It's spring training, and Brian Schneider's knee is acting up again. Not surprised on this end.
Schneider sat out the game on Wednesday, and had his knee checked out by team doctors. He was diagnosed with a strain of the right posterior capsule.
This happened last year, so I'm not too worried, but with Ramon Castro almost always struggling with health issues, the team may want to take a good look at Robinson Cancel as a player who will be up and down a lot this year.
3/19/09
Livan for the fifth
Yesterday's performance all but secured Livan Hernandez as the Mets fifth starter. Between his five innings of five hit ball, allowing only one run and Freddy Garcia's two inning, five earned run outing, it seems like Hernandez will be tabbed for the final turn.
And then there is this quote from Jerry Manuel, via Adam Rubin:
He may give up a lot of hits and he may look like he's throwing softball pitches at times, but if Hernandez can get out there for 200+ innings in 2009, he would save the bullpen a lot of work. Even if his ERA is nearing 5.00, I think the offense, on some days, can counter that.
Maybe, just for an added measure, the team can stitch "Traschel" into the back of his jersey, and Hernandez will magically win 15 games.
And as for Garcia, I wouldn't be surprised if by the time the World Baseball Classic is over, he's out looking for work again.
And then there is this quote from Jerry Manuel, via Adam Rubin:
"I'll tell you what, he was pretty good today," Jerry Manuel said about Hernandez. "He has a good presence about him on the mound, in the dugout. It's like he brings a different energy for us. I would have to say he's put himself in a real good position."I'd say that's pretty telling if you ask me.
He may give up a lot of hits and he may look like he's throwing softball pitches at times, but if Hernandez can get out there for 200+ innings in 2009, he would save the bullpen a lot of work. Even if his ERA is nearing 5.00, I think the offense, on some days, can counter that.
Maybe, just for an added measure, the team can stitch "Traschel" into the back of his jersey, and Hernandez will magically win 15 games.
And as for Garcia, I wouldn't be surprised if by the time the World Baseball Classic is over, he's out looking for work again.
3/18/09
Nats sign Beimel
A one-year, $2 million deal got it done for Joe Beimel, as he will head to the nation's capital to pitch for the Nationals.
In a corresponding move, the team cut Shawn Hill.
In a corresponding move, the team cut Shawn Hill.
Live Blog: STL @ NYM -- Join in!
The Atlanta Braves made the trip to Tradition Field today for a 1 p.m. start. I'll be running a live blog from 1:10 p.m. until 4 p.m. Join in!
ESPN Video: David Wright talks to SportsCenter
Don't tell me Jimmy Rollins or Shane Victorino didn't try to get in a few shots to David Wright's ribs during that celebration.
My WBC experience
Let me just explain to you how I experienced the 9th inning of last night's World Baseball Classic game between USA and Puerto Rico...
First of all, I don't get the MLB Network at school, because it's only on digital cable. The school has promised us HBO and other assorted digital channels in the past, but so far we've received zilch. So I'm stuck watching MLB Gameday and relying on instant messages from Ryan Punzalan of Retire31.com.
Then, while I'm "watching" the 9th inning, my girlfriend gets back to school from a media conference, and I've only seen her for three hours in the past 12 days. Obviously, I better get a move on or I'll be in big trouble, so I unplug my laptop and trek up to her car.
The internet cuts out as Kevin Youklis comes to the plate. Now I'm in my girlfriends car as we drive the 300 feet to the parking lot closer to her dorm (she needed someone to help unpack the massive amounts of clothes she brought bacak). Still no internet.
We park, and here I am, sitting in her car, laptop propped open on my lap, verbally begging the internet to connect so I can find out what happened/is happening.
"You are now wirelessly connected to BobcatNet"
Yes! Refresh MLB Gameday...Sign into AIM...
First of all, I don't get the MLB Network at school, because it's only on digital cable. The school has promised us HBO and other assorted digital channels in the past, but so far we've received zilch. So I'm stuck watching MLB Gameday and relying on instant messages from Ryan Punzalan of Retire31.com.
Then, while I'm "watching" the 9th inning, my girlfriend gets back to school from a media conference, and I've only seen her for three hours in the past 12 days. Obviously, I better get a move on or I'll be in big trouble, so I unplug my laptop and trek up to her car.
The internet cuts out as Kevin Youklis comes to the plate. Now I'm in my girlfriends car as we drive the 300 feet to the parking lot closer to her dorm (she needed someone to help unpack the massive amounts of clothes she brought bacak). Still no internet.
We park, and here I am, sitting in her car, laptop propped open on my lap, verbally begging the internet to connect so I can find out what happened/is happening.
"You are now wirelessly connected to BobcatNet"
Yes! Refresh MLB Gameday...Sign into AIM...
Me (11:02:11 PM): score?And that's how I watched the WBC.
Ryan (11:02:20 PM): 5-4
Ryan (11:02:24 PM): bases loaded
Ryan (11:02:30 PM): 2-1
Ryan (11:02:51 PM): YES
Ryan (11:02:54 PM): USA WINS
Me (11:02:57 PM): ????
Ryan (11:03:03 PM): DAVID WRIGHT WALK OFF SINGLE
Me (11:03:11 PM): LOVE HIM
Ryan (11:03:15 PM): DAVID WRIGHT IS EPIC
3/17/09
Ugly hat or ugliest hats?
