The Eddie Kranepool Society

Posted 9/30/2005 08:38:00 PM by Kranepool
�FREDDY SKILL SETS, UNPLUGGED� The Mets held a little launch party for their new television network now known as SportsNet New York, and out of the baseball witness protection program came Freddy Skill Sets. Last we saw Freddy was when the New York media were stuffing their faces with free food when Carlos Beltran was introduced. With Freddy making himself scarce around these parts lately there were lots of questions for ol� Sir Skill Sets. On Mike Piazza: [�I think he loved being here and was certainly the star of the team. No matter who we had here, I think Mike was always the centerpoint. But things change which I think is good. I hope Mike goes on and plays out as long as he wants to play out�] [�The likelihood is that Mike might be better served in the American League� Fred Wilpon said. �I guess he has to make that decision as well�] So Fab Fly Freddy says thanks but no thanks on bringing Mikey back in �06. I�m with you Freddy, as much as most fans are getting emotional about Mikey bidding bon voyage, it�s time to turn the corner. Mike is 37 and can�t catch anymore. His bat is still productive but with no place to play him and (thankfully) no DH in the NL the Mets really have no use for him. At least we have him going into the Hall of Fame as a Met to look forward to. On his being out of the limelight: [�One of our players just said to me, �Where have you been, Freddy?� Wilpon said. I�ve been to every game. I just don�t go down to the clubhouse and I�m not on the field. Frankly I like it that way better. We have very good baseball people and it�s there job�] It took Freddy a couple of years but he finally figured out his greatest attribute in baseball is signing checks. He�s not a scout, a coach, an instructor or a manager. He�s a guy with money who owns the New York National League entry in MLB. Sometimes it takes awhile for that to sink in. On the Mets finish of the season: [�I think the guys have responded very well. We had times where we were in similar positions in years past and you didn�t see the same vibrancy on the field I think you do now�] In other words, �how did I let that pant load Steve Phillips talk me into hiring Art Howe� On Carlos Beltran: [�I certainly have been satisfied with his effort-110%. He�s not satisfied with his performance and he knows he can do better. He knows he will do better. He�s a real pro, I mean he was banged up pretty badly and there was no way he wasn�t going to play. I didn�t think he was going to play last night because he�s got a little tweak in his arm or bicep�..He�s a gamer. It takes time to adjust to New York.�] Freddy�s not happy with Beltran�s performance this season. This was not what he ok�d $119 mil for but he will give Beltran mulligan due to adjusting to life in NY (which I agree) and for nagging injuries and one being involved in one of the worst collision in baseball history, but you know if Beltran doesn�t rebound next season Omar will have some explaining to do. Speaking of Omar: [�I think what Omar has done and what Willie has done is they�ve made it attractive to players to want to play here in New York� he (Wilpon) said. �And that was not necessarily always the case. Players are coming up to Omar and they want to be here. And that�s exciting�] Amazing what happens when you spend money! There is truth to what FFF says, when players look at the Mets (especially Latins and other players of color) they see a place where they would fit in nicely and you have to give Omar and Willie credit for that. And then we have Lil� Jeffy� take on the direction of the franchise: [�I think we have turned the battleship around in the bath tub,� said Jeff Wilpon the team�s CEO. What I am hoping for is now we are in position to go forward�] I have a disturbing image in my head of Jeffy in the tub look in the bath water yelling �up periscope!!!!� http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/351183p-299530c.html http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/28753.htm (TO POST A COMMENT PLEASE CLICK ON THE TIME THE POSTING) <

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Posted 9/29/2005 10:42:00 PM by Kranepool
�LOOPER COULDN�T SHOULDER THE LOAD� Lost in the pennant and wild card races along with the return of Vinny from Elmont returning to the J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS is news that Braden Looper has had trouble with his right shoulder from the time the Mets broke camp at St. Lonesome. He and the Mets did nothing about it as the bullpen was in such a jumble as Roberto Hernandez was an unknown as a UFA signing and the rest of the pen that came north was manned by immortals like Manny Aybar, Mike DeJean, Mike Mathews and Mr. Koo so you could see why the Mets hoped that Loopey could pitch through the pain and discomfort in his shoulder. Now at some point in the season when the Mets saw that Hernandez was the real deal and Aaron Heilman, Jae Seo, Juan Padilia and even the much abused Heath Bell were more than ready to pitch effectively where they could more than hold the fort until Loopey would get back from what is a surgery that did not have a very long recovery time, Omar Minaya being the man in charge should have sent Looper to team orthopedist David Altcheck to get the arthroscopic surgery to shave down the bone in Loppey�s right shoulder. This was a major blunder by Minaya and it�s on Minaya as far as I�m concerned because he is the man in charge but Minaya is trying to cover his ass: [�We knew sometimes he felt discomfort, � Minaya said. �But he always asked for the ball. I think that this late in the year most guys are a little banged up. There were never signs from him that the was really hurting. That never got to my ears.�] So Omar says he knew Looper had discomfort in his shoulder but then says he was never told he was really hurting and how could he know there was a problem? HUH! All Mets have discussed is why is Looper so ineffective this season? His inability to get left handed hitters out and not being able to get his sinker to sink has been a bone of contention on this site and others all year. With Minaya knowing that were some issues with Looper's shoulder you�re telling me it never crossed the Mets minds to send Looper for an MRI to see if his shoulder was getting worse? PLEASE!! Especially with the way Hernandez was going and with Heilman resurrecting his career and Jae Seo�s Norfolk performances crying out for promotion the Mets would have been in great shape with Loopey out and those three pitchers handling late inning relief. Omar really dropped the ball on this one. All you Steve Trachsel supporters come out, come out wherever you are. Omar won�t be doing his job if he doesn�t inquire about A.J Burnett�s services. Here is what Mets fans have to look forward to this weekend. Cliff Floyd and David Wright are at 97 RBI so we have too root for both to break the 100 RBI mark but the most important thing about the weekend will be the Mike Piazza farewell. It seems that Sunday�s game will feature a video tribute to Mikey as (if his sore hand will allow him) will play his last game as a Met. I hope to get out to Shea on Sunday as Mikey deserves a great sendoff. Hopefully the game will be well attended as temps are supposed to hit 80 degrees and it will the last Mets game we get until March 2006. (TO POST A COMMENT PLEASE CLICK ON THE TIME OF THIS POSTING) <

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Posted 9/28/2005 01:22:00 PM by Kranepool
"STOP THE MADNESS" Before I talk about the Mets putting the Phillies on winter vacation last night I have to comment on the Senate hearings I just watched. It's not enough that Congress wasted tax payer time and money with a grandstand production on steroids in sports now the Senate had to get into the act. What an embarrassment. I'm watching this hearing and comment to myself and out loud like I was on Mystery Theatre 3000. First former players Hank Aaron, Ryne Sandberg, Lou Brock, and Robin Roberts show up to throw the players union under the bus. This is the same union that fought to rid the game of the reserve clause and allowing them to decide where they wanted to play and to make enough money where by they need not sell cars or work in a warehouse during the off season to make ends meet. Thanks guys! Then we have this old windbag John Rockefeller pining on how he's a big baseball fan and how disgusted he is that baseball does not have a tough enough plan to rid the sport of performance enhancing drugs. I'll tell you I have enormous respect for Sen. John McCain in fact this country would be in better shape if he were president but he is also lost on this whole steroid issue. It took this hearing to make Don Fehr look like a hero. He stood alone as these clueless bureaucrats kept attacking him and the MLBPA about the policy that has been enacted. It's embarrassing to see these senators make complete fools of themselves during these hearings. First off every member of congress should read Will Carolls book "The Juice" before they ever tackle this subject. They have no idea that as they spout all this hot air there are BALCO like places making the next designer PED that will be any drug test. Then of course we heard that pro sports must come up with stronger policies to "show the children" why taking PED is wrong. Gee and I thought as a parent that was my job. How about the congress passing a law making education about PED's a mandatory course taught in schools. You could fund it with the money the pharmaceutical lobby gives to the good congressmen and senators. But the biggest fool during this hearing was Sen George Allen from Virginia. He said to Don Fehr, why can't you follow the lead of Gene Upshaw and get in line and give in to a stiffer penalties for you members. All that was missing was Allen asking Upshaw to do a little tap dance for us and you want to know why African-Americans think this government is racist? What was never brought up was the MLPA opened up the CBA twice in a year. Then as Fehr tired to explain to the committee that the PA is not against a lifetime ban for PED use all they ask is for a hearing to an impartial third party. You know like the rights of every American to have their day in court. Also lost in this whole sham was the fact that the MLPA has added amphetamines to the list of banned substances. I'm shocked on how this has just gone under reported. I would love to ask the other gas bag Jim Bunning to swear under oath that he never popped a greening back in the day. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/156663668X/qid=1127930396/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-5258329-2895260?v=glance&s=books (TO POST A COMMENT PLEASE CLICK ON THE TIME OF THIS POSTING) <

