 (!) salary to not be a Brewer. Hey, I'm not a Brewer either. Where's mine?

="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]="Fman99"]Assuming they're all healthy enough to play, I think Church and Reed become your backup OFs and Sheff, Beltran and Fartinez the starters. We've seen that Jerry has no hesitancy in benching these guys (Murph, Church) for days at a time to ride the hot hand. Sheff's comments indicate that he is sore but as long as he's getting his rest he expects to keep trotting out there. Why are Church and Reed on your imagi-bench, huh? It's because they're white, isn't it? And Sheff's sore? Well, he's 40, isn't he? Frankly, I'd be more weirded out if he weren't. Oh, I missed that dig! I love white people. My wife is often confused with a glass of milk, and look at Fboy over there. He'd have to sneak up on a sheet of printer paper.

="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]="Fman99"]Assuming they're all healthy enough to play, I think Church and Reed become your backup OFs and Sheff, Beltran and Fartinez the starters. We've seen that Jerry has no hesitancy in benching these guys (Murph, Church) for days at a time to ride the hot hand. Sheff's comments indicate that he is sore but as long as he's getting his rest he expects to keep trotting out there. Why are Church and Reed on your imagi-bench, huh? It's because they're white, isn't it? And Sheff's sore? Well, he's 40, isn't he? Frankly, I'd be more weirded out if he weren't. He runs like a guy who's 40 and been DH'ing for a few years. As long as keeps snapping that bat I ain't complaining. My guess would be that until Delgado is back we see as much of Sheff as his body will allow. He, and we, know that someone has to be the impact power bat to complement Beltran and Wright.

Swan Swan H wrote: ="Nymr83"]Parnell was certainly brought in at the right time (you could even argue that K-rod, as your "best reliever", belongs in the game there), but he should have been left in for the 8th. I agree in concept that Parnell could have gone longer, but he was in the sixth, not the seventh. The seventh set up really well for Feliciano with two lefties, and he got through it 1-2-3. I'd love to see Stokes get his shot. He's also a righty that can throw gas, but he's got much better 2009 (and 2008 for that matter) numbers. Leaves Takahashi as a 2nd lefty/swingman and Putz where he belongs -- out in a field somewhere, being fucked by ten goats, and wondering why a bunch of smart assed Mets forum dorks hate him so much. Tim Redding can keep him company.

Assuming they're all healthy enough to play, I think Church and Reed become your backup OFs and Sheff, Beltran and Fartinez the starters. We've seen that Jerry has no hesitancy in benching these guys (Murph, Church) for days at a time to ride the hot hand. Sheff's comments indicate that he is sore but as long as he's getting his rest he expects to keep trotting out there.

="Frayed Knot":19aiv965]6/1 in Pittsburgh Mets jump out to a 5-0 lead after 3 but get one-hit after that as Pirates get 3 in the 4th off Livan and 5 in the 8th off the pen (mostly Putz) to win going away 8-5[/quote:19aiv965] This one was worse because I was awake for the whole fucking awful thing. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 01 2009 08:51 PM ="Fman99"]="Frayed Knot"]6/1 in Pittsburgh Mets jump out to a 5-0 lead after 3 but get one-hit after that as Pirates get 3 in the 4th off Livan and 5 in the 8th off the pen (mostly Putz) to win going away 8-5 This one was worse because I was awake for the whole fucking awful thing. The other one was worse, because I was awake for the whole mind-numbing thing. And because it had multiple stages, like a rocket-launch of fail. holychicken Jun 01 2009 08:56 PM For some reason this one did not bother me all too much. Is that . . . me . . . maturing? Nah, I find that hard to believe. soupcan Jun 02 2009 09:37 AM ="holychicken":1670vd26]For some reason this one did not bother me all too much.[/quote:1670vd26] Yeah - you know what? Me too. For some reason it didn't tighten my colon like it should have. Maybe because they've been winning games with the B team for a while now that I half expected a bad loss at some point. Edgy DC Jun 02 2009 09:46 AM I've come to expect a mugging by Pittsburgh once a year, so I just rolled over and played dead so they wouln't kick me as much. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 02 2009 09:57 AM A point nobody's mentioned in this: the Valdez boot. The thing is, if your lineup's struggling, you can plug in someone with hitting skills and he can help you right away, assuming he just keeps doing what he does. If your defense is struggling, you can't just plug in someone with defensive skills. Defense-- especially middle-infield defense-- is one of the only places in baseball where actual teamwork comes into play, innit? If teammates have the chance to play together for some time, they know the capabilities of their mates, and-- it follows-- they know what they can do together and must do individually. As a SS who knows his keystone partner, you know what balls you have to sell out to get to, how fast you can/have to turn an attempted DP, where the ball's getting delivered and in what rhythm on forceouts. If they haven't had an opportunity to get to know each other, two defensive players with superior skills can produce some embarrassing moments. Maybe some extra infield is in order? Edgy DC Jun 02 2009 10:02 AM It was interesting. My thinking was the runner had him partially screened or else he's have taken it on a shorter hop. He played back on it because he couldn't read it, causing him to rush the transfer. I don't think they'd have turned it anyhow. Willets Point Jun 02 2009 11:10 AM Whatever. The Mets went 19-9 in May. I expect they'll go 18-10 in June with some dramatic wins versus the Phillies and the Yankees. This is just one of those games. Centerfield Jun 02 2009 12:58 PM Nights like these I think about Ben Grimm and his "happy if they win, no skin off my back attitude". I don't see how it's possible to simply turn off the TV and go to sleep without missing a beat after something like this. I've tried for years to get to the BG Point, but find myself no closer than when I started. I've pretty much concluded that he is not human. Willets Point Jun 02 2009 02:03 PM ="Centerfield":116axrxy]I've tried for years to get to the BG Point, but find myself no closer than when I started. I've pretty much concluded that he is not human.[/quote:116axrxy] Duh! He isn't human. He's a big. orange scaly monster. Benjamin Grimm Jun 02 2009 02:21 PM ="Centerfield":3od0yu6j]I don't see how it's possible to simply turn off the TV and go to sleep without missing a beat after something like this.[/quote:3od0yu6j] And yet, I did. Look at it this way: Donuts are tasty. You don't need a donut to be happy, but when you get one, you enjoy it. It's not necessary to me for the Mets to win. When they do, it's great. Like getting a free donut. But I can live a happy life without donuts. And I can also enjoy my life if the Mets don't win. I think 1986 was the threshold for me. Falling short in 1985 bothered me. But now that I have that World Championship under my belt, I'm good. 1987 didn't bother me for long, and neither did that loss to the Dodgers in 1988. Remember, this is FUN. It's not IMPORTANT. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 02 2009 02:49 PM ="Benjamin Grimm"]="Centerfield"]I don't see how it's possible to simply turn off the TV and go to sleep without missing a beat after something like this. And yet, I did. Look at it this way: Donuts are tasty. You don't need a donut to be happy, but when you get one, you enjoy it. It's not necessary to me for the Mets to win. When they do, it's great. Like getting a free donut. But I can live a happy life without donuts. And I can also enjoy my life if the Mets don't win. I think 1986 was the threshold for me. Falling short in 1985 bothered me. But now that I have that World Championship under my belt, I'm good. 1987 didn't bother me for long, and neither did that loss to the Dodgers in 1988. Remember, this is FUN. It's not IMPORTANT. Yes, I enjoy donuts. But I don't care about donuts. I don't spend long hours and prodigious amounts of money-- hours and money that could otherwise be devoted to more productive (not to mention less mercurial) pursuits-- consuming donuts. Well, not only consuming donuts but discussing the finer points of the donuts' taste, and texture, and whether or not I like the package in which they came, and what the music that plays in my favorite donut store does for digestion, and that bonding over donuts was the one way I could communicate with my mother. If I did, I think I'd feel pretty terrible if my favorite donut shop changed the recipe