"Getting Squirrely" just isn't about music. It's about good music. It's about finding the right toppling arrangement of dominos to give you that feeling you can't quite explain - outside of gourmet food - that will keep you coming back for more, pressing play over and over again like an Al Davis Oakland Raiders' walk-through in the '70s. That's it. That's all I have to say and that's all I deserve to say. Great music was never based on bullshit. And shit was never exclusive to the bull.
"Led Zeppelin never made tunes that everyone liked ... they left that to the BeeGees." - Wayne's World, 1992.
Australia - the big brother bully of our favorite little kid brother, New Zealand, brings us this interesting "trio", an intriguing jam band permeating out of Perth (the fourth-largest Australian city and its fastest-growing hub) centered around lead and namesake John Butler, a green-friendly environmentalist as well as noteworthy musical axe-craftsman. In this cut from their 2004 album, "Sunrise Over Sea", Butler masters the quintessential jam-band hypnotic dance of just a few chords into a listening gem of ear-bending audible narcotic. Few lyrics, much feel and aura is the story of this track, that will sure to keep the music junkie's fancy should they explore the depth into this seemingly simple piece of structure.
The Pixies. An oft-overlooked band from Boston (easily overshadowed by groups with the same origin in the form of Aerosmith, the Dropkick Murphy's, its own namesake "Boston", and even Guster) this classic alternative rock outfit which saw its genesis with the help of punk and surf rock inspiration went on to influence such immortal musical forces like that of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana who often spoke of the debt he and his music owed to the New England songwriters. In this classic cut, the Pixies demonstrate the creative funk and clear force in their music that lead to such respect and recognition in the steepest of modern rock circles. It's near-neurotic, it's cool yet psychotic - you can see in this song how the Beantown foursome made a simple bassline and some skinematic, satanical caresses biblical lyrics into a song that you just might not be able to play only once.
p.s. My girlfriend got me squirrely about this song. She hates it how I love it.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
One Pel of a Possibility
Imagine if El Duque were healthy on Opening Day. Imagine if the Minnesota Twins demanded they receive a 6'7" hard-throwing righty in return for Johan Santana. Imagine if Victor Zambrano were on the trading block.
Mike Pelfrey would have been somewhere, just not here. Pelfrey's maturation process would have been unfolding in another place whether it be AAA Ball or the Twin Cities.
Seeing Tim Lincecum on the losing side of a 7-0 decision is rare these days, but what is happening to Pelfrey in a Mets' uniform is even more of a rarity. Pelfrey has only produced a small sample to date, but even this glimmer of what could be is something completely foreign to me as a Mets' fan.
I'm too young to remember 1984 and a 19-year-old Doc Gooden. I don't remember the emergence of "Doctor K," but I certainly will never forget "Generation K" and the fasle sense of hope (no, I'm not referring to someone's presidential campaign) that surrounded Izzy, Wilson, and Pulse.
For years, I have wondered what it was like to witness the emergence and maturation of a homegrown pitching phenom. Basically, I wanted to know what it felt like to be an Oakland A's fans during the past decade.
Thanks to the New York Mets' willingness to part ways with a 19-year-old southpaw who sports a 98-mph fastball, fans of the expansion Tampa Bay Rays have had the luxury of enjoying Scott Kazmir's evolution from prospect into an All-Star.
Fortunately, the Mets weren't willing to part ways with a tall, goofy right-hander from Wichita, and they easily could have.
Pelfrey's rookie season started to the tune of an 0-7 record, a far cry from the 17-9 record and 278 strikeouts that Gooden posted in 1984. His maddening inability to locate his pitches and properly utilize his mid-90s fastball could have finally pushed the Mets to move in a different direction. Even in trading for Johan Santana, statistically baseball's best pitcher over the past three season, the Mets felt a need and found a way to keep Pelfrey put.
Now, Pelfrey's emergence does not nearly warrant the same excitement and mystique as Doc Gooden's direct jump from A Ball to MLB dominance. Gooden went 24-4 and won the Cy Young award during his sophomore campaign. Pelfrey's 7-6 mark at the midway point of his second season may seem modest, but those who have seen his past five starts can't help but think the Mets have something special.
Pelfrey has not lost in nine starts since May 26. He has been the winning pitcher in each of his previous five outings, and it would have been six had Billy Wagner not flushed his eight-inning gem against the Diamondbacks on June 11.