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Posted 9/27/2005 08:19:00 PM by Kranepool
WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY� There may be just a handful of folks following the Mets this final week of the season, what with Chad Pennington going down for the season, the New York Football Giants defense getting scorched in San Diego and the Highlanders fighting for their over priced lives against the Old Town Team the Mets news has been very sparse. But last night they stood up to a 2 hour rain delay and a 5-2 deficit to comeback and put a big hurting on the Phillies wild card hopes with a 6-5 win. The past few weeks I�ve been killing Willie Randolph on his in games moves and handling of the bullpen but I have to give him props for keeping this team not only competitive but having them going full bore in games that in the past three seasons were played like spring training games, hell even Cliff Floyd who was thisclose to packing it in for the season has stepped it up and is ready to put up his best numbers as a Met. You have to give a ton of credit to Willie for that. Speaking of Cliffy I think he just received the kiss of death form Omar Minaya: [�I think that going into next year, Cliff is a very important part of our team.� Minaya said yesterday. �Everybody knew that Cliff had great potential. The key this season is that Cliff has been able to stay healthy and play every day. He�s stepped it up to a level that he�s never done before and going into �06, he�s going to be a big part of our team.�] That is until Theo Epstein makes his call to Omar about Manny being on the trading block. Cliffy though has been around the block and he knows about the real world: [�They�ve got a lot of decisions to make, � Floyd said yesterday. �I think it depends on the direction they want to head in. I feel like I�ve definitely put myself in a position to help this team for a long time. But as I found out last year, it�s a business, and that part is never in your hands, as a player.�] Floyd may have been born at night but it wasn�t last night. Mike Jacobs continues to make the case to put his name on 25 man for the 2006 season as the everyday first base man. Jacobs hit a 2 run homer and drove in the game winning run with a sac fly. Whenever you see him at bat or in the dugout the guy looks like he�s been here for years. Very poised and very confident, that Mike Jacobs. I don�t know how I missed this from Sunday�s Newsday but Ken Davidoff had a story that puts to rest �the Rick Peterson will be fired� bullshit to rest. Not only that Davidoff also puts some light on Tony Bernazzard being the guy that pissed off Carlos Delgado with his over doing of Puerto Rican solidarity act. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spken254442565sep25,0,3079071.column THE USED CAR SALESMAN STRIKES AGAIN The overblown �steroids in baseball� is back in the papers again today as the Used Car Sales Man and Don Fehr will be back on Capital Hill for another dog and pony show. While the Gulf Coast of the United States is underwater and millions of people are displaced from their homes (or what�s left of them) the U.S. Congress will waste more valuable tax payer money and time on a problem that for the first time in history the owners and players seem to have worked out. But then again the Used Car Salesman is showing that he is mentally challenged enough to be a congressman or a senator by dissing the MLBPA when for the first time ever the union is giving back for a second time. The union is ready to go with a 20 game suspension (up from 10 games) for a first offense for using steroids, 75 games for second offense and a life time ban after the third but with an arbitrators hearing first. Of course that�s not enough for the Used Car Salesman who wants 50 games for the first offense, 100 games for the second and a life time ban with no hearing for a third. But the biggest give back by union is the most shocking, as they will also allow MLB to test for amphetamines. Baseball players swallow �greenies� like they do sunflower seeds so for the union to give in to testing for amphetamines, which have been keeping players �up� for about 50 years is monumental. So instead of the Used Car Salesman giving Fehr a big hug and have him join him in giving the Senate committee a big middle finger tomorrow, he just can�t help himself and act like a total buffoon. We all know these suspensions are all for P.R. as the biggest penalty is handed down from the court of public opinion. Just ask Rafael Palmeiro. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/27/sports/baseball/27steroids.html (TO POST A COMMENT PLEASE CLICK ON THE TIME OF THIS POSTING) <

Monday, September 26, 2005

Posted 9/26/2005 08:12:00 PM by Kranepool
�LET�S TAKE A MONMENT FORM THE PENANT RACES AND LOOK AT THE METS� Here we are at the final week of the season and the only team with an �x� next to their name is the St Louis Cardinals. This week shapes up as one the best down the stretches we have seen in years and the Mets are part of it. Well, not in the mix as we had hoped but as the dreaded spoilers. I would think the last team the Fightin� Phills would want to darken the door way of �The Citz� are the Mets. After coming close to falling off the cliff the Mets have played some of their best baseball of the season winning 7 of their last 9 and finding a couple of very valuable bullpen pitchers in Juan Padilla (why was Miguel Cairo playing yesterday? Padilla would have been out of a bases loaded jam if he had someone at second base who doesn�t need a walker to get around) and Aaron Heilman who looks like he could be the set up man for the closer to be signed later by Omar Minaya. By the way, Omar can throw all his money at either Billy Wagner or B.J. Ryan, as he will save a bunch of coin if he stays with the very impressive Mike Jacobs at first base. Imagine if the Mets were bold enough to give Lastings Milledge a shot at a corner outfield spot (I have all but packed Cliff Floyd and Mike Cameron off to greener pastures) hell, we might become the Cleveland Indians of the National League. Willie does not see Heilman as the closer next year and neither do I. To me he looks like the perfect set up man: [�I�m impressed with the way he�s throwing the ball since the All-star break.� Randolph said. �Not that he�s my closer now, and not that he�s going to be the closer next year. But it�s nice to see him get that experience. He�s still young�..We�ll see. It seems that Willie has finally seen the light about the talents of Heilman. I guess not being from here Willie is finally getting why Mets fans are head over heels over the job Heilman has done this season as he is the definition of �late bloomer�. Wasn�t it just this past April we would have been happy for the Mets to trade Heilman for a bag of baseballs? For his part Heilman seems to be getting adjusted to life in the pen: [As for what the future holds, Heilman isn�t looking to far ahead. �I definitely feel a lot more comfortable coming out of the bullpen, � Heilman said, �and I feel good about getting back to pitching like I should�.] �NO MATTER WHAT, MIKE PIAZZA WILL ALWAYS BE A MET� Throughout his Met career, Mike Piazza has been a tough read. He never came off as �one of the fellows� or a rah-rah guy. He never really hit it off with his managers except for Willie as he has nothing but praise for the rookie manager. But from reading the Star-Ledger yesterday, it seems that Mikey P is all but conceded he will play elsewhere next season but his heart will always be in Flushing. Piazza not only says he will request to go into the Hall of Fame as a Met, he has no regrets signing long term with the team as he felt it�s much better to be a Met than a filthy Highlander: ["I do feel like I've brought a lot more positives than negatives to the team," Piazza said. "Looking back 20, 30 years from now, I'll always go, 'Wow, what an experience, to play in New York,' and to play in Queens, for the Mets. Because with all due respect to the Yankees, there is a special sort of identification with the Mets." ] You can see that Mikey still wants to play and he will head on over to the American League and DH for a season or two then I can see him being part of the Mets TV network or maybe even as a spring training instructor. Most importantly it seems that Piazza has come to peace with the fact his Mets playing career is over. Good Luck Mikey and thank you. http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spmets264443754sep26,0,3832331.story?coll=ny-sports-print �JOEL SHERMAN: COME OUT OF THE CLOSET� I�m starting to think the man I like to call Pinstripe Pajamas is really a Mets fan. Sherman has spent a lot of time analyzing the Metropolitans as I guess he sees by next season there may be just standing room only on the Mets bandwagon: [Another trade market beckons and, once again, Ramirez will be the biggest name linked to the Mets. Minaya needs to get over it. That is not easy to write. Ramirez is among the best hitters of my lifetime, and the Mets desperately need another impact bat. But you don't just get his bat. You get all of Ramirez. You get his glove, which already is horrible and will play worse away from the helpful Green Monster and with advancing years on his already slow, indifferent body. You get "Manny being Manny." That means he will emotionally disappear at times and even a Red Sox organization that knows him best does not always know how to get him back. You will get Ramirez from ages 34-36 with three years at $57 million left. So over the next three years, you can expect decline from Ramirez and Pedro Martinez, two of your three most expensive players.] This may become another Sammy Sosa situation as I can see Omar being gun ho on acquiring Manny and his lieutenants trying to convince him to move on. When you first look at it your reaction is to step away and no one gets hurt but to add a bat of Ramirez� caliber is very tempting money be damned. But the biggest drawback is the age more so than money and personality. The age of 34 puts up a big red flag to me as I can see Manny starting to dip to .270 avg 25 HR 75 RBI range and the Mets are already paying big bucks for sub-par numbers like that (sorry Carlito) Better to look toward the Queen City and try and pry Adam Dunn from the Red Legs. [BE THE HIGH BIDDERS ON B.J. RYAN AND BILLY WAGNER The other closers likely available are not that attractive. Eddie Guardado and Ugueth Urbina are worn down. Kyle Farnsworth and Mike MacDougal might have trouble with the New York stage. A key failing by Willie Randolph was defiantly sticking with Braden Looper despite overt evidence (lack of strikeouts, inability to tame lefty hitters) that he could not handle the job. Randolph should have taken a closer look at Aaron Heilman. Nevertheless, Heilman would be a better choice to go with next year before overpaying for someone you don't particularly like.] I agree 100 % I love Ryan as he will be 30 years old next December although Wagner is no slouch either but I think the Phillies will make him am offer he can�t refuse where as I bet Ryan can�t wait to get out that mad house on Eutaw St. I would go after Everyday Eddie as well as he did some of his best work as a set up man for the Twins. How about this for a bullpen in 2006: RHP Juan Padilla RHP Aaron Heilman LHP Eddie Guardado RHP Roberto Hernandez LHP B.J. Ryan Is that a National League Pennant in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? [If not Vidro at first, then how about a low base salary and a lot of incentives for Nomar Garciaparra? Like Vidro, Garciaparra has a history of leg injuries and needs to reduce stress. He already is playing third for the Cubs, showing a willingness to move positions. The superb play of rookie Ryan Howard has made it obvious the Phillies need to deal Jim Thome. Would they do so within the division? If so, how much of the $43.5 million owed over three years would they eat? If they get down into the mid-20s, the Mets should think seriously about buying, even with Thome's recent injury spree. ] No to Vidro and no to Thome. The Nomar one could be interesting. Why not get Nomar to play second base but as Sherman says at a low base/big incentive contract? A move like this has Omar Minaya written all over it. This way you send Anderson Hernandez back to Norfolk as he is over matched by big league pitching and you have Jeff Kepinger as well coming off his knee injury ready to get the call if Nomar were to go DL. But with something to prove I could see Nomar coming into camp in tiptop shape. The big problem here is what to do with Kaz Matsui. Anyone know someone at the Immigration Dept? [AVOID IVAN RODRIGUEZ] AMEN!! [USE PATIENCE WITH MIKE CAMERON AND VICTOR ZAMBRANO The Mets already missed their best window to trade both, which was in July. Now they have to let the realities of a thin off season market hit teams. Eventually, many clubs that need a center fielder will have Johnny Damon price himself out or find the trade cost for Torii Hunter will be too high, and Cameron will look more attractive, broken up face or not. With Zambrano, the Mets are going to need a team that still believes in his stuff and hates the easily dislikable free-agent market. The Mets also are going to have to get over the idea of holding on to Zambrano simply because they stupidly acquired him for Scott Kazmir.] Sherman is on the mark here. This off season will harvest a poor crop of free agent, especially starting pitching. If Omar plays this right Cameron and The Zambrano Project will appeal to someone and they could bring a handsome sum. If Damon leaves Boston then the Sawx would be a very attractive location for Cameron as would his old home in Seattle. As for Zambrano, he has done a nice job out of the bullpen but in order to win favor with Mets fans and have them not think of Scott Kazmir every time he took the mound, he�d have to pitch a perfect game, win 20 games and pitch the clincher in the World Series. In other words see ya Victor!!! http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/28505.htm (TO POST A COMMENT PLEASE CLICK ON THE TIME OF THIS POSTING) <

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Posted 9/25/2005 11:22:00 AM by Kranepool
CHRIS RUSSO IS AN ASSHOLE But you knew that already. Yesterday I put WFAN on and Russo is spewing about the Mets shutting down Petey for the season and how it's not right that he won't pitch against the Phillies on Tuesday in a game that could have WildCard implications. First I find it hilarious that Russo who worships the shruken testicles of Barry Bonds would try and tell anyone what's best for baseball and secondly he hates the Mets ( as does his Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon partner) so it's hard to even take his opinion about the Mets as objective but what should the Mets do pitch a guy who has given them everything he has this season and more and risk him to injure himself more than he is or shut him down and have him ready for a 2006 season where they have to make a pennant run? Omar Minaya has to do what's right for the New York Mets and no one else. If Petey is worn done and suffering from the rigors of tossing 217 innings then shut him down and get him ready for February in St. Lonesome. He's earned it!

