The man had a reason to celebrate.Jonathon Niese threw eight shutout innings en route to his first major league win. He also picked up his first major league hit.
Well done, sir.
AP Photo
9/14/08
Photo of the Day: Jonathon Niese
The man had a reason to celebrate.Jonathon Niese threw eight shutout innings en route to his first major league win. He also picked up his first major league hit.
Well done, sir.
AP Photo
9/13/08
Game Recap: Braves 3 -- Mets 2 & Mets 5 -- Braves 0
Twofer. (Short & sweet version.)
Pitching Performance
Johan Santana pitched well. He labored, but kept the runs off the board. Not much more you can ask of him.
The bullpen handed it away...again. Poor Johan. Scott Schoeneweis was the goat in the early game, letting a shut out and the win slip away without recording an out.
Honestly, I feel bad for Johan. He does as much as he can do, leaves with the win, then has nothing to show for it. It'd be a different story if the Mets could at least earn a win, but that didn't happen either. This guy could, and probably should, be up for the Cy Young, but because of all these blown wins, he's nowhere close.
Offensive Output
Scratching out two runs in the early innings, and doing not much else isn't the way to win a game. Loading the bases with nobody out and getting nothing out of it will not help you win games, simple as that.
Game Ball: Johan Santana.
Pitching Performance (Game 2)
Jon Niese, you were everything I could have asked for, and more. That curveball is absolutely devastating. Eight innings of shutout baseball, in your second start no less.
Finally something awesome like this happens to the Mets. Unbelievable. Pencil him in for another start, please.
Offensive Output
A few dingers never hurt anybody. David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltran all go yard.
Game Ball: Jon Niese, without a doubt.
Pitching Performance
Johan Santana pitched well. He labored, but kept the runs off the board. Not much more you can ask of him.
The bullpen handed it away...again. Poor Johan. Scott Schoeneweis was the goat in the early game, letting a shut out and the win slip away without recording an out.
Honestly, I feel bad for Johan. He does as much as he can do, leaves with the win, then has nothing to show for it. It'd be a different story if the Mets could at least earn a win, but that didn't happen either. This guy could, and probably should, be up for the Cy Young, but because of all these blown wins, he's nowhere close.
Offensive Output
Scratching out two runs in the early innings, and doing not much else isn't the way to win a game. Loading the bases with nobody out and getting nothing out of it will not help you win games, simple as that.
Game Ball: Johan Santana.
Pitching Performance (Game 2)
Jon Niese, you were everything I could have asked for, and more. That curveball is absolutely devastating. Eight innings of shutout baseball, in your second start no less.
Finally something awesome like this happens to the Mets. Unbelievable. Pencil him in for another start, please.
Offensive Output
A few dingers never hurt anybody. David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltran all go yard.
Game Ball: Jon Niese, without a doubt.
I'll post soon
I'm partying with my family at my parents 25th wedding anniversary.
What a game by Jon Niese!
What a game by Jon Niese!
A sweep would do wonders
The Mets will welcome the Braves for their final series in Shea, and a sweep would be wonderful.
If the team from New York can take both games today, then a win tomorrow would just be a bonus. It's tough to win two games on the same day, especially with a pitcher making his second start in the big leagues pitching in the night cap.
If the Mets can manage to take all three games, their magic number can be lowered to 11. If the Phillies lose any games, that number will dip even lower. The Mets don't have an off day between now and the end of the season, and if they are going to make the playoffs, it look entirely plausible that they will clinch at home.
Say they take two of three this series, their MN will dip from 14 to 12. Say the Phillies drop two to the Brewers, the number will be at 10 by Monday morning. The Mets then go on a seven game road trip, starting in Washington for a four game set, and then to Turner Field for three.
Let's err on the side of caution, and say the Mets win only four. The number drops to six. Say the Phillies win four over that same span. The number slips down to four, and it's September 22nd.
The Mets finish the season with seven in a row at home, facing the Cubs for four and the Marlins (again?!) for three to bring an end to the regular season. If all goes according to my plan, the Mets MN is four with the rest of their games at home. Seems logical, no?