Pelfrey's sophomore surge includes road wins over the Yankees, Cardinals, and AL West leading Angels.
Last night at Shea, he went toe-to-toe with the latest Sports Illustrated coverboy and it wasn't even close. Pelfrey and the Mets cruised to a 7-0 victory over the Giants and ace Tim Lincecum who entered with a 10-1 record and 2.49 ERA. The Mets' newfound stud walked no one through seven innings of three-hit ball, while Lincecum surrendered more runs in the first inning than Pelfrey has in his previous 14 frames.
I don't know if Pelfrey will continue along his path of progression or ever reach stardom, but I do know it is possible. A possibility of the sort is what this Mets' fan had been anxiously awaiting for as long as he can remember.
Mike Pelfrey would have been somewhere, just not here. Pelfrey's maturation process would have been unfolding in another place whether it be AAA Ball or the Twin Cities.
Seeing Tim Lincecum on the losing side of a 7-0 decision is rare these days, but what is happening to Pelfrey in a Mets' uniform is even more of a rarity. Pelfrey has only produced a small sample to date, but even this glimmer of what could be is something completely foreign to me as a Mets' fan.
I'm too young to remember 1984 and a 19-year-old Doc Gooden. I don't remember the emergence of "Doctor K," but I certainly will never forget "Generation K" and the fasle sense of hope (no, I'm not referring to someone's presidential campaign) that surrounded Izzy, Wilson, and Pulse.
For years, I have wondered what it was like to witness the emergence and maturation of a homegrown pitching phenom. Basically, I wanted to know what it felt like to be an Oakland A's fans during the past decade.
Thanks to the New York Mets' willingness to part ways with a 19-year-old southpaw who sports a 98-mph fastball, fans of the expansion Tampa Bay Rays have had the luxury of enjoying Scott Kazmir's evolution from prospect into an All-Star.
Fortunately, the Mets weren't willing to part ways with a tall, goofy right-hander from Wichita, and they easily could have.
Pelfrey's rookie season started to the tune of an 0-7 record, a far cry from the 17-9 record and 278 strikeouts that Gooden posted in 1984. His maddening inability to locate his pitches and properly utilize his mid-90s fastball could have finally pushed the Mets to move in a different direction. Even in trading for Johan Santana, statistically baseball's best pitcher over the past three season, the Mets felt a need and found a way to keep Pelfrey put.
Now, Pelfrey's emergence does not nearly warrant the same excitement and mystique as Doc Gooden's direct jump from A Ball to MLB dominance. Gooden went 24-4 and won the Cy Young award during his sophomore campaign. Pelfrey's 7-6 mark at the midway point of his second season may seem modest, but those who have seen his past five starts can't help but think the Mets have something special.
Pelfrey has not lost in nine starts since May 26. He has been the winning pitcher in each of his previous five outings, and it would have been six had Billy Wagner not flushed his eight-inning gem against the Diamondbacks on June 11.
Pelfrey's sophomore surge includes road wins over the Yankees, Cardinals, and AL West leading Angels.
Last night at Shea, he went toe-to-toe with the latest Sports Illustrated coverboy and it wasn't even close. Pelfrey and the Mets cruised to a 7-0 victory over the Giants and ace Tim Lincecum who entered with a 10-1 record and 2.49 ERA. The Mets' newfound stud walked no one through seven innings of three-hit ball, while Lincecum surrendered more runs in the first inning than Pelfrey has in his previous 14 frames.
I don't know if Pelfrey will continue along his path of progression or ever reach stardom, but I do know it is possible. A possibility of the sort is what this Mets' fan had been anxiously awaiting for as long as he can remember.
----------
The only thing that may excite you more than Mike Pelfrey's most recent outing is the debut of Getting Squirrely with Hobbie. On Thursday morning, Salvatore Speaks will unveil the first of six weekly, summer installments (that's all we could afford to pay him for) of a music blogspot that is sure to send a Chris Matthews' type tingle up your leg.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
No Need for Another Circus Act; Bullpen Clowns Around, But Bottom Line Remains Intact
With Moises Alou as sturdy as a three-legged dog these days and Ryan Church's status in doubt, the Mets are in dire need of a proven, everyday corner outfielder with some pop. But Barry Bonds? Are they serious?