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/112753995890520.xml&coll=1

Posted 9/25/2005 11:06:00 AM by Kranepool
UMPIRES GONE WILD With a week to go in the season, the Mets are not mathematically out of a wild card spot. Of course just one more Mets loss will seal that and for all intends and purpose the Mets were done by the second week of the September but if you want to a half full kind of fan you could call this progress. What the hell was going through Sam Holbrooks mind when he tossed both Jose Reyes and Willie Randolph last night? Reyes claims he just questioned a third strike and never use any profanity. When Reyes was going to his shortstop position he glanced at Holbrook and Holbrook told him "Don't you look at me"at that point Holbrook threw Reyes out of the game. When Randolph came out to question Holbrook he got tossed for the first time in his rookie managerial career. Just too bizarre but that's how umpires have been most of this season. Between trying to get fact time on TV by removing masks to confront players to the amoeba strike zone to being unable to grasps the rules of the game the umpire staffs in MLB need a collective slap in face from the Used Car Salesman. With Sandy Alderson off to San Diego the Used Car Salesman needs an iron hand to come in and get these prima donnas in line and he needs to do this fast.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/28502.htm

Friday, September 23, 2005

Posted 9/23/2005 02:50:00 PM by Kranepool
REMEMBER CARLOS WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER Carlos Beltran to some has been a bust this year (I wouldn't call him a bust I would say he has underachived) and it seems a guy who has been taken to task by fans and bloggers alike has some pearls of wisdom for Beltran: [Tom Glavine not only had to deal with the disappointment of failed expectations, but the repeated humiliation handed out by his former team, the Braves. Glavine lost 28 games in his first two seasons with the Mets, as well as his two front teeth in a taxi-cab accident, yet reinvented himself this year to once again become an effective, if not elite, pitcher in the National League."Am I a stronger person? Absolutely," Glavine said. "I think I've learned much better to go out there and focus on the events of the game and less on what people around me think. There's no question I'm a better player for a lot of reasons right now than when I first got here. Adversity teaches you a lot about yourself, and being able to deal with that, helps you become a better, more complete player." "I think for me, it was just a determination of knowing that I could do better," Glavine said. "You want to prove to yourself you can do it, and you want to prove to everybody here. Any of us who put on a uniform, we have pride in what we do, and we're going to be determined to try to turn things around."It's all a comfort level. It gets easier. Everything you do gets easier. Obviously I don't know Carlos that well after a year. But I know he has a lot of pride in what he does, and I would not be the least bit surprised if beyond this year he plays the way everyone wants him to play and expects him to play." ] I have felt all year that Beltran is still getting used to playing in NY and it seems he's getting used to the fact that he should not take getting booed personally. What's interesting is the fans have much more paitents with the younger players on this team than with the vets. Not just guys like Reyes and Wright (what's to boo?) but even guys like Heath Bell, Royce Ring or Tim Hamaluk are not harshly judged. I guess your judged by the paycheck around here. http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spminside234438234sep23,0,2222623.story?page=1&coll=ny-sports-print <

Posted 9/23/2005 02:48:00 PM by Kranepool
This is similar to calling your ex-wife and telling her you won't be home for dinner. http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/28435.htm <

Posted 9/23/2005 02:29:00 PM by Kranepool
SEE YA IN 2006 PETEY After tossing 217 innings this year with nagging aches and pains along with a partially torn labrum, it looks like Pedro Martinez is ready to call it a year: ["I'm here not only for just one year," he(Martinez) said. "I'm here for four years, and those are three good years that you'll have probably an ace out there willing to go with you the extra mile to try to win. Win. "I'm a winner, and I've always been. And I hope I finish like that." ] So after putting together a fabulous season it seems Petey feels it makes no sense to pitch his next two starts. I have no problem with this as Petey has gone above and beyond the call of duty. There is no question if the Mets were still in the hunt he would be ready to take the ball every 5th day and even if he had a shot at 20 wins he stepped up for sure, but with the next 10 days really just window dressing it makes a lot of sense for Petey to rest his weary body and arm for next year. Now another apart of this equation that has raised a red flag my way is that Professor Rick is not involved with the decision to shut Petey down. This decision will be made by Willie and Omar. Why would the organization's CEO of Pitching be left out of the loop on a major pitching desicison like this? What makes it more interesting is that Peterson was hand picked by Freddy Skill Sets who had wanted a Pitching Czar in the organization since Dave Wallace left town? This is something that will need monitoring the next month or two. http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/28437.htm (TO POST A COMMENT PLEASE CLICK ON THE TIME OF THIS POSTING) <

Posted 9/23/2005 02:11:00 PM by Kranepool
WILLIE CAN BREATHE EASY�FOR NOW� On Tuesday I asked the question, would the Skill Sets be seduced by Sweet Lou Piniella if he were to be a free agent? Well, Bill Madden had that answer in today�s Daily News: [�Fred has nothing but the highest regards for Lou, but this time he�s not in the market for him� a high placed Mets source said. �He�s very happy with the job Willie�s done and he�s sticking with him.�] If your Willie Randolph, you have to pray that Piniella takes a job for the 2006 season. There are just a few teams out there that can afford Lou and that are attractive to him as well. Would the Old Town Team dump Terry Francona if the Sawx miss the post season? That would be a tough move there as the guy did presided over a World Series winner just a year ago, not just any World Championship but a Curse buster to boot. So lets say the Sawx are out. The A�s would be interesting but I can�t see Piniella and Billy Bean working together as Louie is not the type to take bullshit from the front office. Add in the fact that Piniella is not just old school be he�s from medieval times so scratch the A�s off the list. The Highlanders are out as well do to money matters as St. Joseph of Torre is owed about $13 mil plus he has done his best job as South Bronx Supervisor this season. In the NL, I thought the Marlins would be the best fit of all out there and baseball wise Piniella running the Fish Tank would be a no brainer. But can they afford him? With no new stadium deal in site, The Art Dealer from NY will be looking to shed payroll, in fact there are rumblings of Carlos Delgado being advertised as a Winter Clearance Sale item so the Fish are iffy here. Now the Phillies could be a spot for the former Jersey resident Piniella to find a home but before to this 10 day resurgence, GM Ed Wade and Charley Manuel were looking to be stone cold locks to get the boot. Then there is Chicago where Piniella would fit in nicely in the Friendly Confines as it looks like Dust-A-Roo could end up in LA-LA Land and Jim Tracey could sent packing along with DePo and owner Frank McCourt could start his rebuilding process. After that there is really no other places for Louie to take his charm and warm personality to. That could bode badly for Willie as a bad start by the �06 Mets or a prolonged slump could make guys like me and other Mets fans stir up a lot of shit. I can see Lou sitting out the year out in Bristol as a member of the Baseball Tonight team and sitting back with an eye on the Big Apple. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/348670p-297502c.html (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Posted 9/21/2005 03:46:00 PM by Kranepool
"THAT'S JUST JAKE" Can you imagine what the reaction to last nights game would have been if the Mets were still in the hunt? That's the frustrating part of these recent wins your mind plays these "what if" games with you and it just pisses you off more about this season. With the recent play of Mike Jacobs at first base and with the bat unless Minaya can land Mark Teixeira, I'd go with Jacobs in '06. Why go after Overbay, or Konerko and pay a big contract when Jacobs looks like he can more than handle the job. The guy was the MVP of the Eastern League, he has shown great poise and he's produced. Omar needs to save his cash for a closer and a big time outfielder (there will be a dread locked fellow who grew up in Washington Heights who now resides in New England that at that right price both player wise and monetary wise would be a nice fit) and a decent second baseman. This is what you look for in a young player, bring him up and see if he can handle the job and Mike Jacobs has shown to me he'll do the job. http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050921/SPORTS01/509210346/1108/SPORTS01 <