The Mets lost a coin-flip to the Phillies, and any possible tie breaker will take place in Philly. So hopefully the Mets can get it done, and if they do get it done, they do it at home. Obviously, beggars can't be choosers and clinching is clinching, I don't care where they do it. I'd prefer it at home, but my heart won't be broken if they do it in Atlanta.
As it stands, all the Mets need to do is win. Simple as that. Easy on paper, a little harder to pull off, but the way this team is playing I think it's plausible and possible.
If the team from New York can take both games today, then a win tomorrow would just be a bonus. It's tough to win two games on the same day, especially with a pitcher making his second start in the big leagues pitching in the night cap.
If the Mets can manage to take all three games, their magic number can be lowered to 11. If the Phillies lose any games, that number will dip even lower. The Mets don't have an off day between now and the end of the season, and if they are going to make the playoffs, it look entirely plausible that they will clinch at home.
Say they take two of three this series, their MN will dip from 14 to 12. Say the Phillies drop two to the Brewers, the number will be at 10 by Monday morning. The Mets then go on a seven game road trip, starting in Washington for a four game set, and then to Turner Field for three.
Let's err on the side of caution, and say the Mets win only four. The number drops to six. Say the Phillies win four over that same span. The number slips down to four, and it's September 22nd.
The Mets finish the season with seven in a row at home, facing the Cubs for four and the Marlins (again?!) for three to bring an end to the regular season. If all goes according to my plan, the Mets MN is four with the rest of their games at home. Seems logical, no?
The Mets lost a coin-flip to the Phillies, and any possible tie breaker will take place in Philly. So hopefully the Mets can get it done, and if they do get it done, they do it at home. Obviously, beggars can't be choosers and clinching is clinching, I don't care where they do it. I'd prefer it at home, but my heart won't be broken if they do it in Atlanta.
As it stands, all the Mets need to do is win. Simple as that. Easy on paper, a little harder to pull off, but the way this team is playing I think it's plausible and possible.
Poll: Mets MVP is Carlos Delgado
In my latest poll, I asked you to vote for who the Mets MVP was in 2008. It was a close race, but here are the results:
Carlos Delgado -- 36%
Jose Reyes -- 28%
Mike Pelfrey -- 14%
David Wright -- 14%
Johan Santana -- 6%
So even though Dayn Perry doesn't think Delgado is an MVP candidate, or even the MVP of the Mets, the fans have voted him in.
I admit, I voted for Reyes, simply for his numbers. But looking at it, Delgado has been more valuable to his team, as opposed to putting up great numbers.
Next poll: Are you surprised with Pelfrey's '08 season?
Carlos Delgado -- 36%
Jose Reyes -- 28%
Mike Pelfrey -- 14%
David Wright -- 14%
Johan Santana -- 6%
So even though Dayn Perry doesn't think Delgado is an MVP candidate, or even the MVP of the Mets, the fans have voted him in.
I admit, I voted for Reyes, simply for his numbers. But looking at it, Delgado has been more valuable to his team, as opposed to putting up great numbers.
Next poll: Are you surprised with Pelfrey's '08 season?
9/12/08
You can own Willie Mays, Roger McDowell and Mike Piazza's locker...for only $50,000
Chump change, right?
If you're looking for something a little bit cheaper, Tom Seaver, Ron Darling, and John Franco's is only $41,000.
The 1969 and 1986 World Champions flag is also going for a cool 50 G's.
The cheapest thing I can find is something called the "Order x-press PU Window Sign - 3rd Base Side." Only $25! That, or the large collection of $35 napkin holders.
For the whole list, go to Loge 13 and be prepared to break out the checkbook(s).
If you're looking for something a little bit cheaper, Tom Seaver, Ron Darling, and John Franco's is only $41,000.
The 1969 and 1986 World Champions flag is also going for a cool 50 G's.
The cheapest thing I can find is something called the "Order x-press PU Window Sign - 3rd Base Side." Only $25! That, or the large collection of $35 napkin holders.
For the whole list, go to Loge 13 and be prepared to break out the checkbook(s).
See you for two tomorrow
The Mets and the Braves final series at Shea will have to wait.
Tonight's game has been rained out, but will be made up tomorrow as part of a single-admission doubleheader.
The Mets are the game of the week on FOX tomorrow, so the 3:55 pm game will start as planned. Roughly 30 minutes after the end of game one, the second game will begin in front of the same crowd.
