Darn Virus!
In the last week I have gotten several emails from the same address (which I will not print here) that is infected with the Beagle virus. (For those not familiar with this virus you can find more information here.) I’m not worried about being infected because I keep my virus definitions up to date and my antivirus software catches the virus. What bugs me is that someone (maybe more than one person) is infected with a virus that keeps sending me emails and this person (or people) appear to be doing nothing about it. If you read this blog and have sent me an email or you have my email address in your address book then please take heed and run a virus scan on your computer. Odd are that I’m not the only one who is getting annoyed by the repeated emails your virus is sending.
Comments to this post
Place Your Bets!
The Mets open a three game set against the Rockies tonight and the following question begs to be asked:
Who is going to hit a homer first – Mike Piazza or Jeromy Burnitz?
Comments to this post
Pet Peeve
“(It’s) the cherry on top of a big pile of manure.”
– Todd Zeille when being asked about his two run homer in the first inning of an 11-4 loss to the Cardinals at Shea Stadium on Thusrday
Rather than harp on all of the things that went wrong yesterday (I could be here all day if I did that) let’s hit a different topic.
One of my pet peeves is when the so-called professionals seem to mess things up. I’m talking mainly about newspapers, their writers and editors. Few things annoy me more than trying to read a newspaper and finding misspelled words, bad metaphors, incorrect facts and just plain bad writing. While it’s true that nobody is perfect you’d figure that there are so many layers between writing the story and printing it that someone would catch the bad stuff and have it corrected. Here is one such example from today’s New York Post:
…(Karim) Garcia robbed Scott Rolen of a two-run homer to end the fifth, scaling the right-field fence and reaching into the bullpen to take a souvenir away.
On the surface this sounds fine. But I have one question. The ball was hit by a Cardinal and was headed into the Mets bullpen. So who exactly did Garcia take the souvenir away from? Very annoying.
Here’s another example, also from today’s Post:
…David Weathers, just returned from seven days off because of triceps tendinitis, made matters worse by surrendering three extra-base hits in his first appearance in a week.
Thanks for telling me it was his first appearance in a week. I wouldn’t have figured out that a 7 day layoff was a week long. This one sounds like it was written for a 5 year old.
Enough about my pet peeve for now. I’m sure I’ll share some more of this with you at a later date.
Notes:
Comments to this post
Mets Lose
The Mets got their butts handed to them today 11-4. If you’re looking for a Mets highlight then look no further than the first inning where the boys equaled their hit total from last night. Todd Zeille (stitches and all) popped a two run homer. Beyond that it didn’t seem to be so exciting.
I’ll have more later.
Comments to this post
Leiter Placed on the DL
Prior to today’s game Al Leiter was placed on the 15 day disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. Outfielder Esix Snead was recalled from Norfolk to take Leiter’s spot on the roster. Snead gives the Mets an outfielder with speed in case Mike Cameron‘s pinkie gives him more trouble than he can play with. Cameron is back in the starting lineup today but will probably be taken out in favor of Snead depending on game situations.
Comments to this post
Stuff
I’m beginning to get on the ‘fire Art Howe’ bandwagon. I’m not saying he should be fired right now (as many other people are saying), but he clearly needs some help with his game strategy. I can understand when he takes Mike Piazza out for a pinch runner sometimes but you don’t take your best bat out of the lineup in the seventh inning of a tie game. Possibly in the eighth or ninth but definitely not in the seventh when you will probably (but not definitely) get to his spot in the order again. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman talks about this in today’s edition.
Sherman also has a column proposing that the Mets should acquire Randy Johnson. His main argument seems to be that if you have a farm you may as well mortgage it. I’m not sure I agree with that. I mean it would be great to have Randy Johnson pitch in Flushing but you also need to think long term. Sure he’s going strong at 40 but in the next few years you’ll have to replace Johnson, Tom Glavine & Al Leiter. But the thing that really gets me about Sherman’s column is what gets me about most columns that propose trades like this. He goes on and on and on about how the team should acquire Johnson but then he gives his reasons for why they should give away the players he proposes to give in such a deal. As usual, that’s where it all falters.
The Mets should try offering Scott Kazmir (elite prospect), Tyler Yates and Royce Ring (decent prospects) and see where it gets. Sure, dealing Kazmir is a risk. But he is just at A-ball with worries about injuries (he’s been out since April 26), stature (how many 5-foot-10 lefties have made it big?) and makeup.
Joel, don’t you think the D-Backs know this information? You’re not doing a very good job of selling him by talking like that. You actually convinced me that if I were in Joe Garagiola’s shoes I wouldn’t even think of this deal. The idea to acquire Johnson is not so bad despite my critiques. But you need to put together a better package and present it properly if you want Garagiola to swallow the pill.
Vic Ziegel has a column in today’s Daily News that basically echoes what I’ve been saying the last few days. Mets fans have reason to be optimistic about .500 but just because the team is close doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to get too. Hang in there. It’s just a matter of time.
Notes:
Comments to this post
Mets Fail To Reach .500
The Mets lost to the Cardinals 1-0 tonight to fall two games below .500. But don’t panic. As I said after Tuesday’s game:
“Making the leap from one game under .500 (19-20) to actually being .500 is bigger than it looks. It could still be a few days before they reach .500.”
My main point is don’t panic or start trashing them or anything like that. Remain calm. It’ll be ok.
Now that we got that out of the way….
Steve Trachsel pitched 7 good innings allowing 5 hits and walking one while striking out four batters. Mike Stanton came in and faced two batters, allowing one to get on base before Ricky Bottalico came on. Bottalico allowed a fielder’s choice, stolen base and base hit which scored the only run of the game.
Notes:
Comments to this post
Congratulations, Randy Johnson
Congratulations to Randy Johnson on his perfect game last night. Johnson became the oldest player to pitch a perfect game. I would have mentioned it earlier but my real job is keeping me busy today.
Comments to this post
Almost .500
A Jason Phillips home run. Key hits from Kaz Matsui and Cliff Floyd in the ninth inning. A come from behind win. The Mets showed character in the way they picked up after their starting pitcher, Tom Glavine, had a sub par outing. In this game (as well as Sunday’s 13 inning thriller) they showed the character of a winner.
Enjoy the moment but don’t get too excited. Making the leap from one game under .500 (19-20) to actually being .500 is bigger than it looks. It could still be a few days before they reach .500. And even when this goal is attained it is still just a sign of mediocrity. All it says is that this team is no longer a loser. It doesn’t mean they are winners yet.
I know this is a cynical point of view but it’s something we must keep in mind. Live in the moment and celebrate the current good fortunes. But remember that there is still a long way to go.
Comments to this post
Sosa Headed To DL With Sneeze Induced Sprain
It looks like Sammy Sosa is headed to the DL with a sprained ligament in his lower back. How does one sprain a ligament in his lower back? By sneezing, of course! I kid you not.
Comments to this post