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Posted 9/20/2005 08:34:00 PM by Kranepool
�WHAT�S WITH WILLIE�? With the Giants playing a Monday Night �road game� (har, har, hardy har har) and the baseball pennant races heating up it�s tough for the Mets to get much ink in the morning papers. One guy who put out a gem today was Ben Shpigel in the NY Times on Carlos Beltran and why he should be batting in the 2 hole. Shpigel makes the case on the subject that Mets fans are just about in unanimous agreement, that Beltran would be a much more productive player batting 2nd instead of 3rd.: [But there is also the question of where Beltran is best suited to hit in the Mets lineup. Although Beltran says he does not care where he bats, his career average (.292 to .277), on-base percentage (.379 to.344), and slugging percentage (.546 to .475) are better when he hits second in the lineup rather than third.] It�s one thing to be stubborn it�s another to be ignorant and unfortunatly Willie Randolph is leaning toward the latter when it comes to writing out a lineup. [�Just because he�s had success in the second slot doesn�t mean a whole lot.� Randolph said of Beltran. �And that could be all it is. Sometimes you�re in a spot in the lineup and you just get hot in that spot�] The stats of Beltran hitting second is over 857 at bats. That�s more than a hot streak I would say! I�ll tell you this I�ve been all over the map with my feelings for Willie Randolph. When the managerial search was on I threw my support to Rudy Jaramilo as I wondered why Randolph never got the six jobs he previously interviewed for and there was no managerial body of work for Randolph to get a sense of his style or managerial acumen. Even though Jaramillo�s managerial resume was one year in rookie league he did have the rep as a guy who get guys to pay attention and run a tight ship, two areas that was sorely needed in Flushing. Then when Willie got the job I gave him a chance to spell out what his game plan was to make the Mets winners. I was very impressed with his spring training instruction and getting the team through a month in St. Lonesome without any off field incidents. Even though I thought some of his rules were ridiculous and way too Highlander tight ass-ish I liked that there was some form of discipline back into that clubhouse. But after watching his handling of the bullpen, his ridiculous stance on batting David Wright in the bottom third of the lineup, leaving an aging Mike Piazza in the coveted cleanup spot, the Kaz Ishii debacle that led to the misuse of both Jae Seo and Aaron Heilman, and of course his inability to move Beltran up to the two spot. My God even St. Joseph of Torre had enough brain cells to know to let a struggling A-Fraud bat number two to get his groove on. Randolph wasn�t done with his Professor Irwin Corey rant either: [It� doesn�t mean that�s where you should be, you know? (batting second)� Randolph added. �When Carlos understands what he is, when he learns what he is, when he learns to make adjustments better, I see him being a third or fourth hitter because he can steal bases, he can hit and he�s going to get bigger and stronger, sort of like Ken Griffey Jr.�] WOW. Where do I begin to dissect those quotes? By batting second and excelling in that spot down the stretch and in the playoffs last year made Beltran a wealthy man. So I think Carlos has a good understanding of where he is. If anyone needs to learn how to make adjustments it�s you Willie by a mile. How could you ever compare Beltran to a Jr Griffey? Jr. in his prime was a lock hit 40+ homers and knock in 125+ runs, even Scott Boras wouldn�t say that Beltran would put up numbers like that. I don�t think I have ever seen a coach or manager start as well as Randolph has and finished so badly. All I think about is the what if�s. What if Beltran was moved to the 2 hole and Wright to the 3rd hole. What if Robert Hernandez was moved to the closer spot? What if Randolph had gotten over his obsession of having a lefty reliever no matter how awful a pitcher they were? What if he went with a bullpen of Padilla, Bell, Heilman, Looper and Hernandez his five best guys, would the team be playing out the string or would the Mets be in the thick of this pennant race? Most likely we�d be fighting the Braves for first place. I�m not advocating caning Willie after one season but I wonder what the Skill Sets will think when Lou Pinnella and the D-Rays part company and Sweet Lou is a free agent? http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/sports/baseball/20Mets.html (TO POST A COMMENT PLEASE CLICK ON THE TIME OF THIS POSTING) <

Monday, September 19, 2005

Posted 9/19/2005 11:05:00 PM by Kranepool
�SO AS I WAS SAYING�..� Yeah I took the weekend off from blogging I�m entitled. Between soccer games and birthday parties by the time I�d gotten home both Saturday and Sunday I was too beat to fire up the computer especially with pennant race baseball on TV. So let me throw out a few items that caught my eye the past two days: ITEM: METS TAKE TWO OF THREE FROM BRAVES Isn�t this what we dreamed of, Petey and Tommy Glavine pitching like Seaver and Koosman and finally putting the wood to the Braves? Sure it was a little too late but enjoyable just the same. I imagine it was easy on the Skill Sets eyes as well. Freddie and Lil� Jeffy have been non-existent when it comes to media exposures this season as they have heard the cries of the Mets faithful and kept their noses out of the baseball business. But have they really? I just think they have done a better job of keeping the their views out of the public eye. Let�s face it, Freddy can�t be too happy with the September Swan Song that up until this weekend was keeping Mets news to a whisper and with MetsTV ready for it�s launching the Skill Sets need some positive spin the next two weeks. Some of the moves that have been made seem to be working. Such as: ITEM: WELCOME TO THE SHOW ANDERSON HERNANDEZ We�ve asked for him and he got him. All it took was the Kazuo (The Origami Kid) Matsui to pull a hammy for Anderson to make it up to Flushing. It was quite interesting seeing that infield yesterday, I guess with all the Indians games I�ve watched the last couple of weeks and I�m ready to bring up every player in the organization under 25 to play. The question is would the Mets go into 2006 with the infield we saw yesterday? I doubt it but I won�t discount it all together. We get to see Hernandez for two weeks and Mike Jacobs gets to strut his stuff for another fortnight as well. The organization has targeted getting a big bat for the middle of the line up and everything points to landing Manny Ramirez. The one thing that could push this move along is Johnny Damon. If Damon resigns with the Old Town Team, they would look to cut some payroll so Manny to the Mets makes sense. If Damon decides to go to the highest bidder (big mistake Johnny, you will never be as big a star anywhere else like you are in Boston) then the Sawx will need a center fielder and Mike Cameron would be a great fit. So again look for the Manny to the Mets to reach a fever pitch come December. ITEM: OMAR MINAYA NEEDS A PLUMBER For the first time this season we are hearing leaks coming from some Mets moles. After going all season with out innuendo and rumor tossing, the scuttlebutt is starting to filter out that Rick Peterson is not the genius we thought he was. When you look at this at first it is a bit shocking as Professor Rick has for the most part done a nice job with this staff. But then look at some of the events of the past month. After realizing that he could not dip into the minor league system for an outfielder who could contribute to the big league team and not have an AARP card in his wallet, then compounded by what most overseers of feel was an awful 2005 amateur draft, Omar Minaya did what I bet he wanted to do the first day he took over and cleaned house in the minor league scouting department. Minaya is a scout at heart and player development is how he made his name (Just look at the Nats, an Omar Minaya Presentation) so it makes sense he wants to put his touch on that area. Now the same could be said with Peterson. Omar didn�t bring him in and it could be he�s allowing word to leak that Professor Rick is not what he�s cracked up to be. Word from the baseball media yentas is that Minaya�s Minions are putting out the word that Peterson may be taking to much credit for things he did not do. Those lackeys can leak all they want the bottom line is the Skill Sets hired Rick Peterson and they believe in Rick Peterson�s philosophy and they really like Rick Peterson so look for the Professor and his windbreaker to be a presence next summer at Shea. http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-sphey184432106sep18,0,6726228.column?coll=ny-sports-print http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/col/madden/ ITEM: HELLO I MUST BE GOING It looks like this is the last two weeks of Mike Piazza�s Mets playing career. Sure it would be nice to give Mikey P a great send off but the problem is he does not seem comfortable with such an arrangement. I felt a couple of months ago that Mikey would hang �em up and retire but it looks more and more like he will play somewhere in 2006, most likely in the AL as a DH because his catching skills are creeping up on his first base man skills. This puts the Mets in a bit on a quandary as how do you honor a guy who made as great a contribution to the organization but hates being the center of attraction? Plus with just 7 home games left when would you do it? The best thing to do for now is during the 7 th inning of the Oct. 2 game run a highlight reel on the Diamond Vision and let Mike take a bow. ITEM: DONN CLENDENON 1935-2005 Another member of the 1969 Miracle Mets has passed away (Cal Koonce, Tommy Agee, Tug McGraw and Gil Hodges) with the death of Donn Clendenon. Even though �Clink� took playing time from my guy Eddie Kranepool, he was a huge acquisition by GM Johnny Murphy for the stretch drive. After playing so long for the Pirates, Clendenon was to be traded to the expansion Expos but he refused to go. The Bucs then tried to move him to the Astros but again Clendenon was not interested. That�s when Murphy looked in to the situation and saw a big power hitting bat (sound familiar?) that would fit right in with the solid pitching/defense Mets. So Clendenon agreed to join the Mets and he went on to be the MVP of the 1969 World Series. Rest in Peace Clink (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Friday, September 16, 2005

