9/4/09

Jeff Wilpon in the upper deck at Citi Field [Photo]

Via Twitter user katiestereoJeff Wilpon

File this under: Things I never thought I’d see.

Lineup for Game 135

The Mets return home to Citi Field to welcome the Chicago Cubs.  Here’s the lineup…

  1. Angel Pagan – CF
  2. Luis Castillo – 2B
  3. David Wright – 3B
  4. Daniel Murphy – 1B
  5. Jeff Francoeur – RF
  6. Cory Sullivan – LF
  7. Omir Santos – C
  8. Anderson Hernandez – SS
  9. Bobby Parnell - RHP

Wright ditching new helmet for old faithful

A lot of hubbub was made over David Wright switching to the new S100 helmet from Rawlings.

Well, Wright will be mocked no longer.

Wright said he is switching back his old helmet because the newer, larger one just didn’t fit him right.

“It's just not comfortable,” Wright told reporters. “It's just the last thing I need to be worried about in the box, to be trying to shove it on my head.”

So long, Marvin the Martian and Dark Helmet.  We shall miss you.

New Helmet

Manuel’s Musing

Manuel's Musing “Those are lifelong dreams that are being fulfilled right before your eyes.”

-Jerry Manuel on Pat Misch’s first win

9/3/09

Want to watch Carlos Beltran play for the Brooklyn Cyclones?

Tune in here!


They seem to be having some technical difficulties. Give it time, I guess.

Jerry Koosman sentenced to six months in prison

On Monday I published an article about Jerry Koosman evading his taxes and how he was going to be sentenced for the crime.

Well, here’s an update.

Koosman has been sentenced to six months in jail for failing to pay taxes between 2002 and 2004.  He will also have one year of supervised probation.

From Reuters

Before being sentenced, Koosman, 66, a two-time All-Star left-hander who lives on income from Social Security and occasional appearance fees, apologized.

"Like most people in their sixties, I've made some bad decisions in my life. I shouldn't have listened to those people about the tax returns, but I did, and I take full responsibility," he said in court.

He will also have to work out his debt with the United Stated tax authority.

Link: Mets in impossible spot going forward

Read this entire article by Jayson Stark.  It’s a look at the Mets right now and what lays ahead of this franchise for next year and beyond.

And boy, it does not look good.  Not good at all.

Lineup for Game 134

Josh Thole behind the plate for his first career game with Pat Misch on the mound.  Here’s the lineup…

  1. Angel Pagan – CF
  2. Anderson Hernandez – 2B
  3. David Wright – 3B
  4. Daniel Murphy – 1B
  5. Jeff Francoeur – RF
  6. Cory Sullivan – LF
  7. Josh Thole – C
  8. Wilson Valdez – SS
  9. Pat Misch LHP

Mike Pelfrey went a little crazy in the thin Denver air

David Lennon has a report in today’s Newsday that after Mike Pelfrey was pulled from the game in Colorado on Monday night, he need to blow off some steam. A lot of steam. At least he wasn't driven to baseball betting.

I’ll let Lennon take it from here. It’s truly a fascinating look into the mind of a frustrated baseball player.

"I was so upset, I had to get outside," Pelfrey said Wednesday afternoon. "I had to get some fresh air. I had to breathe."

Once he found himself standing in the middle of the parking lot, Pelfrey began running laps, each about 13 blocks long, as his teammates struggled through the late innings of an 8-3 loss to Colorado.
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"If you had talked to me in the sixth inning," Pelfrey said, "I would have done something I would have regretted."

It seems this long, miserable baseball season is starting to get to some of the players, and who can blame them?

Especially Pelfrey, who has had quite an up-and-down season. One start he looks like an ace, the next he looks like a bum. If you're into sports betting, it'd be a good idea not to put money on Pelfrey.

I like stories like this, not for the reason behind the meltdowns, but for the human aspect of the game. Sometimes we forget that baseball players are people too and they are susceptible to every day emotions. It’s stories like these that remind us of that.

Mets DL trips [Graph]

This is truly remarkable.17_mets2009090209Above is a chart of the Mets roster and call-ups and their time on the DL, as of Sept. 1.

Obviously, there’s too much data to fit here.  Click over to Sean Engelhardt’s site to view the full image.

Prepare to chuckle to yourself and shake your head in disbelief.