Clint Hurdle has asked New York Mets manager Willie Randolph and San Diego Padres manager Bud Black to join him as the N.L. coaches. The Colorado coaching staff - pitching coach Bob Apodaca, hitting coach Alan Cockrell, third base/infield coach Mike Gallego, first base coach Glenallen Hill, bullpen coach Rick Mathews and bench coach Jamie Quirk - will serve on the manager's staff.I have just one question: Is he still allowed to coach the All Star Game if he's no longer the coach of the New York Mets?
5/16/08
Willie Randolph will coach NL All Star team
From a MLB Press Release:
Weather at Yankee Stadium tonight
Oh boy. Tonight's outlook does not look conducive to baseball.I smell a crosstown subway ride at the end of June when the Yankees visit the Mets. I'm calling it now. Sunday, June 29. 1:10 p.m. game at Shea, and then a 8:10 p.m. game at Yankee Stadium to make up for tonight's possible rainout.
That's all assuming the rain doesn't let up.
Willie Randolph should be fired
That's right, everyone, I'm switching sides, defecting, moving to the dark side, if you will.
I believe Willie Larry Randolph (his first name isn't William?) should be fired as the manager of the New York Metropolitans.
This is not a knee jerk reaction.
Don't get me wrong here, I don't think he's a terrible manager, and I think he's been much better this season. He's learned the bullpen, to some degree, and his use of the bench has been pretty good. But he is not the manager for this team. Not now, not in the future.After Billy Wagner's explosion in the locker room, the notion that Randolph has lost control of his team was finally nailed shut into it's coffin. He does not inspire the team, he does not wrangle the team. He does nothing, and hopes the team does it's job.
Yes, there are professional baseball players getting paid millions of dollars to play a game, but sometimes, to mix and come together and play like a team they need a little direction.
This team, right now, has talent. Lots of it. This is the ideal case of a team being made up of players and not being a team. It's like every movie you've ever seen about a team facing adversity in some way, shape, or form. The team is fragmented, with sects and cliques forming all over the place. Someone, not Wagner because he's already burned his bridges, needs to step up as a player to rally behind and bring this team together as one.
Willie, I like you, but your time is up. You've lost control of this team, and it desperately needs a change of "scenery" in the managers office. They need a fresh face, someone who will crack down and hold the player accountable for things they've done. This team is starting to show fire, though they have no wins to show for it. Players are striking out, or lining out and slamming their bats, cursing, and in Moises Alou's case, getting thrown out of a game in two seconds flat.
This team needs a good, hard nosed, old style baseball guy who can rally the troops and get this players back on the straight and narrow. And no, Bobby Valentine is not coming back.
Wagner's words
"Somebody want to tell me why the closer is being interviewed and I didn't even play," Wagner said in an expletive-laced tirade, "and why they are over there and not being interviewed? I got it; they're gone. (Big) shocker."
-via Jeremy Cothran.
Good for you, Billy Wagner. Maybe you should be the next coach of the Mets.
I actually like this. He doesn't care if he burns bridges, he just wants to win. I don't think the other players would stoop low enough to throw a game or something like that, but I think the Mets now need to close the door to the clubhouse, and sit the entire team down. Players, coaching staff, trainers, and the lot.
Get them all in there, get a good motivational speaker, and let's get this team back on track.
-via Jeremy Cothran.
Good for you, Billy Wagner. Maybe you should be the next coach of the Mets.
I actually like this. He doesn't care if he burns bridges, he just wants to win. I don't think the other players would stoop low enough to throw a game or something like that, but I think the Mets now need to close the door to the clubhouse, and sit the entire team down. Players, coaching staff, trainers, and the lot.
Get them all in there, get a good motivational speaker, and let's get this team back on track.
And we're back...
So after a giant hiccup with the servers, TRO is back in business. Thanks for sticking with me though this debacle.
5/15/08
Game Recap: Nationals 1 -- Mets 0
This game went from promising to frustrating very quick.
Mike Pelfrey was sensational as he carried a no hitter through the sixth inning and into the seventh. Unfortunately for the Mets and Pelfrey, Aaron Boone led off the 7th inning with a single to right field to break up the no-hitter.
What else can I say about this? He walked three, eventually allowing three hits and one earned run through 7 2-3 of an inning. Pelfrey struck out four during his stint on the bump.
If his start against the Reds was telling of things to come, I can only imagine how he'll follow up this performance. Amazing, simply amazing. I'm very pleased by his poise on the mound his last few starts. He's really starting to blossom into everything the Mets thought he could be. Go Big Pelf!