Posted 9/16/2005 08:20:00 PM by Kranepool
�THEY�VE GOT A NAME FOR THE WINNERS IN THE WORLD I WANT A NAME WHEN I LOSE THEY CALL ALABAMA THE CRIMSON TIDE CALL ME DEACON BLUES� What�s to analyze any more? After losing three straight at home to the Nats and with the Braves coming in to smack the Mets around this weekend, I have no answers just a lot of questions: If it�s good to send young players to winter ball to hone their skills wouldn�t be a good idea to send a neophyte manager down there as well? Do you think Tom Glavine and Carlos Beltran look at each other and say, �WHAT WERE WE THINKING�? How hard do you think Nelson Doubleday laughs when those checks for his end of the sale to the Skill Sets arrive in the mail? Do you think Willie Randolph sat straight up at the breakfast table yesterday and said, �I�ve got it, Cairo in right field�? How long do you think it will be before Gary Cohen let�s loose an F-bomb during his play by play? I wonder if David Wright when he goes to sleep at night says to himself �how much time until I�m a free agent�? Why is it I feel I have a better shot of being in Jenna Jamison�s next movie than Lastings Milledge has of getting a shot at making the Mets lineup in �06? Why do I feel that the Mets will let Heath Bell get away for nothing and he will become a big time reliever elsewhere a la Dan Wheeler in Houston? Why is it that the front office and the media think the Mets fans no nothing about baseball? Really how can you say that the suggestions that fans have been begging for Beltran bat 2nd, Wright bat 3rd, bring up Anderson Hernandez, let Roberto Hernandez close, use Aaron Heilman as the set up man, would not have better results than what the team is doing now? Do you think that Freddie Skill Sets gets the urge to throw something thru the TV when he sees Steve Phillips on ESPN? What about when he hears Francis the Talking Horses Ass doing analysis of the games, do you think he screams out �you�ll pay for this Jim Dolan�? I always wonder why is Jerry Manuel so happy after every loss? He always has a dumb smile on his face when they lose and he always waves to someone in the stands as well. I don�t get it. I always wonder if anyone in the Mets front office reads this blog and if they do do they say �Does this guy having anything else to do than critique us�? Don�t you wonder what Rick Peterson is hiding under that jacket? And if he wears it during 90degree weather what the hell does he wear in the winter? If John Shurholtz, Bobby Cox and Leo Mazzone were with the Mets would we still suck or would we have the success the Braves had? If Al Harazin, Steve Philips, Jeff Torborg and Art Howe were with Braves would they have won 15 straight division titles? Is there any way the Skill Sets can make a deal with Stick Michael to resign from the Highlanders and then give him a blank check to become the Mets Director of Scouting? Why do I keep seeing visions of Manny Ramirez in a Mets uni next season? When I saw that the MTA accepted Bruce Ratner�s bid for the rights to build an arena for the Nets above the rail yards on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn, the same plot of land that Walter O�Malley wanted to build a new ball park for the Dodgers but was denied, I wondered what would have been if O�Malley got his way and built the ball park? Then Horace Stoneham would have moved the Giants to Flushing Meadows, where the city wanted the Dodgers to go and where our beloved Amazin�s call home, how different would our lives as baseball fans have been with no Mets? Who would you pledge your allegiance to? Since my father was a huge Giants fan I would be decked out in black and orange and writing The Jim Ray Hart Society. If you would have asked me a couple of weeks ago what I�d be doing tonight I�d probably say I�d be heading over to Shea to watch Petey take on Smoltz and the Braves along with 50,000 plus fans. But instead I can�t wait to go home and watch Scott Kazmir pitch against the O�s and monitor the Indians continued surge along with the White Sox trying to avoid a 1964 Phillies like collapse, the Highlanders play off push, the A�s and Angels fight for the playoff and the Padres burden to become the first team to make the playoffs with a sub-.500 record. That sucks! (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Posted 9/15/2005 11:36:00 PM by Kranepool
�AUTUMNAL FALL� So once again the September of meaningful games will have to wait yet another season as the Mets have again climb up the diving board above Shea Stadium and taken a dive. Last night was highlighted by another bonehead play, this time by the well compensated Carlos Beltran. Beltran broke on of the Baseball Commandments by making the third out of an inning at third base. As for reasons only Carlito knows, he tried to steal the bag with David Wright at bat. As bad as that was the reaction by Willie Randolph was worse. In fact it was a very Art Howeian explanation: [�I�m not going to nit-pick every time a guy gets thrown out.� Manager Willie Randolph said. �Matter of fact he was safe. That�s a part of our game. You live by the sword, sometimes you die by the sword. He thought he could make it and he did and the umpire called him out�] HUH!!!? �That�s part of our game� what? Stupid base running? Even Jose Aufulman was appaled. Is Beltran that fragile that Willie has to walk on eggshells with him? Wasn�t it just a week ago that Randolph said that Ramon Castro wasn�t just slow but he was an awful base runner? Willie had no problem taking a shot at Castro but Beltran� dumb ass base running gets a �shit happens� from Willie. What makes this bad stretch of baseball even worse besides the fact the team was right there as far as the Wild Card spot was concerned, is that all the other teams in the fight have had runs of bad baseball but turned it around to get back in. The Marlins were contemplating dumping Trader Jack. The Phillies were accepting resumes for manager and GM. The Nationals are forbiden to add players and the Astros couldn�t score runs if you spotted them 2nd and 3rd to start an inning. But all four teams have dug down and gotten back in the race. Meanwhile as Mets fans we finally got to see the team go on a roll. Problem is it�s a negative one dropping 14 of their last 17 games. And the Jon Heyman�s of the world want to know why people were not packing Shea? �GO AWAY KID, YA BOTHER ME� There will be no Sonic Youth infield this season for the Mets as they have decided it�s better to play the woefully overmatched Kaz Matsui and stationary Miguel Cairo than the young and nimble Anderson Hernandez. Now I�m hoping that this omission is being used as a showcase for Matusi as all indication are he will not be back this year but it�s very disappointing that Hernandez will not be added to the roster as that would be the only reason to continue watching this team. Thank God for MLB Extra Innings. GO TRIBE!!!! (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Posted 9/14/2005 01:13:00 PM by Kranepool
"BBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S THE METS SEASON HITTING ROCK BOTTOM" If Willie Randolph had a side arm on his hip last night, he would have put a cap in Jose Awfulman's ass with one cap left for "Roman in the Glowmin' Ramon Castro big tush as well. That 7th inning was one for the time capsule. What Awfulman was thinking or not thinking is beyond explanation. If there was ever a case for drug testing or dementia screening it was that Awfulman play. Then what's with Castro and the underhand toss to Woody at 1st base? This look like the horse shoes toss to you amigo? But even before that how about Reyes trying to sac bunt Awfulman over to second? Willie must have missed the class where they tell managers to play for a tie on the road and a win at home. Then we have Carlos Beltran, who for reason still unknown to everyone but Randolph is still hitting in the 3 spot. We have come to the point where Beltran has no excuses. If he even picked up his game 50 % the Mets would still be in the Wild Card race. Oh and don't forget Cliff Floyd who as usual when times are tough, Cliff gets going as in going out of the lineup. Hopefully Omar is taking this all in and seeing with his Lasik vision eyes what a hound Floyd is and ships his sorry, overrated ass out of town this off season. The front office has to kick around the question of adding Anderson Hernandez to the big league roster and who to drop to make this happen. Well, I tell you this if Awfulman or Ice is still on the active roster as of game time tonight I will light my Al Harazin 8X10 on fire. (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Posted 9/13/2005 08:20:00 PM by Kranepool
�IT�S A YOUNG MAN�S WORLD� According to Newsday, the Mets seem ready to add Anderson Hernandez to the major league roster. The hold up is that Hernandez is not on the 40-man roster so someone would have to be DFA before Hernandez could be added. Gee do you think the organization could survive losing wither Ice Williams or Jose Offerman? How about this form Willie: [�I�d like to see this kid Hernandez come up eventually� Randolph said Sunday in St. Louis. Two things are significant about that: The manager mentioned Hernandez without prodding, and at the time he spoke, Norfolk�s season wasn�t over.] The Tides are done now having been eliminated form the International League playoffs so it�s just a matter of paper work to get Hernandez here. And to had to the positive youthful movement, it looks like Mike Jacobs will play everyday the rest of the way as the Mets try to determine if he�s the goods or if Omar has to add to his shopping list. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spmets134424325sep13,0,4671608.story?coll=ny-baseball-headlines NON-METS: I was never a fan of Sid Rosenberg and I�m glad he is no longer on WFAN. I don�t like the circumstances on why he�s gone as the guy has more demons than anyone should have to battle and I wish him all the best. But the question I have is between his family and his agent who thought this was a good idea sending a guy fighting drug and gambling addiction to Atlantic City? Rosenberg went to A.C. to do a Fantasy Football appearance on Saturday but failed to show up at Giants Stadium on Sunday to do the pre game show on FAN. I guess after all his priors Rosenberg was given an edict of one more fuck up and your out. As I say the guy has a wife and a daughter and I hope he gets the help he needs but I have a bad feeling the next thing we read about Rosenberg will be his obituary. Thank you Mark Messier for one of the great nights of my life. June 14th 1994 the night the NY Rangers won the Stanley Cup. I was a Rangers season ticket holder back then and I still get goose bumps thinking about that night. I thought my ear drums were going to pop as John Amarante tried to sing the National Anthem but was drowned out by the close to 18,000 fans who were screaming with anticipation of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. I remember hugging and kissing everyone in our section when the final horn sounded and looking at everyone with tears streaming down their cheeks as we had just witnessed something we thought we�d never see in our lifetime, the New York Rangers winning the Stanley Cup. After that the rest of the night/early morning is a blur as I lived up to my promise of getting shit faced if the Rangers ever won the Stanley Cup. One event of that evening I do remember was going to the Auction House on the West Side of Manhattan which was a Ranger hangout and having Essa Tikianenn bringing the Stanley Cup out into the street and Messier following him out filling the Cup with champagne and letting the fans drink out of it. It was one of those nights in your life you never forget. Again thank you Captain. You were the greatest!!!!!!! (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Monday, September 12, 2005

