No prizes, but pride and honor is on the line.
Here is today’s Guess the Met… Good luck!
Answer: JOSH THOLE!
7/8/10
Guess The Met
The rules are easy: I post a Mets player photo, but only reveal a tiny part of the image. From there, your goal is to try and guess which player the photo is of.
No prizes, but pride and honor is on the line.
Here is today’s Guess the Met… Good luck!
Answer will come later today. Leave your guesses in the comments.
Answer: JOSH THOLE!
No prizes, but pride and honor is on the line.
Here is today’s Guess the Met… Good luck!
Answer: JOSH THOLE!
7/7/10
Best game of the season? Best game of the season
Johan, Johan, Johan.
A complete-game shutout. A demand to stay in the game and finish it out in the 9th. His first career home run. Awesome.
Johan was far from dominant, striking out only five and walking three. But the offensive power that is the Reds barely had a sniff of a chance to score. He held the Reds to only three hits, one coming in the first and another coming in the 9th.
He also helped his own cause with his first career home run, clanging one off the right field foul pole in the third inning. He was pumped, saluting the crowd as he walked backed to the dugout.
It was one of the most exciting games of the season, I thought. The offense did just enough to support Johan's gem. I was worried going into the 9th, but I was glad Santana stayed on the mound - and then demanded that he stay in the game to finish it out.
All around, one of the best games of the season. Welcome to the second half.
A complete-game shutout. A demand to stay in the game and finish it out in the 9th. His first career home run. Awesome.
Johan was far from dominant, striking out only five and walking three. But the offensive power that is the Reds barely had a sniff of a chance to score. He held the Reds to only three hits, one coming in the first and another coming in the 9th.
He also helped his own cause with his first career home run, clanging one off the right field foul pole in the third inning. He was pumped, saluting the crowd as he walked backed to the dugout.
It was one of the most exciting games of the season, I thought. The offense did just enough to support Johan's gem. I was worried going into the 9th, but I was glad Santana stayed on the mound - and then demanded that he stay in the game to finish it out.
All around, one of the best games of the season. Welcome to the second half.
Manuel’s Musing
“He said he wanted to finish it. I said, 'OK.'
That was that.”
-Jerry Manuel on his best managerial decision this year
7/6/10
A letter from Zack Hample
Last week, I wrote this about Zack Hample. He saw, read and responded. His e-mail is below as I felt it should be shared with you.
Hey.
Just saw your blog entry about me. Thanks for not being completely negative, but I'd still like to point out a few things you may have missed:
1) My life's work is not catching baseballs. I'm a baseball writer. My third book is being published next year.
2) I give away lots of balls to kids, and I've helped countless others snag balls for themselves. Here's some mail I've received from grateful fans.
3) For the last two seasons, I've been using my baseball collection to raise money for a children's baseball charity. Click here to learn more. Last year alone, I raised over $10,000.
4) Even if I were to catch 1,000 home runs during games, the 1,001st would still be an incredible thrill. Yeah, I've "been there before," but my reaction is one of pure joy and excitement. I don't sell these balls. I just love the sport, and I love being a part of it, if only as a spectator. I also love beating the odds. That, to me, is what it's all about, and it'll never get old.
Hope that gives you a better idea of who I am and why I do this.Leave your thoughts in the comments...
7/4/10
Happy 4th
By the way, July 2 marked the 4th birthday of this website. That means I’m entering my fifth year of blogging about the Mets. Wow.
I can’t thank you, the readers, enough for visiting, commenting and e-mailing. You are all the best.
7/2/10
Manuel’s Musing
“If we'd have put any runs on the board, it wouldn't have mattered if he'd have pitched two more innings.”
-Jerry Manuel
7/1/10
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.
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.
6/29/10
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.
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