The only run of the game came in the top of the 8th, as Jesus Flores doubled to lead off the inning. After pinch hitter Willie Harris, who would play a huge role in the next inning sacrificed Flores to third, Felipe Lopez hit a long fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Flores for the game's only run.
They executed this inning perfectly. Hats off to them. Wish the Mets could do that once in a while.
Jason Bergmann, a product of Rutgers University, matched zero's with Pelfrey the entire day. Bergman ended up going seven strong, allowing only thee hits and walking two while fanning nine. The Mets had huge chances in the 8th and 9th, but nice plays by the Nationals and bad luck for New York foiled their chances.
Jose Reyes led off the 8th inning with a swinging bunt up along the third base line. Luis Castillo was up next, and laid down a beauty of a sacrifice bunt to move Reyes to second. Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman came in to field the bunt, so third base was unoccupied. Reyes spotted this and took off for third. Again, unfortunately for the Mets, short stop Christian Guzman saw the vacant base and took off a few steps ahead of Reyes. A perfect throw from Aaron Boone from first to Guzman on the run, and a behind the back tag nailed Reyes for the second out, killing any rally in the 8th.
I like the idea, but not the execution. Man on second, one out with your 3, 4, 5 hitters coming up is something you kill for. Bringing the man to third would be nice, but only if you're absolutely sure you're going to make it. Reyes should have only taken off if Guzman was unaware of the empty bag.
In the ninth, with Carlos Beltran on first after leading off with a single, Ryan Church came to the plate and blooped a ball down the left field line. Harris, who as mentioned earlier was brought on in the 8th and laid down a successful sacrifice to help bring in the only run, made an absolutely amazing diving backhand grab on the foul line in left to erase Church and chase Beltran back to first.
Absolutely amazing. One of the best catches I've ever seen.
The bad luck wasn't done for the Mets in the 9th. With Carlos Delgado batting, Beltran broke for second, Flores popped up and airmailed the ball into centerfield, allowing Beltran to move all the way to third base with only one out. A few pitches later, Delgado smoked a ball to the right side, where Boone made a very nice catch at first. Beltran had broke for home on the ball, and was easily doubled up off the bag to end the game.
Rough game to cap off a rough series. You have to count on plays not going your way and need to cash in on the opportunities handed to you. Dropping three out of four to the Nationals is not good. Not good at all.
This has to be the most heartbreaking and frustrating loss all year.
Game Ball: Pelfrey, without a doubt.
Mike Pelfrey was sensational as he carried a no hitter through the sixth inning and into the seventh. Unfortunately for the Mets and Pelfrey, Aaron Boone led off the 7th inning with a single to right field to break up the no-hitter.
What else can I say about this? He walked three, eventually allowing three hits and one earned run through 7 2-3 of an inning. Pelfrey struck out four during his stint on the bump.
If his start against the Reds was telling of things to come, I can only imagine how he'll follow up this performance. Amazing, simply amazing. I'm very pleased by his poise on the mound his last few starts. He's really starting to blossom into everything the Mets thought he could be. Go Big Pelf!
The only run of the game came in the top of the 8th, as Jesus Flores doubled to lead off the inning. After pinch hitter Willie Harris, who would play a huge role in the next inning sacrificed Flores to third, Felipe Lopez hit a long fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Flores for the game's only run.
They executed this inning perfectly. Hats off to them. Wish the Mets could do that once in a while.
Jason Bergmann, a product of Rutgers University, matched zero's with Pelfrey the entire day. Bergman ended up going seven strong, allowing only thee hits and walking two while fanning nine. The Mets had huge chances in the 8th and 9th, but nice plays by the Nationals and bad luck for New York foiled their chances.
Jose Reyes led off the 8th inning with a swinging bunt up along the third base line. Luis Castillo was up next, and laid down a beauty of a sacrifice bunt to move Reyes to second. Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman came in to field the bunt, so third base was unoccupied. Reyes spotted this and took off for third. Again, unfortunately for the Mets, short stop Christian Guzman saw the vacant base and took off a few steps ahead of Reyes. A perfect throw from Aaron Boone from first to Guzman on the run, and a behind the back tag nailed Reyes for the second out, killing any rally in the 8th.
I like the idea, but not the execution. Man on second, one out with your 3, 4, 5 hitters coming up is something you kill for. Bringing the man to third would be nice, but only if you're absolutely sure you're going to make it. Reyes should have only taken off if Guzman was unaware of the empty bag.