Posted 9/12/2005 07:20:00 PM by Kranepool
�LOST IN THE SHUFFLE� Between the fourth anniversary of the tragedy of September 11th, the Jets and Giants opening games of the NFL season, Highlanders-Old Town Team playing in the South Bronx (I hate to admit this but while flipping thru the NFL games and the Mets, I stopped to watch the 8th and 9th inning of this game and it was riveting baseball. As much as I despise the Highlanders, I have to admit Mariano Rivera is a first ballot Hall of Famer) and the Men�s Finals of the U.S. Open tennis, the Mets have been buried in the sports pages, right next to the auto repair shops, gentleman�s clubs and penile dysfunction ads. But leave it to Petey to come thru again in a big spot. After losing six in a row, it�s comforting to the team to come home on a positive note. It�ll be interesting to see the attendance figures this week with school under way and the feeling by the majority of the fan base that it�s time to build for �06. Mikey P said he could have played yesterday but Randolph claims he was planning to sit Mike even without the beaning. Piazza is trying to put it behind him but the media just won�t let it go even questioning Petey on if he felt he needed to retaliate. Petey told the jackals that Heilman responded with payback on Saturday by drilling Eckstein and that was that. I have no problem with that and I have been a big critic of the way the Mets pitchers do not stick up for their hitters but I felt Heilman performed a noble gesture by plunking Eckstein. If you live in NYC the best 25 cents you can spend is on a copy of the New York Sun. Of all the NY papers, the Sun has the smallest but arguably the best sports section in town. Particularly on baseball as the guys over at Baseball Prospectus contribute articles every week and Tim Marchman has a baseball column just about everyday. For me, Marchman is the best baseball writer in NY it�s a shame that more people are reading stale shit from a guy like Bill Madden and not the insightful observations of Marchman. On Friday Marchman, who writes so much about the Mets I�m guessing he one of us Mets fans had a great observation on Willie Randolph: [The second lesson is that Willie Randolph needs some better relievers, not only because all managers could always use better players, but also because it�s not clear he�s willing to run the Mets best pitchers out there with the season on the line. Various fiascos of late involving combinations of Braden Looper being left in games too long, being left in to face left handed hitters he has no chance of getting out, Danny Graves being left on the roster, Shingo Takatsu being given key assignments instead of Aaron Heilman, and the like have cast some really serious doubt on whether Randolph knows what he�s doing-even for a Randolph booster like me. There�s something to be said for going to veterans in the clutch, but young players are the main reason the Mets got as far as they did this year, and Randolph�s fine work in developing young players has to be matched by equally fine work in using them.] Amen. I want to support Willie 100 % as well but the moves he makes- especially his mishandling of the bullpen-make it very difficult. With the way he ran his first spring camp I thought WOW looks like my questions were answered, as Willie was the definition of �hands on� in camp. But as I watch his in game maneuvering he most defiantly needs work on in game managing especially his bullpen moves. Let�s just hope that Randolph is just suffering from some growing pains in his first year. At least he�s showing signs of right thinking by letting Mike Jacobs play everyday at first base. http://www.nysun.com/section/7 (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Posted 9/11/2005 11:01:00 AM by Kranepool
"AS I ALWAYS SAY, THERE'S BAD LUCK AND THEN THERE'S METS LUCK" I was shocked to see Mike Piazza's name in the starting line up last night. We all read that he was coming along and that he was taking batting practice but I never thought he'd grab a bat in a game till maybe the last week of the season. Then for him to come up and not only hit a home run but a classic Mikey P opposite field dinger brought back great memories. But just like that the good feeling left as Julian Tavarez nailed Piazza in the side of the head with a 90 mph fastball. I seems that Mikey is OK but it's doubtful he will play for the next few days. I don't think Tavarez hit him on purpose as I know of no history between the two and the Cards have taken the life out of the Mets so why even stir them up. Add in the fact the Tony LaRussa is so dead set against throwing at opposing batters (as readers of 3 Nights in August know) it just seems like a bad accident. In fact LaRussa confronted Tavarez in the dugout and along with Izzy he went to meet with Piaza after the game: ["I jumped Tavarez," La Russa said. "And I even asked Tavarez, 'F---, you're a sinkerball pitcher, you missed by that much?'" Tavarez told his manager he didn't intend to hit Piazza, and La Russa accepted the explanation. La Russa and ex-Met Jason Isringhausen met with Piazza after the game, though Piazza declined to speak about their conversation. La Russa indicated Piazza "reacted all right" to the talk, during which La Russa explained there was no malice. Still, one of the few long-time Mets couldn't help but recall then-Marlin Tavarez beaning Edgardo Alfonzo in the head on July 4, 2002 after giving up three runs. "I told Mike, 'Listen, it looks like s---, but I checked with Tavarez and there's nothing there,'" La Russa said. "... The incident where somebody gets hit in the head, whether it's Mike Piazza or anybody, spoiled the whole night for me. It's been the No. 1 pet peeve because it's scary, it's dangerous. I'd trade him not getting hit and we lose the game. Anybody who knows me knows that's sincere. They have guys on that club who have played for me. In 20-some years I've managed, I bet we've hit a half-dozen guys. We just don't pitch up and in."] Well one good thing came of the incident as aaron Heilman nailed David Eckstein with a pitch to the thigh the next inning. The Mets have a reputaion around baseball for not sticking together so Heilman's response was good to see. Hopefully Willie doesn't punish him for it. So now we see Cliff FLoyd has a sore hammy and will sit out to day's game. I hate to specualte on if I guy is hurt or not but Floyd has a reputaion of looking to cut and run when things start to go bad. Floyd has had a good season not as great as most people have made it to be but a good on none the less. Hopefully someone will want his services for 2006 as this is the classic example of Branch Rickey's "trade him a year too early rather than a year to late" because if you think Floyd is going to repeat his 2005 season in '06 your delusional. (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Friday, September 09, 2005

Posted 9/09/2005 08:38:00 PM by Kranepool
�NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME PLAYERS� After last nights 5-0 loss to the Cardinals its safe to say the Mets are just not yet ready to run with the big dogs. Not much to comment on in this one as Chris Carpenter shut down the offense and Albert Puljos smacked a couple of dingers and it seems as if even the upbeat Willie Randolph knows his team is about to take a 10 count on the season. So after looking through the papers today, the blown save by Loopey on Wednesday night is still a lively topic of conversation. It seems the Mets have come to the conclusion that Loopey can�t save a big game. Loopey has a $ 5 mil option for next season that he has no chance of cashing in as the organization holds a $250K buyout clause that they will activate. Now Loopey has said he like to come back as the closer-which ain�t happening-and he�d take a two year deal at less money per year. What�s the point? What would you pay him 2yr/ $6mil? For what to set up or middle relief? No thank you. Willie had a sit down with Carlos Beltran about his sacrifice bunt in Wednesday�s game with 1st and 2nd and no outs. I find it amazing that Beltran has such a lack of confidence in his game that as the number 3 hitter, the spot reserved for your best hitter, would lay down a sac bunt in that situation. Willie finally didn�t sugar coat his feelings about the play: [�He felt he could maybe get a bunt base hit. If he makes it, it looks like an OK play. Even if he makes it, it still might not be the right play. He feels that�s part of his game, but personally, no, I�d rather him swing the bat there�] Beltran�s response is puzzling: [Beltran said he was bunting for a hit and was satisfied with the sacrifice, his fourth of the season. �Since I got to the big leagues and since I was in the minor leagues, I always play the game like that,� Beltran said. �I play to win and I will do whatever it takes�.] The problem with that statement is that�s not winning baseball. It�s �I�ve got no confidence in my game � baseball. Let�s face it this first season of Beltran�s in NY has not been a success. I don�t feel it�s been a failure like some do but it has not been what was expected. He had the quad injury and then the collision but you just wonder where his heads at especially after that statement. You always wonder if Beltran looks back and wishes he could do it all over again if he would have stayed in Houston? Maybe even if Randolph wasn�t so hard headed and moved Beltran out of the three hole and into the two hole it could have jump started his bat. With Wright at 3 and Floyd at 4 and earlier with Piazza at 5 it was a move that should have been made. Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. Speaking of which, how many folks think Doug Eyechart will be a Met next season? No one? I didn�t think so. The Mets have a $3.7mil option on Meinky for �06 and there�s no way that Omar will pick that up so the search for a first baseman will go on for the second straight off season. With that said that Mike Jacobs is not getting any playing time is obscene. As we�ve established between being 5 games back and having to jump over 4 teams it�s time to be pragmatic and look toward next year. What�s so confusing is whenever Omar Minaya is interviewed he always says that he wants the team to get younger and more athletic. Here! Here! But the manager seems to have a philosophy of children should be seen and not heard and because of this mind set, Jacobs gets to pick splinters out of his ass. Same with Heath Bell and now Aaron Heilman and let�s not forget the most embarrassing example, Jae Seo. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spminside094418005sep09,0,3712676.story?coll=ny-mets-print Something has got to give here and it�s up to Omar to sit with Willie in the off season when they go over the plus and minuses of the 2005 season. It�s up to Omar to get Willie on the same page as to me the biggest question of the off season beside finding a closer, a second baseman will be the status of Lastings Milledge. Milledge along with RHP Brian Bannister are picking up where the left off with the B-Mets by leading Team USA in the World Cup Tournament. Are both of these young men ready to make the jump to the big leagues? Not just those two players how about Yusimero Pettit who K�d 14 Mud Hens last night in game 2 of the International League Playoffs? So there you have two pitchers and a top flight outfielder you can think about adding to your team next season and that gives you some very attractive trading chips as well. If we thought last off season was compelling what till this winter as it will be more Omar using his trading acumen rather than his free agent salesmanship to take the Mets from hangers on to a legitimate World Series team. Hey Big Papi, Manny, and J.D. Get out the hammer and nails this weekend!!! (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Posted 9/08/2005 08:48:00 PM by Kranepool
FOR TONIGHT�S PERFORMANCE, THE ROLE OF MEL ROJAS WILL BE PLAYED BRADEN LOOPER� Willie, Willie Willie, what were yoooooouuuu thinking? Look I can grudgingly accept brining in Loopey to pitch the 9th inning although you would have shown some much needed outside the box thinking by leaving Roberto Hernandez in to finish a game that the team just had to have. Bert threw just 6 pitches in 2/3 of an inning and he is you best reliever but I guess you�ve become a managerial lemming and just have to bring in your so-called closer to finish a game. OK no crime there as it seems all your brethren are under the spell of LaRussa and it may take some time for a manager to have the extreme self confidence to change the way the bullpens are used these days but I digress. You bring in Loopey and he proceeds to give up a run scoring double to Ryan Langerhans and I sat looking at my TV saying �Shit! But at least is just tied� Now in the top of the 10th Chris Woodward, who must have committed a serious crime as he can�t get a sniff of the playing field, lines a pinch hit single to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. Ah Willie what a nice little team we have. Never say die. OK it�s 3 outs and as the telecast goes to commercial I say to myself �Well at least Loopey�s out of the game and now Heilman will come on to get the save� As the game comes back on, I�m confused. Where�s Heilman? Why�s Loopey still out there? Is this a replay? Is this live? Has Willie lost his fucking mind? There is no rational reason whatsoever for Willie to bring in Loopey for a second inning after he blew the save in the 9th inning. Now what happens next would have made Jeff Torborg and Art Howe proud. Mets Murderer Larry Jones leads off and hits a single. Tying run on first and Willie is still sitting in the dugout. Up steps Andruw Jones and I say �Just make it painless�. Loopey hits A. Jones in the back with a pitch and it�s obvious to Stevie Wonder that Loopey is about ready to shit his pants. Now not only is Willie still sitting on the bench but the cameras cut to the Mets bullpen and guess who�s warming up? Shingo Takatsu. So in other words this was Willie giving a big �Fuck You� to Mets fans. Up steps the 67 year old Julio Franco and still not even a twitch from Randolph. Loopey on the other hand has a full Depends and walks the elderly Franco. Now I guess seeing the load in Loopey�s pants, Willie trots out to the mound to bring in Takatsu. At this point if I were not a Mets fan I�d would probaly been wetting my pants from laughing. I mean Willie is brining in a guy who was cut by a team with the best record in baseball and he gave up a �kick in the nuts� double just few days ago in a similar situation against the Fish. Now the first batter is Jeff Francour, with no out bases loaded. OK this won�t take long as this kid just hacks. WOW Takatsu gets him. Up steps Brian McCann. Down goes Brian McCann. 2 outs base loaded for Ryan Langerhans. Now think back to the Fish game when Miguel Caberea got his game winning hit. Takatsu throws slop. His fastball is non existent in fact there should be a clause in his contract that states if he ever throws a fastball his contract is null and void. In that Caberea at bat Takatsu fell behind in the count and threw that poor excuse for cheese and Cabrea belted a game winning double. Live and learn right? Now Takatsu fall behind 3-1 on Langerhans. Hey I don�t care Shingo, no fastball! Slop nothing but slop. Takatsu throws what I think was a slider for strike 2. OK learning from your mistakes is a good thing. Now just come back with that and if worse comes to worse you miss and the games tied again. So what does Takatsu throw on 3-2? THAT BULLSHIT FASTBALL.!!!!!!!!!! Langerhans proceeds to deposit the ball into the left center field two runs score and the season has come to an end. 10 � games back of the Braves and 5 games back of the �Stros in the Wild Card chase. It�s over! Hernandez throws six pitches and comes out. Loopey gets two innings of work after blowing a save. Takatsu becomes a valued member of the bullpen. Aaron Heilman is held in solitary confinement. Excuse me as I jump off the �Willie�s doing a good job� bandwagon. (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Posted 9/07/2005 01:21:00 PM by Kranepool
I caught you knockin'at my cellar door I love you, baby,can I have some more Ooh, ooh, the damage done. I hit the city andI lost my band I watched the needle take another man Gone, gone, the damage done. Not much to say about last nights game except that the Mets season is about to fade away. With last nights loss they are 91/2 back of the Braves (no I didn't think they'd catch the Bravos) and 4 back of the 'Stros add in last night was the 8th loss on the last 11 games and it's alos the 4th straight series loss, does it really matter that Trax has taken The Zambrano Projects spot? It does for the sole reason that this looks like the end of Zambrano's Mets career. The player who will be forever lined with Scott Kazmir is arbitration eligible after this season and it looks like the Mets will non-tender Zambrano. If this is true then it will be a big credit to Omar Minaya. http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050907/SPORTS01/509070351/1108/SPORTS01 If Minaya lets Zambrano go then maybe we Mets fans can stop banging our heads against the wal about Kazmir. I'm a fine one to say that I know as I watch every Kazimr start I can on Direct TV and I will follow the kids career very closely because like everyone else I can't believe he was traded. But if Zambrano were to leave the organization it could be a step in the right direction where Omar would be saying I'm can't keep this guy just to save face around here. If can't compete he's got to hit the street. "OREL HERSHIER UNHAPPY IN TEXAS"? Again I just wonder but how secure is Professor Rick in his pitching coach position? As far as I'm concerned I would keep Peterson for as long as he wants to be here as I believe he's one of the top pitching experts in the game. I think he has gotten way too much blame for the Kazimr trade as guys like Al Goldis and Bill Livesy have hung Peterson out to dry on this deal. But Peterson has been the good soldier and has not retaliated against those two old farts and has helped this organization build a fine pitching staff. But I wonder what his relationship is with Willie and Omar? Especially Omar. Omar inherited Gary LaRocque and his staff and we've seen what has happened to them, I just wonder with Orel Hershier rumbling about leaving Arlington would Omar make a move? Hershier is looking to be more than a pitching coach as he has his sights on managing or the front office so you could see a scenario where Omar would bring in Hershiser to work in the front office and maybe take a look at the organization pitchers and maybe even work with Peterson. How much say would Willie have in all this as he and Peterson look to work well together. Hell, I could see Hershiers going back to the Dodgers and DePo getting the ax as well. Stay tuned! http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/baseball/12560338.htm MILLEDGE IN '06? Lasting Milledge continues to wow the baseball world with his performance for Team USA in World Cup play. The Mets have to think about having Milledge as a regular outfielder in 2006. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050906worldcup.html (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Posted 9/06/2005 08:43:00 PM by Kranepool
�HELLO LARRY� He did it again. 33 times Larry Jones of the Braves has gone yard on the Mets and yesterday he added number 34 to push the Mets back to 3 games off the Wild Card lead. What I don�t understand is what transpired on the mound when Willie uncharacteristically went to the mound which when he does only to make the change but this time he went to check on Trax to see what was left in his tank: [Rafael Furcal led off with a single and remained at first when Marcus Giles popped out on a bunt attempt. Randolph, who rarely initiates a mound conference that does not result in the pitcher being removed, ran from the dugout and asked Trachsel if he felt strong enough to pitch to Jones. Trachsel said he did, but he added that he hoped someone was warming up to face the next batter, Andruw Jones, who hit a 452 foot homer in the fourth. Randolph informed Trachsel that Roberto Hernandez would face Andruw Jones, but he told Trachsel to save him another trip to the mound by getting Chipper Jones to hit into a double play to end the inning] So Trax had enough to get Larry but not enough to get Andruw Jones. As soon as Trax told him that he should have gone to Bert. I�m not saying that Bert wouldn�t have given up the dinger to Larry but it seems to me Trax is telling you he�s kaput. There�s the problem in that the margin for error with this team is Nicole Ritchie thin. When you go 1-10 with runners in scoring position you don�t give your pitchers much of a margin for error. I wasn�t upset with Manny Acta sending Victor Diaz on Jeff Francour�s arm in the seventh but it seems Willie Randolph wasn�t very pleased: [Manager Willie Randolph was asked about the decision to send Diaz, and he didn�t exactly defend his third-base coach. �I�ve coached third base for 10 years and I don�t second guess my third-base coach.� Randolph said. �It was a tough decision. I didn�t tell him to go. You have to ask the guy that sent him�] Not exactly taking Acta�s back there. When I saw Francour coming hard after the ball and when he caught it low like he did I thought Diaz had a chance. My problem is with Diaz�s slide. He looked like he stopped short of the plate. You have to barrel into the catcher at that point to make him drop the ball. Victor Diaz spit the bit in my opinion. I understand that Floyd was on deck but the way the Mets have struggled to score runs so I think you have to take a gamble. Dear Carlos Beltran, It�s September! Time to get moving!!!! Sincerely Mets Fans HEAVY METAL Mike Cameron came by the Mets clubhouse yesterday to see his mates. He is still not able to eat solid food and he gets light headed when he tries to run. He�s very sensitive to sunlight and can�t leave the house without his sunglasses. He describes his injury as his cheekbone exploded like a cracked windshield and the titanium plates in his face set off the airport security systems. That collision was worse than I ever thought it was, it�s amazing that Beltran did not get hurt more than he did. That doesn�t take the heat off Beltran�s non-clutch performance but I still have admiration for him coming back to play. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spmside064413758sep06,0,1767259.story?coll=ny-mets-print �ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE� Last season record- 60-77 This seasons record 70-67 OK Willie I �ve seen enough of Douggie Eyechart can we please get Mike Jacobs back at first base please. �WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO DOUG SISK�? He�s come back to the Mets disguised as Danny Graves. �MY EMPLOYER WON THE WORLD SERIES AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS STINIKIN� WRIST WATCH� http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/06/sports/baseball/06chass.html �STICK A BROOM IN MY ASS AND I�LL SWEEP THE FLOOR� http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050906/SPORTS07/50906008/-1/SPORTS (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Monday, September 05, 2005