Bonds is more radioactive than Three-Mile Island. Not only does his baggage outweight any possible return his 43-year-old body is still capable of producing, but he isn't even the right fit.
The Mets need someone who can play adequate defense and, at the very least, is a right-handed bat capable of balancing their lefty-heavy lineup. A stationary peach basket in left field may catch more than they left-handed hitting Bonds can these days.
Recent reports (Click Here for the story) have suggested that acquiring the beleagured BALCO posterboy Barry Bonds is an option that Mets' GM Omar Minaya has yet to dismiss. Now, to be fair, the Bonds-Mets story could be a by-product of high-caliber sensationalism on behalf of a saavy media corps, but still what is wrong with Omar? Why didn't Minaya automatically, and loudly, reject any idea of Bonds joining the Mets?
I guess Minaya wholeheartedly believes in the old notion that "no publicity is bad publicity." They already invited the circus to town with the way they dismissed Willie Randolph. In the aftermath of that debacle, even flirting with the idea of bringing Bonds in is baffling.
Omar Minaya needs to get on the phones if he hasn't done so already. The Mets need a temporary bailout in the outfield, but Bonds won't cut it.
----------
Known for some of radio's randiest hits, Madonna surprisingly doesn't kiss on the first date. C-Rod's lawyer is not accusing A-Rod and the material girl of any adulturous sexual activity, but is simply claiming that the relationship between the Bronx Bomber and 49-year-old vixen is an example of A-Rod's emotional abandonment. Read more courtesy of The New York Post.
----------
The New York Mets won the final three games of their four-game set with the first-place Phillies in Philadelphia capped by a 10-9, nearly-disastrous slugfest on Monday night. Although Mel Rojas and Armando Benitez no longer where the Orange and Blue, this Mets' fan couldn't help but think of the days when they caused more heartburn than a Jimmy Buff's Italian hot dog.
A night after Joe Smith turned in one of the team's top relief efforts in recent memory, the Mets' bullpen nearly did something that could only be fathomable with the aforementioned dynamic duo present. After 5.1 innings of two-run ball from Pedro Martinez, a tandem of Mets' relievers, the very mortal Billy Wagner included, surrendered seven runs and nearly produced the biggest buzzkill since Yadier Molina.
But the Mets survived. With the tying run on second base after Carlos Beltran exercised judgement that makes Rudy Guiliani's Florida Primary strategy look logical, Wagner averted disaster by getting Jayson Werth to fly out into the glove of Endy Chavez.
It has been ugly and tumultuous. Not just last night's game, but the entire season has taken more dips than the DOW Jones. Still, at 45-44, the Mets are above the .500 mark for the first time since June 5 and sit only 2.5 games back of their turnpike rivals.
The Mets are in the black, but is it a bull market ahead?
Bonds is more radioactive than Three-Mile Island. Not only does his baggage outweight any possible return his 43-year-old body is still capable of producing, but he isn't even the right fit.
The Mets need someone who can play adequate defense and, at the very least, is a right-handed bat capable of balancing their lefty-heavy lineup. A stationary peach basket in left field may catch more than they left-handed hitting Bonds can these days.
Recent reports (Click Here for the story) have suggested that acquiring the beleagured BALCO posterboy Barry Bonds is an option that Mets' GM Omar Minaya has yet to dismiss. Now, to be fair, the Bonds-Mets story could be a by-product of high-caliber sensationalism on behalf of a saavy media corps, but still what is wrong with Omar? Why didn't Minaya automatically, and loudly, reject any idea of Bonds joining the Mets?
I guess Minaya wholeheartedly believes in the old notion that "no publicity is bad publicity." They already invited the circus to town with the way they dismissed Willie Randolph. In the aftermath of that debacle, even flirting with the idea of bringing Bonds in is baffling.
Omar Minaya needs to get on the phones if he hasn't done so already. The Mets need a temporary bailout in the outfield, but Bonds won't cut it.
----------
Known for some of radio's randiest hits, Madonna surprisingly doesn't kiss on the first date. C-Rod's lawyer is not accusing A-Rod and the material girl of any adulturous sexual activity, but is simply claiming that the relationship between the Bronx Bomber and 49-year-old vixen is an example of A-Rod's emotional abandonment. Read more courtesy of The New York Post.