So if you have tickets tomorrow, enjoy a long, hopefully dry, day of baseball.
Tonight's game has been rained out, but will be made up tomorrow as part of a single-admission doubleheader.
The Mets are the game of the week on FOX tomorrow, so the 3:55 pm game will start as planned. Roughly 30 minutes after the end of game one, the second game will begin in front of the same crowd.
So if you have tickets tomorrow, enjoy a long, hopefully dry, day of baseball.
Home stretch
With 17 games to play (an ominous number, as we all know) the Mets will attempt to make the playoffs with the Phillies looking right over their solider.
I have just one thing to say...
That is all. Let's go Mets!
I have just one thing to say...
That is all. Let's go Mets!
Avoiding the jinx
This morning, I woke up with a bunch of ideas about what to write about. After taking stock of all of them, I realized I shouldn't post any of them.
I'm a superstitious guy, something you know if you've been reading. I've shaved my beard for the Mets, wear a silly plastic helmet, had a lucky box during the '06 playoffs, so on and so forth.
A blog about which players would make the postseason roster, in my mind, would be a jinx. An article about taking the bad teams to task, like the team has done in 2008 as opposed to last year. A post my feelings going into the final stretch would feel a little iffy.
Maybe even a whole piece about how superstitious I am could lead to... Uh-oh.
Things have to be perfect for me when I watch a game. The entire NFL playoffs last year, I wore exactly the same outfit of pajama pants, Mets t-shirt, and an ugly, oversized Giants sweatshirt. I even wore it to the Super Bowl party. But hey, it worked.
My life will be routine watching a game from here on out. They've been winning lately when I don't listen to the TV. SNY on mute seems to help the Mets, so that will continue. The black helmet hasn't been moved in a few weeks, so that will be moved as well.
This is the home stretch, so everyone get out your lucky whatever-you-wear, rub your lucky whatever-you-rub, and do what you do. There can be no overload of luck.
I'm a superstitious guy, something you know if you've been reading. I've shaved my beard for the Mets, wear a silly plastic helmet, had a lucky box during the '06 playoffs, so on and so forth.
A blog about which players would make the postseason roster, in my mind, would be a jinx. An article about taking the bad teams to task, like the team has done in 2008 as opposed to last year. A post my feelings going into the final stretch would feel a little iffy.
Maybe even a whole piece about how superstitious I am could lead to... Uh-oh.
Things have to be perfect for me when I watch a game. The entire NFL playoffs last year, I wore exactly the same outfit of pajama pants, Mets t-shirt, and an ugly, oversized Giants sweatshirt. I even wore it to the Super Bowl party. But hey, it worked.
My life will be routine watching a game from here on out. They've been winning lately when I don't listen to the TV. SNY on mute seems to help the Mets, so that will continue. The black helmet hasn't been moved in a few weeks, so that will be moved as well.
This is the home stretch, so everyone get out your lucky whatever-you-wear, rub your lucky whatever-you-rub, and do what you do. There can be no overload of luck.
9/11/08
Mets to add MLS team?
According to Bloomberg, the New York Mets may be looking to purchase an Major League Soccer team.
Don't worry, they won't be playing in Citi Field.
David Howard, the Mets executive vice president for business, was quoted as saying "Before even Citi Field is completed, we're looking to see what might be next for us. There's a lot of opportunity and potential."
The real reason behind this would be to add an MLS team to the SNY umbrella. They already have the Mets, pre-game for the Jets, the Big East, so the next logical step outside of the NHL is the MLS.
I still don't know how the MLS hasn't caught on in America yet, but it will soon. They are planning to add four more by 2011, so one of those could end up a sister team to the Mets.
Don't worry, they won't be playing in Citi Field.
David Howard, the Mets executive vice president for business, was quoted as saying "Before even Citi Field is completed, we're looking to see what might be next for us. There's a lot of opportunity and potential."
The real reason behind this would be to add an MLS team to the SNY umbrella. They already have the Mets, pre-game for the Jets, the Big East, so the next logical step outside of the NHL is the MLS.
I still don't know how the MLS hasn't caught on in America yet, but it will soon. They are planning to add four more by 2011, so one of those could end up a sister team to the Mets.
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