Posted 9/05/2005 12:28:00 PM by Kranepool
"NO I'M NOT DAN GRAZIANO, I JUST PLAY ONE ON THE INTERNET" ,http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1125812717245330.xml&coll=1 <

Posted 9/05/2005 12:07:00 PM by Kranepool
Mark Hermann has a coulmn today on the all the things that make this Mets team one to root for and not to tear down. [ Despair is something they just don't do. It is partly because they have young players, partly because the club is confident, partly because it is as brash as Martinez's taste in clothing, partly because it is just kind of goofy. It is partly that the other wild-card contenders keep losing. Mostly it is because the Mets know that despair never did anybody any good.] Wasn't it is just a year ago that Cliff Floyd said "there's no light at the end of the tunnel" and that Keith Hernandez called the team a bunch of quitters? I guess a manager gets no credit for the turn around of a negative mind set. http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spmark054412830sep05,0,5877721.column?coll=ny-sports-print <

Posted 9/05/2005 11:55:00 AM by Kranepool
"JOHN KRUK THE VILLIAGE IDIOT OF BRISTOL CT" I'm watching Baseball Tonight last night and John Kruk descides to weigh in on the relationship between Jae Seo and Rick Peterson. I figure Kruk must have some inside dope since he's on BT right? Well the guy could not be more misinformed. Kruk as telling his viewers that the reason the Mets didn't bring up Seo was due the bad realtionship that Seo has with Peterson. Which is pure bullshit. Yes it's true that Seo wnated no part of the Gospel according to Professor Rick in part because he didn'r want to hear the truth. The truth was Seo had two pitches a fastball and a change that had just about the same speed and movement and was very hitable. When he finally relaized it Seo went to Peterson and asked for help and he go it. Now with his velocity up and his slider and cut fastball Seo has become a pitcher. Peterson helped him as he had all the Mets pitchers but I guess beacause he's not a quote machine or one the old boys of baseball he dies not get his due. Oh and by the Kruker get you facts right before you stammer out more mis informationhttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/343475p-293291c.html <

Posted 9/05/2005 10:59:00 AM by Kranepool
"YOU CAN BOO, CURSE AND SCREAM BUT THIS TEAM IS JUST GOING AWAY" You can show hate toward the manager. You can boo the centerfielder with the big contract and the busted cheek bone. You can scream at the closer for making your stomach roil when he comes in the game. You can scream for the Triple A second base man we all think is the next Joe Morgan and it won't make a difference to this Mets team. This team has taken more abuse than any Mets team with a winning record in the 44 years of the franchise and it just makes it stronger. Sure I agree with the majority that Willie made a dumb move on Saturday night by not brining in either Bert or Heilman (numbers be damned) but I don't hate him for it or want him fired. I didn't agree with the way he handled David Wright or his constant use of Miguel Cairo but that doesn't mean I want sent back to the Bronx. I'm willing to go through the growing pains here because I still think in the long haul the Randolph/Minaya combo will be successful. I wish some of the malcontents out there in Mets fandom were around in the mid to late 70's when Mrs. Payson died and left the team to her daughter Lourinda DeRoulet, and the despicable M. Donald Grant. I've sat in Shea when the attendance back then was in the hundreds at games and the park was really a slum. Grant controlled all the money and he wouldn't lay out a dime for a can of Dutch Boy to spruce the place up. What I'm saying is for an old fart like me these are great times to be a Mets fan and some day when young guys become old farts you'll realize it too. What you see in this team is that they have the full respect for Willie Randolph. Sure Bert was pissed off his nimber wasn't called on Saturday but your never goning to hear it from him. Cliff Floyd not one to hold back what he thinks was a bit leary of the move as well but he had the managers back because as he said the manager has his. How many time have you heard Mike Piazza talk as glowing about a manager like does about Randolph? Never. Give the guy a chance that's all I'm asking. (to post a comment please click on the time of the posting) <