In the ninth, with Carlos Beltran on first after leading off with a single, Ryan Church came to the plate and blooped a ball down the left field line. Harris, who as mentioned earlier was brought on in the 8th and laid down a successful sacrifice to help bring in the only run, made an absolutely amazing diving backhand grab on the foul line in left to erase Church and chase Beltran back to first.
Absolutely amazing. One of the best catches I've ever seen.
The bad luck wasn't done for the Mets in the 9th. With Carlos Delgado batting, Beltran broke for second, Flores popped up and airmailed the ball into centerfield, allowing Beltran to move all the way to third base with only one out. A few pitches later, Delgado smoked a ball to the right side, where Boone made a very nice catch at first. Beltran had broke for home on the ball, and was easily doubled up off the bag to end the game.
Rough game to cap off a rough series. You have to count on plays not going your way and need to cash in on the opportunities handed to you. Dropping three out of four to the Nationals is not good. Not good at all.
This has to be the most heartbreaking and frustrating loss all year.
Game Ball: Pelfrey, without a doubt.
5/14/08
Game Recap: Nationals 5 -- Mets 3
I have to be blunt. Aaron Heilman blew it again and this loss is all on his back.
Claudio Vargas was downright impressive in his first start with the Mets. He threw 6 1-3 innings, allowing only one run while on the mound and another was charged to him later on in the inning. He gave up three hits, walking four, while striking out six.
I had my expectations set very low for him, but he surprised me, as I'm sure he surprised you. Well done, Vargas. You earned yourself another start, at the least.
Vargas was handed a lead in the fifth inning when Brian Schneider homered to right field, right off the 1988 NL Division Champs banner for the first run of the game.
I'm very pleased by Schneider's hitting ability. Great to see some pop out of this guy who was billed as a "defensive catcher."
Vargas handed the lead right back, allowing Ryan Zimmerman to crank one off the front of the mezzanine level to tie the game up at 1-1.
Vargas was pulled from the game after issuing a one out walk to Elijah Dukes. Aaron Heilman was called in from the bullpen to try and finish out the inning. He eventually recorded three outs, not before the Nationals scored four runs to take the lead.
All the runs came with two outs, and I believe Heilman had two strikes on every batter he faced. He was even ahead 0-2 on Jesus Flores before allowing an RBI single to him.
Heilman needs a change of scenery. New Orleans or another organization, take your pick.
The Mets rally attempts fizzled out too early, as they scored one run in the 7th and 8th innings, but couldn't scratch out anymore. Schneider picked up another RBI with a ground ball to first base, allowing Endy Chavez to score. Carlos Beltran brought home the Mets final run, singling to right and plating Marlon Anderson.
The Mets went down in order in the ninth inning, striking out twice.
This team has fire, but it's equivalent to a cigarette lighter when they need a bonfire. Spurts are shown here and there, but overall, it's just not there. Moises Alou showed a bit of emotion and fire when he was ejected in the fifth after being called out on strikes. Alou immediately slammed his bat into the ground and was ejected seconds later by home plate umpire Dana Demuth.
You have to beat up on last place teams, and now they're heading into tomorrow's matinee hoping for a split of the series, at best. Not good.
Game Ball: Schneider
Claudio Vargas was downright impressive in his first start with the Mets. He threw 6 1-3 innings, allowing only one run while on the mound and another was charged to him later on in the inning. He gave up three hits, walking four, while striking out six.
I had my expectations set very low for him, but he surprised me, as I'm sure he surprised you. Well done, Vargas. You earned yourself another start, at the least.
Vargas was handed a lead in the fifth inning when Brian Schneider homered to right field, right off the 1988 NL Division Champs banner for the first run of the game.
I'm very pleased by Schneider's hitting ability. Great to see some pop out of this guy who was billed as a "defensive catcher."
Vargas handed the lead right back, allowing Ryan Zimmerman to crank one off the front of the mezzanine level to tie the game up at 1-1.
Vargas was pulled from the game after issuing a one out walk to Elijah Dukes. Aaron Heilman was called in from the bullpen to try and finish out the inning. He eventually recorded three outs, not before the Nationals scored four runs to take the lead.
All the runs came with two outs, and I believe Heilman had two strikes on every batter he faced. He was even ahead 0-2 on Jesus Flores before allowing an RBI single to him.
Heilman needs a change of scenery. New Orleans or another organization, take your pick.
The Mets rally attempts fizzled out too early, as they scored one run in the 7th and 8th innings, but couldn't scratch out anymore. Schneider picked up another RBI with a ground ball to first base, allowing Endy Chavez to score. Carlos Beltran brought home the Mets final run, singling to right and plating Marlon Anderson.
The Mets went down in order in the ninth inning, striking out twice.