suddenly, or shuttered its nearest store, or fired my favorite counter guy. I mean, everything in its right place and measure and all that... but I can't divorce the "fun" part from the "caring" part. And that means, to some degree, that I'll feel a little bad when things turn out especially badly. Benjamin Grimm Jun 02 2009 03:32 PM Well, sure. I'm unhappy when the Mets lose, but I just groan and shake it off. All I know is, it works for me. Edgy DC Jun 02 2009 08:14 PM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]Yes, I enjoy donuts. But I don't care about donuts. I don't spend long hours and prodigious amounts of money-- hours and money that could otherwise be devoted to more productive (not to mention less mercurial) pursuits-- consuming donuts. Well, not only consuming donuts but discussing the finer points of the donuts' taste, and texture, and whether or not I like the package in which they came, and what the music that plays in my favorite donut store does for digestion, and that bonding over donuts was the one way I could communicate with my mother. If I did, I think I'd feel pretty terrible if my favorite donut shop changed the recipe suddenly, or shuttered its nearest store, or fired my favorite counter guy. I mean, everything in its right place and measure and all that... but I can't divorce the "fun" part from the "caring" part. And that means, to some degree, that I'll feel a little bad when things turn out especially badly. Jeez, no wonder my newsletter is failing. Edgy DC Jun 03 2009 07:50 AM And isn't it time for the new issue to drop? Fman99 Jun 03 2009 07:54 AM ="Edgy DC":28rds1sz]And isn't it time for the new issue to drop?[/quote:28rds1sz] Wow. I love their tagline. "All gave some. Some gave all. Others gave donuts." John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 03 2009 07:55 AM Best issue ever. soupcan Jun 03 2009 08:21 AM Um....'Dougnuts'? Edgy DC Jun 03 2009 08:29 AM Don't be such a soupcan. I have real work to do. Typos will happen. metirish Jun 12 2009 09:00 PM 6/12/2009 The Castillo game... Frayed Knot Jun 12 2009 09:01 PM This contest is over. Fman99 Jun 12 2009 09:06 PM What's worse is that YES will add this to their rotation of "classic Yankee games" to play during rainouts and such. Swan Swan H Jun 12 2009 09:35 PM The Mets have lost games before under bad circumstances - errors, bases-loaded walks issued, all sorts of stuff - and I understand that fresh wounds sting worst, but I've been watching this team since Ed Kranepool couldn't vote and I can't remember one that hurt worse. Consider: First game at that fucking sewage plant in the Bronx Punked their big-mouth starter Exposed their shabby bullpen Our golden boy beat their infallible closer While our closer popped up their 25 million dollar juicehead in the most clutch of situations And it's the Yankees. The motherfucking cocksucking evil Yankees. We hashed all of this out during the Sox series, but to me a loss to these scumbags is worse than a loss to anyone else. You disagree? I don't give a fuck. In my world this is worse than losing to the Phillies or Braves. Way worse. I know it's regular season, and compared to Beltran v. Wainwright or the Stone/Seaver/Matlack fiasco it's small potatoes, but Damn! this one hurts. MFS62 Jun 13 2009 08:20 AM Swannie, I'll ditto everything you said and add one more to what fman said. My boss is a Yankee fan. It won't have to wait for replays on YES before I have to endure the pain again. It will happen on Monday. Later Swan Swan H Jun 13 2009 09:18 AM My response to Yankee fans (and I have had to do this a couple of times already) is pretty simple - we had you beat, and you know we did. Wright beat Rivera and Frankie beat A-Rod, Joba nearly pissed himself out there, and you won on a miraculous fluke. Savor it all you want, but you know we had you. Gotta keep pushing their couple of failures in their face, hoping to distract from the hideous bottom line. I feel like Sean Hannity in October '08. Benjamin Grimm Jun 13 2009 11:31 AM Whatever argument we can make about how the Mets lost on a fluke can be made by Red Sox fans about Game 6. Swan Swan H Jun 13 2009 12:05 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":15t9dwqh]Whatever argument we can make about how the Mets lost on a fluke can be made by Red Sox fans about Game 6.