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Posted 9/03/2005 11:27:00 AM by Kranepool
"THE UNFORGIVING ROAD" With the exception of the Cardinals, every team in the NL sucks on the road. Sometimes as Mets fans we think its just an malady that effects our beloved Amazin's. Be that as it may, the Mets hit the road in South Florida yesterday and the combo of un-timely hitting and Willie Randolph's refusal to either bench Miguel Cairo or bat him 8th plus the Marlins locomotive known as the D-Train all added up to the Mets third straight loss and sixth defeat in eight games. It looks like we as fans will have to shame Omar into at least adding Anderson Hernandez to the big league roster the same way we did for Victor Diaz last year. Remember last September the Mets did not bring Diaz up to the big league club until it felt the wrath of the fans. All Diaz did when he came up was swing a hot bat and knock the Cubs out of playoff contention. I hate to get on Omar and Willie as I like both of them and for the most part I feel they have done a good job and have this team going in the right direction but I can't see why moves that seem so logical to me and you is like major alteration to the Mets. Are we all wrong about having Beltran bat second and dropping Caisui to the eighth spot or out of the line up all together? Are we so misinformed that the thought of using Roberto Hernandez as the closer and setting up with Loopey and Heilman makes no sense. Do the numbers really lie that Loopey can not get lefties out but he stil came in the game against the lefty killers of the Phillies? I guess we were so wrong about David Wright when we said his talents were being wasted in the e8th spot of the lineup. Can you even imagine that this young man who is mentioned in MVP discussions even hit in the 8th spot? Again, please don't think I'm starting to take on a Highlander fans way of looking at things (WIN NOW DAMNIT!!!!!) because as a whole the season to me has been a success. The club is moving in the right direction and should be a very interesting off season but it's just when you see the team was just a 1/2 game from the Wild Card lead and is now 31/2 games back it's a bit maddening. It disturbs me the way the fans act toward Willie Randolph. To call him an idiot and to say he should be fired only embarrasses yourself. I know there are a lot of you out there you never saw Randolph play. In fact a bet there are more than a few Mets fans you didn't know that Willie even played in the majors. Sure he has his moments when we all scratch our heads with some of his moves but the way this team conducts itself is more of a credit to him than anything else. Am I the only person who sees this? Every time the Mets are counted out by the media or the fans they come back with a go on a run. Yes the team has a perplexing way of playing and just when you think they're ready to make the move forward the stumble but I still don't think it justifies the boarderline venom that's been put upon this team. Again it's the Highlander mentality creeping in to our little conclave. Why do you boo Carlos Beltran? Is it because of his contract? Is it because your envision of him was of a .300 30 HR 110 RBI season? Is it because you feel he should bat 2nd? What is it? People get caught up way to much in players salaries. You know why Beltran is making so much money? Because no one wanted to come to the Mets. This team was so far so down the baseball food chain that without overpayment you could never get a Beltran or a Petey to come here. Here's how different it is now Billy Wagner looks at the Mets as a team he's love to play for. David Bell said playing that last series at Shea was the best place he's played in all year. Who gets credit for that? That players look at the Mets and say "Yeah I want to go there" give the credit to Omar and Willie for that. I guess in my long winded way what I'm trying to say is relax and enjoy what's going on in Flushing. The last time the team had this kind of feeling was in 1984 and 1985. Before then th eMets and the whole organization was at rock bottom but two kids named Gooden and Strawberry came along and changed the franchise. In 2005 two kids have come along named Wright and Reyes and have done the same. Hopefully in the off season Omar can get our next Keith Hernandez. Keep the faith Mets fans and for the love of God stop that stupid role call from the left field bleachers. (to post a comment please click on the time of htis posting) <

Friday, September 02, 2005

Posted 9/02/2005 08:34:00 PM by Kranepool
�THE UPS AND DOWNS OF METS FANDOM� On Tuesday after Bull Dog Castro launched a baseball to the left field bleacher, Mets fans were making their arrangements for October baseball. Two days later, the same fans were scouring the Internet for the list of potential off season free agents that could help the 2006 version of the New York Mets. After five months (where does the time go?)of the 2005 season you would think we Mets fans would have figured out by now that this is the most unpredictable Mets team ever assembled. They�re contenders. They�re also-rans. They score 39 runs in four games in the desert. Then the team goes on to score 15 runs in their last 6 games. And people want to know why I twitch. As we Mets fans argue over who should be the fifth starter, the offense has shrunk to 1962 levels. Fans are calling sports talk shows kvetching about Tom Glavine�s misplay of a sure double play as the turning point of the game when we knowledgeable folks all know the turning point of the game was when Willie Randolph pull out his Monte Blanc and wrote Kaz Matsui�s name in the number two spot on his lineup card. We can debate Trax/Zambrano, Matsui/Cairo/Anderson/Ken Boswell, and Cal Koonce over Looper for days, the bottom line here is when you look at the line ups of the Phillies, Marlins and Braves the Mets line up ain�t exactly packin� heat. Jose Reyes does what he does hits triples and steal bases. Miguel Cairo I can�t really kill as he was brought in to spell the Japanese Lemon at second not to play everyday. I�m still being patient with Carlos Beltran. Cliff Floyd should leave the analysis of the team to amateurs like me and just start hitting the shit out of the ball like he did in the first half of the season. Is there any way to clone David Wright? Unlike Highlander ass smoocher, Bill Madden, I�m not jumping off the S.S. Mike Jacobs. Just let him play. The more games the better. Baby Manny should be in the 2 spot. Bull Dog Castro is doing better than expected. So what�s missing? Well, how about a Burrell, an Abreau, a Carlos Delgado (how much different would the standings look if Delgado took the BETTER Mets offer?) an Aundrew Jones? I guess what I�m saying is we�re one big bat away from NL supremacy. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/342731p-292619c.html It does not help either that the manager is as thick as brick when it comes to making lineup changes. There is no good reason why Anderson Hernandez has not come up to play second base. Joel Sherman writes about that in his column today. So what if the Mets field an infield that Davis Wright is the senior man, Omar and Willie are worried about putting four youngsters in the infield during a pennant race. Just think that the experience they get today will pay off in 2006. http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/27674.htm Just remember every time the fans and media get ready to throw dirt on this team they put together a little streak that make you put your shovel down. NON-BASEBALL �I CAN ONLY STAND SO MUCH THAT I CAN�T STAND NO MORE� For those of you who hate when I make a political statement on this blog, thanks for coming by see ya tomorrow. Those of you still here, it�s time for me to vent over the inaction in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. First off the most important action that needs to put into focus is the need to save the children and elderly who cannot help themselves and are literal dying in the street of New Orleans. That this is happening in the U.S.A is not only embarrassing but it�s heart breaking as well. For the first time ever, this country is the laughing stock of the world. For that we can thank, the cowards who were elected to office in New Orleans and the State House in Baton Rouge. Governor Blanco, when leadership and direction was needed, started crying instead. Mayor Nagin and the City Council of New Orleans hightailed it out of town with big yellow streak on their backs. Cowboy George was tumbling with the tumbleweed down in Crawford as a major city in America was wiped out. Foxy Brown (a/k/a Condi Rice) was having a grand old time here in NYC. And the Vice-President was�.was�.Where In The World is Dick Chaney? My guess is he�s figuring out a way to convince Cowboy George that the Mexicans have WHD�s (Weapons of Hurricane Destruction) and that we should carpet bomb Cancun. Instead of sitting in a corner crying �WHAT DO I DO, WHAT DO I DO�? Governor Blanco should have called Cowboy George to tell him �I need as many soldiers that you can give me as the gang leaders have taken over New Orleans and I�m ready to implement martial law�. Maybe instead of counting all the graft coming into city hall, Mayor Naggin could have come up with a worse case senerio plan to get the large population of poor people out of town? Then we have good ol� boss hog Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, who came up with his solution to the devastation of New Orleans, �FUCK IT, WHY REBUILD IT � Yeah that�s the ticket, let�s let a city in America that is steeped in history just let it rot. I guess Speaker Hassert looked over his donor list and saw no names from New Orleans. Where have you gone Rudy Giuliani? Our nation turns it�s lonely eyes to you. (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Posted 9/01/2005 08:23:00 PM by Kranepool
�SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE�..I HOPE� It�s a race. An endurance test really but it�s called a race. A Pennant Race. We haven�t seen one of these in a few years so it could take a little bit to get used to the feeling of watching every inning with bated breath hoping the Mets come through. But sometimes you have to give the opposition it�s due. The Phillies suffered a tough loss on Tuesday and showed resilience last night by launching four homers off Petey. There was talk after the game that Petey was not throwing very hard. Petey called it a crock but the truth is he doesn�t throw hard anymore. Sure he can crank it up on occasion but those days of consistent 90+ fastballs are gone. What he does is use his head and excellent movement on his breaking pitches. The problem last night was the movement on his slider and curve and his command. Hey Petey didn�t have it last night and no one picked him up. Then you add in the two great catches in the 5th inning by Kenny Lofton (I thought the catch off Diaz�s ball was the toughest as I would have sworn it was going off the wall) it made for a tough night. Hopefully today Titan Tommy will continue his �rebirth� as an effective pitcher and the Mets take two of three from the Phillies. Meaningful baseball in September being played in Flushing takes a little getting used to. METS ADD THREE BUT ANDERSON HERNANDEZ IS NOT ONE OF THEM LHP Kaz Yesshhii, LHP Tim Hamaluck and RHP Shingo Takatsu are the calls ups so far to bolster the bullpen. Yeshhii hopefully will never have to be used and Hamaluck, a career minor leaguer, would have been here sooner but for Mike Jacobs hot streak. The interesting one of the bunch though is Takatsu. Last year he was an extremely effective reliever for the White Sox. He saved 19 games appearing in 59 games. Takatsu had a strikeout rate of 7.2 K/9IP and 3.0 BB/9IP. This year he fell apart and was getting tagged regularly and the Six let him go. Omar took him off the scrap heap and he has shown enough in Norfolk to get the promotion. Non-Baseball SHE COULDN�T WRESTLE BUT YOU SHOULD�VE SEEN HER BOX http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/fashion/thursdaystyles/01skin.html (to post a comment please click on the time of this posting) <

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