The surprise

This morning, I felt like I was seven again.

For some reason last night (likely due to my beer-cap table), I was in no mood to watch baseball. I caught about two innings of action before retiring to an early slumber, accompanied by my trusty laptop and the complete catalog of The IT Crowd.

So this morning, when I woke up, I had no idea what the score was of the Mets game.  It was weird.  In this age of connectivity - of smartphones, netbooks and iPads - not knowing the score of the game is so foreign to me.

For the first time in an unknown number of years, with my laptop powered off and Motorola Droid charging, I turned to the ESPN bottom line.  As I munched on my Cheerios, I waited with bated breath for the MLB tab to turn up.  Then, I had to wait for the Mets and Marlins score to roll around.

Finally, the scored turned over and I saw the Mets secured a 6-5 victory, with the win going to Mr. Elmer Dessens.  Confused, it wasn't until I got into work this morning that I was able to look up the game recap and the box score for last night's affair.

So, hooray for not getting swept.  Now get the heck out of Puerto Rico.

Zack Hample: Idol or idiot?

If you don’t know who Zack Hample is, read here, here and here.

Hample caught Mike Stanton’s home run in the 8th inning of last night’s Mets/Marlins game.  He proceeded to celebrate like he’s never caught a home run ball before.

Here’s why I like him: Catching a home run ball is tough.  I’ve been to many games and never come close.  I’ve been lucky enough to have someone give me a batting practice ball from Shea Stadium as a few players tossed her one each.  But to collect over 4,000 balls is beyond luck.  It’s beyond chance.  It’s downright crazy.

I know Hample plans and begs and does everything under his power to acquire these balls, but it’s still not something to be laughed at.  It’s quite an “accomplishment” and a testament to a die-hard fan who really knows what he want to do with his life(?).

Why I don’t: Really? This is your life’s work? Collecting over 4,000 baseballs from stadiums and then celebrating like it’s your first? Come on, kid. Act like you’ve been there before.

If I managed to catch one, or anyone else for that matter, they would be allowed to dance and sing and high five everyone around them with glee.  You, you should just go sit back down and notch another stadium off your list in your notebook.

But what really irks me is that over the years you’ve been doing this, you’ve taken away that joy of catching a home run ball or being tossed a BP ball by a player from 4,000 other kids and fans. You’ve felt the joy thousands of times over that some other people never will, because of your strange and obsessive quest to obtain those little spherical objects.

Frankly, I say give it up. Let the rest of us have your fun. You’ve made your mark on baseball and society. It’s our turn now.

Manuel’s Musing

“He wanted to get out there and get a good lead, and steal a base right away. He got kind of caught up in the emotion just a little bit.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jose Reyes

Oh, by the way

Boo-yah.

Bobby V, ESPN employee

This masked man is not the Marlins next manager.

Manuel’s Musing

“We have probably taken that too far, the pitch count. We have trained the mind to think that they can only throw a certain amount of pitches. If you train to finish the game regardless of what it took, then I think the pitch count would be different. We've trained people to be somewhat limited because injury is a possibility.”

-Jerry Manuel on pitch counts

Which players would you be willing to give up for Cliff Lee?

I asked Twitter that very question.  Not necessarily which package will get it done, but who would you consider throwing in to acquire Lee. Here are some responses…

glenngiangrande: I say nobody is off limits. Mejia, F-Mart, whomever. Show the fan base something and get a deal for an ace done!

ZekeO73: Murph, Thole, Feliciano, Carter. Not an impressive list but, I don't think the Ms should be bailed out for a bad season

Ben_Yoel: Jenrry Mejia, F-Mart, Brad Holt, Josh Thole, Robert Carson, Dillon Gee just to name a few.

Jim1975: package Thole or Feliciano and a pitcher or just Beltran definitely keep Pagan

trmbonemulligan: Flores and many more. No Pagan and MAYBE Mejia

patrickboegel: Mejia, Martinez

dances_w_vowels: as a rental, some package of F-Mart and a young "second-tier" pitching prospect on the Eddie Kunz level. Not Mejia.

How about you?  Which players would you be willing to part with to land Lee this year?

Bobby V to the Fish

Many are reporting that Bobby Valentine has been hired as the new manager of the Florida Marlins.

Not really any thoughts on this.  Glad he's back in baseball, not glad he's in the NL East.

So I'll leave you with this...

Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Manuel’s Musing

“My honest feeling is that he will make a push to be in Puerto Rico. That's home. He might end up there. I don't know.”

-Jerry Manuel on Carlos Beltran returning for the series in Puerto Rico

The magic of R.A. Dickey

What a pleasant surprise he has been.

R.A. Dickey is another of Omar Minaya's scrap heap pickups that has surpassed expectations and performed admirably for the team.  If he could build a team entirely off of low-risk players a year removed from mediocrity, I think he would.  The team would probably be horrible, though.

His one pickup a year seems to do well, though.

Honestly, raise your hand if you thought Dickey would a) make a start for the Mets this season and b) actually do well.

None of you?  That's what I thought.

But I can't complain.  He's been awesome so far and there's no sign of him stopping yet.

Just waiting for the two-year, $10 million contract for Dickey at year's end.