[/quote:15t9dwqh] Well, the Mets had tied that one already, but otherwise I'm fine with that. Gwreck Jun 13 2009 03:41 PM Yeah, for that reason alone, that analogy doesn't work. dgwphotography Jun 13 2009 04:45 PM ="Frayed Knot":1iap5wrc]This contest is over.[/quote:1iap5wrc] So is the contest for worst loss of the decade... Edgy DC Jun 13 2009 05:04 PM Benitez 2001 is so relieved. Centerfield Jun 15 2009 08:03 AM Who said Benitez is not to blame for last Friday? Gwreck Jun 23 2009 10:09 PM It might not be top 3 but the 6/23 game (2 hits over 9 innings) is on this lsit. Nymr83 Jun 24 2009 12:21 AM ="Gwreck":1a8sk3gv]It might not be top 3 but the 6/23 game (2 hits over 9 innings) is on this lsit.[/quote:1a8sk3gv] to me its not, i'd consider the "worst losses" to involve blowing leads in spectacular fashion, failing to tie up a game despite loading the bases with nobody out, etc. when the other pitcher just shuts you down you shrug your shoulders and get ready for tommorow. i wont remember this loss soon enough. metirish Jun 24 2009 04:45 AM It's on my list. I thought it was embarrassing they way Pineiro mowed them down . I've no problem with getting shut down by an elite pitcher , he is not one of those. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 24 2009 06:49 AM Pineiro handled a healthier version of this team during the St. Louis games, so this didn't exactly come out of nowhere. "This team," by the way, was a couple of different roster moves away from starting Wily Mo Pena and Argenis Reyes. All of which is to say, I respectfully disagree-- this doesn't come close to the neighborhood of being in the vicinity of shouting distance of my list. Centerfield Jun 24 2009 07:54 AM Last night's game pissed me off, and it's about as "unfun" as a game can be, but it wasn't the kind that rips your heart out and stomps on it. I'm serious, I think this contest is over after the Castillo game. Gwreck Jun 24 2009 07:58 AM I don't disagree, but the thread title says "Losses" (ie. plural). Centerfield Jun 24 2009 08:03 AM That's true. For me, the Castillo Game, the Pittsburgh game, the Church Misses Third Game, and the Murphy Drops the Fly Ball game were all worse. I think last night would have been a miserable game to go to. But as long as I could change the channel, last night wasn't excruciating. metirish Jun 24 2009 08:05 AM I'm sure there will be worse losses and yeah the Castillo game will live long in my memory but last nights game while it didn't claw my heart out it was in my opinion a shitty loss, we waste a fine start by Hernandez and can't touch the other guy and our manager didn't paint himself in glory either. themetfairy Jun 24 2009 08:11 AM I'm with CF here. The worst losses are the Castillo-esque ones. Last night was just a bad game, but it didn't grab defeat from the jaws of victory in a heart-wrenching manner. Hawkeye57 Jun 24 2009 08:23 AM Agreed, two hitters happen every now and again and aren't always remembered. Castillo's error, missing third base, those things will probably be remembered more than a two hitter. Wouldn't rate yesterday as a huge loss, but it was tough. Gwreck Jun 24 2009 08:44 AM I'm very surprised to be so strongly outvoted here. For the record, there have been a total of three other games put in this thread: 1. Church misses third/Reed throwing error to end game (at LA) 2. Bullpen meltdown (at Pittsburgh) 3. Castillo drops flyball (at Yankees). --- I guess I missed the memo where this list was limited to 3 games. Edgy DC Jun 24 2009 08:49 AM It seems to be elusive that you're not trying to knock the Castillo game down the list, but rather trying to add to the bottom. I think you should flesh out a top ten right NOW!!!! and then we can argue and (hopefully not) add to the list and knock some games off of it as the season progresses. As long as we similarly maintain the list of top wins. metirish Jun 24 2009 08:53 AM ="Gwreck"]I'm very surprised to be so strongly outvoted here. For the record, there have been a total of three other games put in this thread: 1. Church misses third/Reed throwing error to end game (at LA) 2. Bullpen meltdown (at Pittsburgh) 3. Castillo drops flyball (at Yankees). --- I guess I missed the memo where this list was limited to 3 games. Thanks for this little list......I am going to add last nights game to that list , will it be there at the end of the season as one of the worst losses? , maybe not but right now it is. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 24 2009 09:21 AM I'm gonna throw last Thursday's game onto this list, at No. 4, and suggest April 21 at St. Louis for No. 5 (Perez blows a 4-0 lead, Murphy misplays a fly ball into a triple, Putz sucks, Mets lose 6-4). Edgy DC Jun 24 2009 09:25 AM 6-4 is the score of the season. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 24 2009 09:35 AM Second all of JCL's choices. We're missing a bunch of Phil losses, no? The two blown-in-the-seventh Phils losses on 6/10 and 6/11 (Beltran dropped flyball opens gates for three runs in 7th, 5-4 loss in extra innings on Utley HR, spoiled Pelf start; and Redding spoils his own 3-1 lead/Ibanez nails Takahashi in 11th) stung. Also, I was in CBP for the walking party on 5/2 (Ollie walks 6/doesn't last 3; Takahashi makes great debut, but Feliciano tagged by Ibanez; Mets come back behind Castro and Murphy HRs; Beltran first-and-third DP in top of 11 kills a threat, followed by Bad Sean Green walking Victorino for winning run). It sucked. Fman99 Jun 24 2009 09:58 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":ys44xiw2] Also, I was in CBP for the walking party on 5/2 (Ollie walks 6/doesn't last 3; Takahashi makes great debut, but Feliciano tagged by Ibanez; Mets come back behind Castro and Murphy HRs; Beltran first-and-third DP in top of 11 kills a threat, followed by Bad Sean Green walking Victorino for winning run). It sucked.[/quote:ys44xiw2] I'd add this one. I watched this on TV and it was a turd. Anytime the Cryin Hawaiian is scoring the winning run against the Mets auto-qualifies for this list doesn't it? Frayed Knot Jun 24 2009 10:43 AM I view this thread a way to track those games which either are, or will be, eligible for a 'Top 10' (read: bottom) at the end of the year. We've had those best/worst 10 threads in the past although it's much tougher trying to reconstruct those by looking back than it is tallying them as they go by. Bottom line: I'm OK nominating last night's even though I agree with the view that I don't think it'll make my final cut. Gwreck Jun 24 2009 11:46 AM I guess the Johan meltdown in the Bronx also goes in the bottom 10. SteveJRogers Jul 05 2009 02:20 PM I'm nominating all three games from this weekend, 7/3-7/5. As much of a must sweep/take two out of three as a series can be in the first week of July, and the Mets end up getting swept, falling 5 back in the loss column. A lost weekend to be sure. Fman99 Jul 05 2009 07:16 PM This was an awful series to be sure, but none of these games have that crotchpunchitude that some of the other ones do. Even the bad defense on Saturday was after they were trailing and didn't really affect the score. So, to me, none of these games as individual events make this list. metirish Jul 05 2009 07:30 PM I think I have become immune to such losses and this weekend sweep was not the least surprising. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 05 2009 10:25 PM This weekend-- right up to and including today's Johan Game TM-- had a sick inexorability to it. Depressing, yes. But, sadly, all too expected. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 17 2009 08:56 PM I'm going to nominate Thursday's game, a 5-3 loss to the Braves in the first game back from the Break. Very typical of the 09 Mets but for the fact nobody got hurt and nobody made an egregious error. But a loss like so many others: Not enough offense, all the scoring confined to a single inning, outs and at-bats given away. We were tied and played not to lose, wasting our best relievers who needed (and received) bailouts from the back-end anyway, so everyone is good and used up in the first game of a 10-game road trip. Not to mention it snapped another modest win streak at 2-games, cost us third place in the standings, illustrated the folly of the Francoeur trade in his first chance for revenge, and brought everyone's spirits down in time for a 11-run waffling Friday and another series we won't win. Despite all the worthy candidates already on this fine list, this was the first loss of the year after which I said, yes, I think they're done. Pull the plug. Farmer Ted Jul 17 2009 09:47 PM They're sellers at this point. Mos def. Fman99 Aug 04 2009 08:30 PM Ha! Found it first. Pujols extra innings grand slam. Assuming the Cards hold on, 12-7. Edgy DC Aug 04 2009 08:35 PM Ugh. Premature bookage. Kong76 Aug 04 2009 08:42 PM Have to admit I went fishing for this thread too before it was over. Fman99 Aug 04 2009 08:44 PM ="Edgy DC":10jo8uvo]Ugh. Premature bookage.