NBC New York has been running contests for the “Golden Local,” pitting New York City 
Citi Field takes the cake – by a landslide – garnering 62 percent of the Golden Local vote. Yankee Stadium picked up the opposing 38 percent of the voters.
I gave Citi Field the edge in my blow-by-blow breakdown and now New Yorkers have agreed.
Congrats, Citi Field. Officially the best stadium in New York.
at that point,”
-Jerry Manuel on his decision to use
Ken Takahashi in the 10th inning
John Maine has been placed on the disabled list with what is being called “shoulder fatigue.” Omar Minaya noted there was no structural damage in the arm.
Maine was pushed back one day from his scheduled start to hopefully give him another day to recuperate and let his arm get some rest. Apparently, that wasn’t enough.
Maine was slated to start on Saturday. No replacement pitcher has been named, though Bart Hubbuch notes that Fernando Nieve, who was a starter in the minor leagues, could get a sport start.
According to Minaya, Maine had an MRI earlier in the week.
Nelson Figueroa, anyone?
Figueroa last pitched on Monday, June 8, meaning it would be four days rest if he was to pitch on Saturday against the New York Yankees.
Update - 6:37 a.m.: It's looking more and more like Nieve will make the start on Saturday.
Update – 11:15 p.m.: A source just alerted me to the fact that WFAN reported Figueroa would get the call up. I did not hear it and cannot confirm. Anyone else hear this report?
Another game, another late-inning, heart-breaking, soul-crushing defeat by the Philadelphia Phillies.
OK, maybe a little bit of an exaggeration, but it sure stung.
The Philadelphia Phillies (35-23) beat the New York Mets (31-27) by a score of 6-3 in 10 innings.
Tim Redding made the start for the Mets and turned out another good performance. Seven innings, six hits and three earned runs for Redding. He walked none and struck out six.
A very good, and surprising start, by Redding.
Pedro Feliciano turned in his third spectacular outing of the series, pitching another hitless inning. Bobby Parnell turned in an easy ninth inning and came out to start the tenth. After one out, Parnell let up a single to Shane Victorino and was removed from the game.
Ken Takahashi, whom lefties were hitting .440 off of entering the game, walked Chase Utley to start his outing. After striking out Ryan Howard for the second out, Raul Ibanez came to the plate. Ibanez parked a Takahashi pitch into the bullpen for a three-run blast, putting the Phillies in the lead for good.
I just don’t get this move. The Mets are sorely lacking a pitcher other than Feliciano who can get out left handed batters at a decent clip.
The Mets put one on the board in the first, third and fifth. All runs were scored by Luis Castillo and he was driven in each time by Carlos Beltran.
Beltran plated Castillo, who went 3-5, in three seperate ways. A groundout scored him in the first, a RBI double in the third and a sac-fly in the fifth.
David Wright went 3-4 on the night.
The Mets didn’t pick up a hit from the sixth inning until Omir Santos singled to lead off the bottom of the 10th.
Another game of score early, then don’t score again for the Mets bats.
The rubber game between the Mets and the Phillies.
Enjoy some barstool-esque banter with some fellow fans.
(Chat removed, as usual.)
Daniel Murphy completely missed this series, with Fernando Tatis taking every game at first base. Gary Sheffield started every game in RF.
According to T.R. Sullivan, the Texas Rangers have signed Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez to a minor league deal.
El Duque last pitched in the major leagues with the Mets in 2007, going 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA.
I’ll save my comments and refer to a Photoshop I put together when he was still with the Mets…
Meanwhile, his brother Livan Hernandez is 5-1 with a 3.88 ERA with the Mets the season.
Jose Reyes celebrates his 26th birthday today. 
How original! Via MikeFrancesa.com:
I work for Hunt Construction. I was a foreman at Citi Field. There are 3 Phillies Jerseys buried in the ball park. As a lifelong Phillies fan, I felt it was my duty to jinx the Mets. I'm not telling you my real name for obvious reasons. The jerseys are:
1. Under the Fanwalk bricks.
2. Jackie Robinson Rotunda in the vicinity of the Ticket Office window.
3. Near the vicinity of the '47 Shop near right field.
The jinx really seems to be working, considering the Mets are 18-10 at their new home ballpark.
Great job buddy!
Oh yeah, and I’m calling shenanigans on this. Total shenanigans.