This team has fire, but it's equivalent to a cigarette lighter when they need a bonfire. Spurts are shown here and there, but overall, it's just not there. Moises Alou showed a bit of emotion and fire when he was ejected in the fifth after being called out on strikes. Alou immediately slammed his bat into the ground and was ejected seconds later by home plate umpire Dana Demuth.
You have to beat up on last place teams, and now they're heading into tomorrow's matinee hoping for a split of the series, at best. Not good.
Game Ball: Schneider
Santana's numbers in the Bronx
Jeremy Cothran, one of the best in the biz, points out Johan Santana's ridiculous stats in Yankee Stadium, where he will pitch against Darrel Rasner on Friday.
"Santana is 3-0 in the Bronx as a member of the Twins, with an ERA of 0.79 in six games."
Investigating further, Santana's first appearance at Yankee Stadium came on April 10, 2003. Santana threw only four innings in relief, allowing four hits, walking none and striking out eight batters. He allowed no runs.
The second start in the Bronx came on September 29, 2004. Santana allowed one earned run on three hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out five that day. He ended up with a no decision that day, breaking a streak of 12 straight appearances with a win, ending the season with a record of 20-6.
The third start in the House That Ruth Built on July 27, 2005, saw Santana throw seven shutout innings, scattering seven hits and two walks. Santana struck out five in the Twins win. He earned the win, his first in Yankee Stadium.
His final start in Yankee Stadium was his "worst." Santana allowed two earned runs over seven innings. He let up four hits while walking two. Again, he struck out five batters. The Twins won the game 6-2, making a winner of Santana and moving his record at Yankee Stadium to 2-0.
So, after doing some research, Santana's numbers at Yankee Stadium are actually: 2-0, 23 IP, 18 hits, 5 BB, 23 K, 1.17 ERA.
Not too shabby. Let's hope he can turn out another one of these performance and show the Yankees brass and front office what they missed out on.
Update: A fellow blogger, MetsWalkoffs, points out that I completely left out Santana's starts during the postseason.
Santana pitched in two games at Yankee Stadium during the 2003 and 2004 ALDS.
On September 30, 2003, Santana threw four innings, allowing three hits and walking two. He did not allow a run and struck out three batters.
His other appearance came on October 5, 2004, where he went seven innings and scattered nine hits. He walked only one and struck out five. Again, he did not allow a run to score. The Twins won this game, and earned Santana his third win at Yankee Stadium.
Factoring the previously left out postseason appearances, Santana's adjusted numbers at Yankee Stadium for his career: 3-0, 34 IP, 30 hits, 8 BB, 31 K, 0.79 ERA.
So Jeremy had it right to begin with. Whoops!
"Santana is 3-0 in the Bronx as a member of the Twins, with an ERA of 0.79 in six games."
Investigating further, Santana's first appearance at Yankee Stadium came on April 10, 2003. Santana threw only four innings in relief, allowing four hits, walking none and striking out eight batters. He allowed no runs.
The second start in the Bronx came on September 29, 2004. Santana allowed one earned run on three hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out five that day. He ended up with a no decision that day, breaking a streak of 12 straight appearances with a win, ending the season with a record of 20-6.
The third start in the House That Ruth Built on July 27, 2005, saw Santana throw seven shutout innings, scattering seven hits and two walks. Santana struck out five in the Twins win. He earned the win, his first in Yankee Stadium.
His final start in Yankee Stadium was his "worst." Santana allowed two earned runs over seven innings. He let up four hits while walking two. Again, he struck out five batters. The Twins won the game 6-2, making a winner of Santana and moving his record at Yankee Stadium to 2-0.
So, after doing some research, Santana's numbers at Yankee Stadium are actually: 2-0, 23 IP, 18 hits, 5 BB, 23 K, 1.17 ERA.
Not too shabby. Let's hope he can turn out another one of these performance and show the Yankees brass and front office what they missed out on.
Update: A fellow blogger, MetsWalkoffs, points out that I completely left out Santana's starts during the postseason.
Santana pitched in two games at Yankee Stadium during the 2003 and 2004 ALDS.
On September 30, 2003, Santana threw four innings, allowing three hits and walking two. He did not allow a run and struck out three batters.
His other appearance came on October 5, 2004, where he went seven innings and scattered nine hits. He walked only one and struck out five. Again, he did not allow a run to score. The Twins won this game, and earned Santana his third win at Yankee Stadium.
Factoring the previously left out postseason appearances, Santana's adjusted numbers at Yankee Stadium for his career: 3-0, 34 IP, 30 hits, 8 BB, 31 K, 0.79 ERA.