[/quote:10jo8uvo] Yeah, as soon as the ball left PooHoles' bat. I know, ya gotta believe, yada yada yada, but hell. Edgy DC Aug 08 2009 09:02 AM August 7: The Mets score two in the first and then go into offensive cryongeinic sleep, which is a pity because Oliver Perez turns in his best outing of the year, absoultely dominating the Padres with six innings of non-walky shutout ball. When he falters in the seventh abnd gives up half his two-run lead, Brian Stokes comes in and bails him out huge time. No matter, as Francisco Rodriguez enters in the ninth, has nothing on his fastball, and walks the leadoff batter. Ultimately, he faces five batters, retires none, and tops his appearance by giving up a game-winning grand slam to a mostly punchless shortstop scarcely out of A-ball. Chunky and grumpy ex-Met Heath Bell walks off with the win. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 08 2009 04:52 PM ="Edgy DC":2zh033cf]August 7: The Mets score two in the first and then go into offensive cryongeinic sleep, which is a pity because Oliver Perez turns in his best outing of the year, absoultely dominating the Padres with six innings of non-walky shutout ball. When he falters in the seventh abnd gives up half his two-run lead, Brian Stokes comes in and bails him out huge time. No matter, as Francisco Rodriguez enters in the ninth, has nothing on his fastball, and walks the leadoff batter. Ultimately, he faces five batters, retires none, and tops his appearance by giving up a game-winning grand slam to a mostly punchless shortstop scarcely out of A-ball. Chunky and grumpy ex-Met Heath Bell walks off with the win.[/quote:2zh033cf] Add the aspect of a blown call to let the tying run score that nobody-- save G-Fafif-- is really complaining about, since the BS felt so sickeningly inevitable anyway, and the ump didn't put the leadoff guy on or let Venable whack it, yadda yadda yadda. The 10:05 start always gives a bad west-coast loss five points extra-credit, as well. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 16 2009 11:06 AM 8/15, Giants, 5-4 (10). Let's go through the nightmare scenario checklist: Last man standing/face of franchise/best all-around player during the last four years hit in head by 94-mph fastball? Check. Ace/only Met to believe in roughed up by a free-swinging lineup Bobby Parnell shut down a day earlier? Check. Dongs for insurance and go-ahead runs hit by two players against whom said ace "sent a message?" Check. Gift of blown save (again) from Giant sorta-closer promptly returned? Check. No dropped popups, and not to the Phils/Yanks/Braves, but it's a contender. Kong76 Aug 16 2009 11:18 AM Funny, I was thinking on the subway that the only thing that didn't go wrong was Murphy and Castillo didn't hurt each other in right field on one play. Castillo was limpy for a minute but he's kinda limpy anyway. I hope they shut Wright down for the rest of the season at this point with the team's luck and track record with injuries especially ones to the coconut. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 23 2009 11:04 PM This one[/url:3q7nwdhz]'s got to go in the scrapbook, no? Demoralization early, then increasing interest with the scrapping and the Misching (even as chances get squandered), then the adrenaline rush of the 9th-inning comeback... and the car crash cardiac arrest of the close. And all against our favorite delinquents from down the 'Pike. For a game in which a literal once-in-a-lifetime play delivered the sword stroke to the shoulder blades, what's startling is how routine this feels by now. We're about one game-lost-by-catcher's-interference-followed-by-South-American-football-stadium-style-Pepsi Porch collapse from filling out the "Worst Season Ever" bingo card. metirish Aug 24 2009 07:50 AM Just me but no loss this past month and more warrants being in this thread , nothing surprises , nothing even hurts anymore......it's nothingness . G-Fafif Aug 24 2009 07:52 AM It might be more efficient to start a thread cataloguing which losses aren't the worst of 2009. Tidier anyway. metsguyinmichigan Aug 24 2009 08:04 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":7lkl3daw]This one[/url:7lkl3daw]'s got to go in the scrapbook, no? Demoralization early, then increasing interest with the scrapping and the Misching (even as chances get squandered), then the adrenaline rush of the 9th-inning comeback... and the car crash cardiac arrest of the close. And all against our favorite delinquents from down the 'Pike. For a game in which a literal once-in-a-lifetime play delivered the sword stroke to the shoulder blades, what's startling is how routine this feels by now. We're about one game-lost-by-catcher's-interference-followed-by-South-American-football-stadium-style-Pepsi Porch collapse from filling out the "Worst Season Ever" bingo card.