Preoccupied by the goings-on at the first Amazin' Tuesday (thanks to all FAFIF readers who joined in the fun), I can't say I really watched the Mets-Nationals game, but I did look up at the Two Boots screen now and then.
I looked up and there was Nyjer Morgan, who has become the second coming of Willie Harris, making a difficult catch easily.
I looked up and there was Jeff Francoeur, defensive whiz, making an easy play not at all.
I looked up and there was Omar Minaya chatting away with Gary and Keith. The sound was down. Just as well.
I looked up one more time and there was Long Beach's own John Lannan posting the Washington Nationals' first complete game shutout since former Met Pedro Astacio spun one in 2006. I imagine Pedro Astacio, not quite 40, is contemplating a comeback given the decent chance he, too, could shut out the Mets in 2009. Pedro Astacio won 129 big league games. The 2009 Mets have competed in only a handful since the end of May.
The Mets, looking up at the Phillies from ten lengths back now, have been shut out five times in their last 13 games, seven times in 26 games. They have shown up. They haven't competed. You don't have to watch all that closely to notice the difference.
To the Amazin' Tuesday attendees who asked about purchasing my book, sorry I didn't think to bring copies. But Faith and Fear in Flushing: An Intense Personal History of the New York Mets is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at bookstores throughout the Metropolitan Area. Thanks very much for asking. The discussion continues on Facebook.
Ugh, Ollie. Walking six and hitting a guy. Tonight, as always, it was pretty evident that he's got the stuff to be a great pitcher, but he's a guy that really wants to be a strikeout pitcher who is earning a reputation for averaging a walk per inning. With that sort of reputation, how can you intimidate and fool guys into swinging at craziness when it's a 3-2 count?
And I still think that little bow that Warthen introduced to his windup last year seems like it's been super effective, but he's still a mess pitching from the stretch. Guys get on base and it ruins whatever mojo he had going.
Man, I was more encouraged by his start against the Braves, when his bad inning consisted of back to back home runs. I'd rather see that than six walks and a hit batsman. He's got such a good arm, and from the pretty frequent innings when he strikes someone out and induces a couple of weak pop ups, it's clear that he knows what he's doing and he has a plan out there. But holy cow, the walks!
HI Greg,
If the sound had been up, you would have heard the G.M. saying we had a gold glove caliber player in right, just before Franceour then dropped the ball.
That a game could be over in a little more than two hours when one of the starters walks six…either there were no breaks for commercials or the other team went down very quietly. I didn't realize Ollie was that wild until I read the boxscore later. But that's like I saying I didn't realize the sun came up in the east until I looked out the window.
Joe,
Wasn't that Omar I saw on CNBC early last September reminding us the fundamentals of our economy were strong?
That was also Omar telling us how wonderful our farm system was. Not sure if this was before or after Tony Bernazard challenged one of our stellar AA prospects to a thumb wrestling match…or something.
Even though I am a long-time Mets fan, I can't say that I am totally sorry to see the Wilpon's coming to grief. I watched the first game at Citifield and was appalled to see all the militarism in the opening ceremonies with jets flying over and men and women in uniform. After 8 years of war, who the hell needs a baseball equivalent of the Nuremberg rally. Plus, all the sportscasters–including Boomer Esiason–wearing the American flag pins. Enough already with the politicized sports shows.
Greg,
Yup, and Madoff was sitting next to him along with the Wilpons.
I was appalled just to see Citifield, period!
It's reflective of the Wilpons whose operation puts baseball on the back burner. When the RFP went out, ownership wanted trick bounces, overhangs and stands jutting out. This was touted as creating more “fan excitement”. The reality is that these gimmicks are not baseball and were created to spark continued interest in Citifield and get the casual fan to purchase tickets (the pinball machine turns off the real baseball fan). No consideration was made for those in the outfield prominade who can't see anything hit deep. The concourse was developed not so fans could continue see the game while walking around but to entice them to walk around and spend their money. Ownership wasn't concerned that the lack of foul territory would subject outfielders to injury (players have since learned to slide into the wall, reviving the approach taken by the 1962 Mets).
Wayne Gretsky once called the Devils a Mickey Mouse operation. Such words would be even more appropriate today.
Has anyone ever seen Omar and Jim Cramer in the same place at the same time?
I imagine Jon Stewart might have a few words for both men.
On Thursday, SNY should broadcast a bare-chested Bernazard fighting the entire Binghamton Mets roster, including Buddy the Bee.
This innocuous ESPN headline…
Report: Mets exec dares prospects to fight him
…kinda says it all, doesn't it?