----------
The New York Mets won the final three games of their four-game set with the first-place Phillies in Philadelphia capped by a 10-9, nearly-disastrous slugfest on Monday night. Although Mel Rojas and Armando Benitez no longer where the Orange and Blue, this Mets' fan couldn't help but think of the days when they caused more heartburn than a Jimmy Buff's Italian hot dog.
A night after Joe Smith turned in one of the team's top relief efforts in recent memory, the Mets' bullpen nearly did something that could only be fathomable with the aforementioned dynamic duo present. After 5.1 innings of two-run ball from Pedro Martinez, a tandem of Mets' relievers, the very mortal Billy Wagner included, surrendered seven runs and nearly produced the biggest buzzkill since Yadier Molina.
But the Mets survived. With the tying run on second base after Carlos Beltran exercised judgement that makes Rudy Guiliani's Florida Primary strategy look logical, Wagner averted disaster by getting Jayson Werth to fly out into the glove of Endy Chavez.
It has been ugly and tumultuous. Not just last night's game, but the entire season has taken more dips than the DOW Jones. Still, at 45-44, the Mets are above the .500 mark for the first time since June 5 and sit only 2.5 games back of their turnpike rivals.
The Mets are in the black, but is it a bull market ahead?
Monday, July 7, 2008
Fading Star, Not All-Star Saves Mets While Rising Star Conquers Wimbledon
Billy Wagner is headed to the All-Star game thanks to his ability to save games, but Fernando Tatis, not Wagner, earned the biggest save of the season for the New York Mets last night.
Mets’ starter Oliver Perez was phenomenal rather than fickle for the second consecutive outing, baffling a potent Phillies’ lineup a week after stifling the vaunted Bronx Bombers. Perez allowed Carlos Beltran’s third-inning solo shot to hold up through seven innings of four-hit ball.
Then, after nearly three hours of rain, Pedro Feliciano and Aaron Heilman teamed up (yes, I said Aaron Heilman, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you) to dance out of an eighth-inning jam.
Wait, it gets even more remarkable. The Mets tacked on an insurance run off Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge, who is fresh off a three-year contract extension, in the top half of the ninth inning and handed a 2-0 lead to Wagner.
Enter Sandman aka Wagner who we are suggesting should change his nickname to Billy Buzzkill. With two out and one on, centerfielder Jayson Werth, who would be lucky to draw a comparison to Aaron Rowand rather than Hank Aaron, deposited a Wagner slider into the outfield seats.
The complexion of this game went from sound, encouraging victory to devastating, back-breaking loss quicker than any Mets’ fan can say Armando Benitez.
Although Wagner killed the buzz, the Mets weren’t dead yet. They made it to the 12th inning with the score tied at 2-2 and Tatis delivered. The only major leaguer ever to hit two grand slams in the same inning back in 1999 is the same man who did not even make the Mets’ big league club out of Spring Training. Yet no Met has come up with a bigger, more clutch hit than this faded star did yesterday.
Tatis’ two-run home run saved the Mets from a devastating defeat. He saved them from losing precious ground on Philadelphia in the N.L. East standings. This faded star, who best years are behind him, picked up the Mets’ lone All-Star and saved him from another back-page “BILLY GOAT” headline. If this series triggers a season-altering winning streak of sorts, then Tatis also may have saved the season.
----------
Not to be overshadowed by Wagner’s ineptness and Tatis’ brilliance is Joe Smith. The man who shares his name with thousands of Americans was no ordinary Joe on Sunday. Smith came on to throw 2.1 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief to earn the victory yesterday.
----------
I’m not going to go as far as hugging a sweaty, rain-soaked man, but I must admit the Wimbledon Final was simply remarkable. The five-set epic left a new, first-time Wimbledon champion and possible new World No. 1 in Rafael Nadal.
The longest final ever at the historic, tradition-rich tournament, four hours and 48 minutes of play sandwiched around rain delays, ended when Federer sent a forehand into the net during Nadal’s fourth match point.
Federer’s costly errors and failure to covert 12-of-13 break point chances may raise some questions as to whether the Swiss star’s era of dominance is officially ending, but the only question that those excited over yesterday’s match should ask is “What channel will the U.S. Open be on?” If half as much brilliance is on display at Flushing Meadows, then it will be well-worth it to check your local TV listings.