[/quote:7lkl3daw] Brilliant! Actually, you're missing the "best player tagged in steroid scandal" box on the card, but the Yankees already filled that one in this year. Benjamin Grimm Aug 24 2009 08:09 AM ="metirish":2gf3l66x]Just me but no loss this past month and more warrants being in this thread , nothing surprises , nothing even hurts anymore......it's nothingness .[/quote:2gf3l66x] I agree. The losses are worse (and the wins are better) when the games aren't meaningless. metsmarathon Aug 24 2009 08:10 AM i'm really not sure if the circumstances surrounding last night's game warrant its inclusion in this thread. i feel its much more of a tip-your-cap kind of loss. this was a different kind of loss than the luis castillo popup. a very different animal. this was no blown save, no missed third base. if the roles had been reversed - the phils down two, two men on, no outs, top nine - they send the runners, castillo moves over to cover the bag, and gets a screaming liner hit right at him... that pops out of his glove as he prematurely looks down to step on the bag for the second out, and subsequently allows both runners to score - well, then it would belong in this thread. history jumped up and bit us on the ass. c'est la vie, i guess... LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 24 2009 09:13 AM ="metsmarathon"]i'm really not sure if the circumstances surrounding last night's game warrant its inclusion in this thread. i feel its much more of a tip-your-cap kind of loss. this was a different kind of loss than the luis castillo popup. a very different animal. this was no blown save, no missed third base. if the roles had been reversed - the phils down two, two men on, no outs, top nine - they send the runners, castillo moves over to cover the bag, and gets a screaming liner hit right at him... that pops out of his glove as he prematurely looks down to step on the bag for the second out, and subsequently allows both runners to score - well, then it would belong in this thread. history jumped up and bit us on the ass. c'est la vie, i guess... Fair point. And I'd be lying if I said this killed me as much as even the Pittsburgh game from June. These games don't sting anymore. But on a lazy Sunday, driving back from southern NJ, Howie and Whatshisface dragged me back somewhat in for a day. Plus, losing to Philly when you've got a legitimate shot at the end that didn't seem at all possible an hour earlier... doesn't it ache something fierce? (Spoiling the Phils is about the only thing I'm really hoping for, Mets-wise, for the season's remainder. Hate is all I have left.) metsmarathon Aug 24 2009 10:08 AM it does. but this is an ache i can live with - an 'oh well, you got me' kind of ache. like when your pitcher puts his pitch right were he wanted to, and the batter still manages to push a soft fly ball into short right field. you do your best, and if they beat you they beat you. its like that pitch vlad hit a week or so ago that actually bounced in front of home plate - i mean, what are you going to do there but say, "damn, he got me there"? dgwphotography Aug 24 2009 01:58 PM ="metsmarathon":1snick2b]history jumped up and bit us on the ass. [/quote:1snick2b] Your 2009 marketing slogan. Edgy DC Aug 24 2009 02:00 PM Well, something has to be 10th. metsmarathon Aug 25 2009 08:22 AM i'm gonna wander out on a limb and suggest that johan santana might well be the worst loss of 2009...

Well that sucked. I think it would be best for everyone if someone threw JJ Putz into a well a la Baby Jessica, sans rescue.

Not over yet. Capps has been shaky this year. Tatis leadoff single and the tying run is on deck.

Edgy DC wrote: It's a funcition of using Parnell early and briefly as much as anything. It's this "Putz is our 8th inning guy" mentality. The problem is that he's only the 6th or 7th best reliever on this staff (however many guys there are in the pen).