Want to take a slight positive from Wednesday night's miserable loss — besides Wright's act of tying it temporarily and our somehow giving no ground to our divisional pursuers? Consider that erstwhile chum Mike Cameron didn't catch miscast designated hitter Carlos Delgado's home run in the seventh. It could have/would have been a great catch, a Web Gem from here to Kingman come…but it wasn't.
I was instantly reminded of the great catch Aaron Rowand nearly made on a Carlos Beltran home run in Philadelphia…but he didn't. In June, Rowand draped himself over a wall in the gamest of efforts, yet all his glove nabbed was a bundle of air. Last night, Cameron made a sensational but slightly mistimed leap that would have worked a bit better at his local fronton.
In each case, close but no Chavez.
If you're having “one of those seasons,” which it often seems we are, those balls are caught and you mutter that we get no breaks. We got one on Delgado's dinger, so let's not give ourselves something to mutter about.
You could argue that Smith giving up the tie in the eighth or Maine's second frightening first in a row or Carlos D's lack of D are all more tangible signs of “one of those seasons,” but…hey, I said it was only a slight positive.
How about Wright's second home run against the Yankees, the one that bounced off the heel of Damon's glove?
Excellent catch (on your part, not Damon's). That makes three that could have gotten away but didn't.
Of course we won the Yankee and Phillie games. Damn, gotta stop raining on my vague theories.
And of course you know I was disappointed for completely different reasons. But you still love me anyway, right?
Is anyone else getting a bad feeling about Julio Franco going back to the Braves?
I would respectfully part company with you regarding John Maine's first inning. It was not frightening so much as it was hard luck. Carlos Delgado has the lateral range of an oak tree at first and Shawn Green in right often reminds me of what a normal outfielder might look like if forced to play defense while wearing ski boots sans skis.
Decent defense sees Maine exit with 6 IP having allowed two solo home runs.
That's not hard luck — that's a flaw in the team that needs to be fixed.
Delgado is at least beginning to hit again, which offsets his terrible defense. But since he's been hurt Green has been essentially useless at the plate, and he's a disaster in the field. How many times are we going to hear “little fly ball to right, in comes Green … has to play it on a hop”?
He never seems to get the right break on balls, which leaves him exposed, because he no longer has the quickness he needs to close in time without that right first move. Something has got to change.
It is hard luck with respect to the first inning work of John Maine, which Greg characterized as frightening.
Your entirely valid point about our aging squad's obvious flaws notwithstanding, John Maine deserved better.
Righto. Was segue-ing but it came across as arguing. Our outfield play is making me fractious.
A hefty share of last night's blame to Willie who went one batter (the fearsome Geoff Blum?!) too long with the kid. Smith was clearly laboring to throw strikes and he grooved one even a .211 hitter could drive.
Anyone else catch a whiff of a 2-5 trip? Thank goodness the Braves equally suck.
I got that feeling the second I heard. This can come to no good.
Don't know. Any Braves fans around here?
No Met fan should ever underestimate Geoff Blum. He's a perennial thorn.
OK, I'm drawing a blank… when did he prick us?
Lifetime .246 hitter versus the Mets with a wan OPS to match.
But he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Geoff Blum owns the Mets and Julio Franco is the last piece of the puzzle for the Braves.
Don't go raining on our kvetch parade with facts, dude.
Frightening in that unfolded as it did. Didn't mean to hang it all on Maine.
Hope they don't use this post against him in arbitration hearings.
There are certainly facts to kvetch about, though.
Can you believe than Andruw Jones, owner of the .221 batting average and 5-strikeout performance this year, has more homers and more RBI than any Met? 19 homers and 65 Isn't he supposed to be having “one of those years?” Jesus, that makes me uncomfortable.
65 Runs Batted In, that is.
Geoff Blum is one of those guys who has always perfectly timed his hits against us (and the Twins). Another pesky freaking Expo…