And for those of you ready to crown Rafa the New King, I suggest you wait until September. The World’s Greatest Clay Court Player and the 2008 Wimbledon champ has one more beast to conquer. Nadal has never advanced through to the semifinal round at Flushing Meadows and has only contested one quarterfinal in four U.S. Open appearances.
Federer has won the last four titles there.
Mets’ starter Oliver Perez was phenomenal rather than fickle for the second consecutive outing, baffling a potent Phillies’ lineup a week after stifling the vaunted Bronx Bombers. Perez allowed Carlos Beltran’s third-inning solo shot to hold up through seven innings of four-hit ball.
Then, after nearly three hours of rain, Pedro Feliciano and Aaron Heilman teamed up (yes, I said Aaron Heilman, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you) to dance out of an eighth-inning jam.
Wait, it gets even more remarkable. The Mets tacked on an insurance run off Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge, who is fresh off a three-year contract extension, in the top half of the ninth inning and handed a 2-0 lead to Wagner.
Enter Sandman aka Wagner who we are suggesting should change his nickname to Billy Buzzkill. With two out and one on, centerfielder Jayson Werth, who would be lucky to draw a comparison to Aaron Rowand rather than Hank Aaron, deposited a Wagner slider into the outfield seats.
The complexion of this game went from sound, encouraging victory to devastating, back-breaking loss quicker than any Mets’ fan can say Armando Benitez.
Although Wagner killed the buzz, the Mets weren’t dead yet. They made it to the 12th inning with the score tied at 2-2 and Tatis delivered. The only major leaguer ever to hit two grand slams in the same inning back in 1999 is the same man who did not even make the Mets’ big league club out of Spring Training. Yet no Met has come up with a bigger, more clutch hit than this faded star did yesterday.
Tatis’ two-run home run saved the Mets from a devastating defeat. He saved them from losing precious ground on Philadelphia in the N.L. East standings. This faded star, who best years are behind him, picked up the Mets’ lone All-Star and saved him from another back-page “BILLY GOAT” headline. If this series triggers a season-altering winning streak of sorts, then Tatis also may have saved the season.
----------
Not to be overshadowed by Wagner’s ineptness and Tatis’ brilliance is Joe Smith. The man who shares his name with thousands of Americans was no ordinary Joe on Sunday. Smith came on to throw 2.1 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief to earn the victory yesterday.
----------
I’m not going to go as far as hugging a sweaty, rain-soaked man, but I must admit the Wimbledon Final was simply remarkable. The five-set epic left a new, first-time Wimbledon champion and possible new World No. 1 in Rafael Nadal.
The longest final ever at the historic, tradition-rich tournament, four hours and 48 minutes of play sandwiched around rain delays, ended when Federer sent a forehand into the net during Nadal’s fourth match point.
Federer’s costly errors and failure to covert 12-of-13 break point chances may raise some questions as to whether the Swiss star’s era of dominance is officially ending, but the only question that those excited over yesterday’s match should ask is “What channel will the U.S. Open be on?” If half as much brilliance is on display at Flushing Meadows, then it will be well-worth it to check your local TV listings.
And for those of you ready to crown Rafa the New King, I suggest you wait until September. The World’s Greatest Clay Court Player and the 2008 Wimbledon champ has one more beast to conquer. Nadal has never advanced through to the semifinal round at Flushing Meadows and has only contested one quarterfinal in four U.S. Open appearances.
Federer has won the last four titles there.
Nadal is on his way to becoming the face of men’s tennis, but he has a long way to go to catch Federer.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
One Down, One Up, Two to Go
It has been a familiar feeling for these New York Mets, as it usually is for teams that win as many games as they lose aka .500 ball clubs. After two games at first-place Philadelphia, Jerry Manuel's Mets must feel like they just kissed their sister.
The Mets headed into this weekend's turnpike tussle with Philadelphia in need of a splash. Not yet emerging from the mediocrity that has defined its disappointing season thus far, New York had an opportunity to proclaim loud and clear that it was a contender in the National League East. Instead, the Mets' caravan has remained in neutral.
They endured a Manuel-mismanaged, 3-2 defeat on Independence Day before bouncing back with a late-inning surge during Saturday's 9-4 triumph.
The end result: the Mets remain 4.5 games behind the first-place Phillies, the exact position they held entering the series.
But two games still remain in this four-game set. Two opportunities for the Mets to explain why the baseball world shouldn't write them off as a disappointment. Two chances to go into the All-Star break as more than just a .500 club against their divisional nemesis.