So Jeremy had it right to begin with. Whoops!
Fan caught trying to steal part of Shea
Patrick Oriani, 18, of Jersey City, was caught trying to smuggle a seat from the upper deck of Shea Stadium out of the park, concealing it under a blanket.
First of all, does he really expect to make it out of the place carrying a giant seat?
And secondly, I really want to know what was said to him by the guards who figured out his dastardly plan.
Security guard: "Sir, is that a chair? Are you carrying a chair under that blanket?"
Patrick: "Uhhhh...no."
Security guard: "Come with me, sir."
Patrick: "Dagnabbit! I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddlingkids security guards!"
First of all, does he really expect to make it out of the place carrying a giant seat?
And secondly, I really want to know what was said to him by the guards who figured out his dastardly plan.
Security guard: "Sir, is that a chair? Are you carrying a chair under that blanket?"
Patrick: "Uhhhh...no."
Security guard: "Come with me, sir."
Patrick: "Dagnabbit! I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddling
Answers: Best pitching seasons
I received a few guesses for the four pitchers named in the Sports Illustrated list of 15 best pitching seasons.
Everyone nailed down the four pitchers names, but only one person correctly identified the year picked out by SI. Half-congrats to Andrew Fletcher of Scott Proctor's Arm.
The pitchers, and the years they had their best season are:
Tom Seaver, 1971.
Dwight Gooden, 1985.
Pedro Martinez, 2000.
Johan Santana, 2005.
Here are the blurbs:
Seaver won three Cy Youngs, but his best season may have been in a year in which he didn't win the award. In 1971, "Tom Terrific" validated his nickname by leading the league in ERA (1.76) and strikeouts (289) while going 20-10 for the Mets.
Few pitchers have burst onto the scene with as much promise and dominance as Dwight Gooden. "Doc" was a mere 20 years old and in just his second big-league season when he cut through the National League in 1985, going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA, eight shutouts and 268 strikeouts.
Pedro Martinez's power pitching style was on full display during the 2000 season in which he won 18 games, posted a 1.74 ERA, hurled seven complete games, and whiffed 284 hitters. He also set a number of marks. His WHIP was 0.74, breaking a 77-year-old record set by Walter Johnson, and he also became the only starting pitcher to have more than twice as many strikeouts in a season (284) as hits allowed (128). The only question: How did he lose six times?
During his first full season as a starter in 2004, Johan Santana enjoyed one of the best second halves of a season for a pitcher. He went 13-0 and achieved a 1.21 ERA to finish the season with a 20-6 record, 2.61 ERA and 265 strikeouts on the way to his first of two AL Cy Young awards.
I'm predicting John Maine being added to this list after this season.
Also, I left off a player who completed the task with another team, and later pitched on the Mets for one season. Orel Hershiser's 1988 season was recognized, which he pitched over 10 years before coming to the Mets.
Everyone nailed down the four pitchers names, but only one person correctly identified the year picked out by SI. Half-congrats to Andrew Fletcher of Scott Proctor's Arm.
The pitchers, and the years they had their best season are:
Tom Seaver, 1971.
Dwight Gooden, 1985.
Pedro Martinez, 2000.
Johan Santana, 2005.
Here are the blurbs:
Seaver won three Cy Youngs, but his best season may have been in a year in which he didn't win the award. In 1971, "Tom Terrific" validated his nickname by leading the league in ERA (1.76) and strikeouts (289) while going 20-10 for the Mets.
Few pitchers have burst onto the scene with as much promise and dominance as Dwight Gooden. "Doc" was a mere 20 years old and in just his second big-league season when he cut through the National League in 1985, going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA, eight shutouts and 268 strikeouts.
Pedro Martinez's power pitching style was on full display during the 2000 season in which he won 18 games, posted a 1.74 ERA, hurled seven complete games, and whiffed 284 hitters. He also set a number of marks. His WHIP was 0.74, breaking a 77-year-old record set by Walter Johnson, and he also became the only starting pitcher to have more than twice as many strikeouts in a season (284) as hits allowed (128). The only question: How did he lose six times?
During his first full season as a starter in 2004, Johan Santana enjoyed one of the best second halves of a season for a pitcher. He went 13-0 and achieved a 1.21 ERA to finish the season with a 20-6 record, 2.61 ERA and 265 strikeouts on the way to his first of two AL Cy Young awards.
I'm predicting John Maine being added to this list after this season.
Also, I left off a player who completed the task with another team, and later pitched on the Mets for one season. Orel Hershiser's 1988 season was recognized, which he pitched over 10 years before coming to the Mets.
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