All MLB teams are wearing special St. Patrick's Day hats today. Unfortunately for whoever designed the Mets hats, they left the blue and orange brim for no apparent reason.
Check out Jerry Manuel sporting the cap...
And here is Robinson Cancel, who the AP cited as an infielder. Now that would be something...(Just checked B-R's site -- Cancel has played 23 games at first base in the minor leagues, 40 in the outfield, and eight at third base.)
Ugly.And now, for reference, a much smarter design of the hat, sported by Jim Leyland...
Less ugly.
Check out Jerry Manuel sporting the cap...
And here is Robinson Cancel, who the AP cited as an infielder. Now that would be something...(Just checked B-R's site -- Cancel has played 23 games at first base in the minor leagues, 40 in the outfield, and eight at third base.)
Ugly.
Less ugly.All green works a lot better than Mets blue on the brim.
Thankfully, it seems the Mets haven't put that awful hat up for sale. Not yet, at least.
AP Photos
Thankfully, it seems the Mets haven't put that awful hat up for sale. Not yet, at least.
AP Photos
Cherry rejected by Orioles
All hope is not lost! I, happily, get to write Rocky Cherry's name again.
According to Adam Rubin, the O's have rejected paying the $25,000 for the return of Cherry. Thus, he went back into the hands of the Mets, who promptly released him.
Rubin notes that the Mets are considering signing Cherry, but for a much lower figure than the $167,000 he was due to make.
Do it, Mets. I want to keep typing "Rocky Cherry."
According to Adam Rubin, the O's have rejected paying the $25,000 for the return of Cherry. Thus, he went back into the hands of the Mets, who promptly released him.
Rubin notes that the Mets are considering signing Cherry, but for a much lower figure than the $167,000 he was due to make.
Do it, Mets. I want to keep typing "Rocky Cherry."
Citi Field, from an architectural standpoint
I'm an architecture junkie. Don't ask me why or how this happened, but I can rattle off tons of features of old buildings. So when The New Yorker wrote a review of Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, one completely devoid of baseball jargon and PR fluff, I was intrigued.
The New Yorker:
The combination of brick and dark metals is spectacular. The way the lighting structures and upper deck of seats stem outward from the red brick hearkens thoughts of Gotham, the city that surrounds it. It's a beautiful play of colors from the dark red and brown to the deep grays.
The article goes on to explain why the Mets don't show any signs of Shea Stadium in their new park, and instead opted for the feel of Ebbets Field. Later in the article, they begin to talk about the surroundings of the two parks, obviously giving a major thumbs up to Yankee Stadium. For Citi Field though, they seem depressed by the endless parking lots and tire repair shops that surround the stadium. Not the Mets fault, and hopefully that will be rectified soon (and correctly).
The articles closing paragraph includes this sentiment, "Citi Field suggests a team that wants to be liked, even to the point of claiming some history that isn’t its own."
They're talking about incorporating Ebbets Field and naming the rotunda after Jackie Robinson, among other things. But without the Giants and Dodgers leaving New York, there likely would be no Mets to begin with. I'm OK with bringing in historic things from around the city and it's baseball history, not so much the Robinson Rotunda.
The more I read, the more I'm excited to finally go and enjoy the new ballpark.
The New Yorker:
Citi Field is pleasanter in every way than the harsh stadium it replaces. The park has a casual feel, with warm red brick inside, lots of amenities, great sight lines, and a layout that’s easy to navigate. There are forty-two thousand seats, fifteen thousand fewer than Shea had, all a calm dark green and arranged in somewhat irregular tiers, bringing you much closer to the field than before. The complex has an energetic composition of brick façades, and dark-gray steel elements, which are said to have been designed with the great steel arch of Hell Gate Bridge in mind, and give the place a feel that is as much industrial as retro.There is nothing in that paragraph I don't like. I've loved the use of brick to line the outside of the building from the start. It's a polar opposite from the bland concrete and harsh blue paneling of Shea Stadium. It invokes thoughts of the hearth of your home and a style of building that has long been forgotten.
The combination of brick and dark metals is spectacular. The way the lighting structures and upper deck of seats stem outward from the red brick hearkens thoughts of Gotham, the city that surrounds it. It's a beautiful play of colors from the dark red and brown to the deep grays.
The article goes on to explain why the Mets don't show any signs of Shea Stadium in their new park, and instead opted for the feel of Ebbets Field. Later in the article, they begin to talk about the surroundings of the two parks, obviously giving a major thumbs up to Yankee Stadium. For Citi Field though, they seem depressed by the endless parking lots and tire repair shops that surround the stadium. Not the Mets fault, and hopefully that will be rectified soon (and correctly).
The articles closing paragraph includes this sentiment, "Citi Field suggests a team that wants to be liked, even to the point of claiming some history that isn’t its own."
They're talking about incorporating Ebbets Field and naming the rotunda after Jackie Robinson, among other things. But without the Giants and Dodgers leaving New York, there likely would be no Mets to begin with. I'm OK with bringing in historic things from around the city and it's baseball history, not so much the Robinson Rotunda.
The more I read, the more I'm excited to finally go and enjoy the new ballpark.
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