Salvatore Speaks will be keeping an eye on today's contest which pits lefty Oliver Perez (6-5, 4.98 ERA) against righty Kyle Kendrick (8-3, 4.58 ERA ). MLB NYM Game Preview
Salvatore's Sunday Focus on:
New York Mets (43-44) at Philadelphia Phillies (48-40), CW11, 1:35 PM EST
The Major League will announce the 2008 All-Star teams today at 2:00 pm EST on TBS.
Roger Federer attempts to silence the critics and Raffy Nadal in the Wimbledon Final, NBC, 9:00 AM EST
Friday, July 4, 2008
Philadelphia Then and Now
Hoping to gain ground on the first-place Phillilies, the New York Mets give the ball to ace Johan Santana this evening in a series-opening bout with Philadelphia lefty James Happ (is this the best Brett Meyers fill-in they could find? Sources say Jose Lima is looking for work.).
Santana sports a 7-7 record with a 3.01 ERA while Happ enters with one career Major League start under his belt (4 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 HR, 2 BB), but the real story today transpired 232 years ago in the very same city the Mets and Phils will do battle in tonight.
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress took the first official step in forming what we now know to be the United States of America. These brave men stood against the tyranny of a monarchical rule and their essential contributions to what became our great nation must never be forgotten.
Happy Independence from Salvatore Speaks.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Mets, Tennis Pundits Left Scratching Heads
Shake your head. Sigh. And ask yourself, what could possibly happen next?
That is about all Jerry Manuel or any New York Mets’ fan could do last night when the Cardinals’ struggling Chris Duncan blasted a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning of St. Louis’ 8-7 victory last night.
Well, what happened next was a ninth-inning, game-ending solo shot by Troy Glaus, but that was almost a guaranteed given after the light-hitting Duncan spoiled what had been a relentless, valiant offensive effort on behalf of the Mets.
The Mets have lost games by almost every way imaginable this season. Some may say “that’s just baseball” or “it will even out over the course of a long season,” but when a man hitting .107 against left-handers amid other woes crushes the first pitch he sees off your lefty specialist for a round tripper, what is there to say?
After his team battled back to take a 7-5 lead following a disappointing start from Pedro Martinez, Manuel, who may not fully understand the concept of a double switch (see Yankees-Mets on June 28), played it right in setting up the lefty-lefty match-up against Duncan.
A fourth outfielder at best on the Major League level, Duncan is now batting .242 with six homers over 65 games. Some may remember him as the man all Mets’ pitchers wanted to face during the 2006 NLCS (it certainly wasn’t Yadier Molina or So Taguchi). He went 1-for-8 during that series, playing in only five of the seven games.
And there Duncan was last night, adding to the growing number of miserable Mets’ moments this season. Moments where Billy Wagner squandered Mike Pelfrey’s best career start one night and came back the next day to rain on Johan Santana’s gem. Moments when the Mets win in Anaheim, home of baseball’s best manager, but lose in San Diego, home of baseball’s worst record at the time.
So there were the Mets again last night. They had overcome a tough start from Martinez (5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 K) pounded out a few clutch hits to take a 7-5 lead. What looked like (dare we say?) a win to build upon turned into another head-scratching, stunning disappointment that begs the question, what will happen next?
The Mets have been living this tease of a season for 84 games now. Conventional wisdom may say something's gotta give eventually, but the last year and a half have been anything but conventional for the Mets (and being the first team to blow a seven-game lead with 17 to play is just the tip of the iceberg).
----------
Quick Hits: Tampa Bay swept the BoSawx once again. Could the Rays be baseball's version of surprise Beantown busters? The Giants humbled the arrogant, elitist New England fan base. Unfortunately, Kobe and the Lakers couldn't follow suit, but that is because LA's engine was missing its Diesel. ... Roger Federer has made it through to the Wimbledon semis once again where he will face Russian Marat Safin. I never thought that could have been possible after listening to all the pathetic pundits that suggested Federer had something to prove at this year's tournament. Despite his failure to win either of the first two majors, which includes a disastrous showing in the Roland Garros final, Federer, arguably the best player in world history, does not have a damned thing to prove at this stage of his remarkable career. Everyone must have forgotten that Federer is the only man in history to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open back-to-back for four successive seasons and I'm betting he will do it again.
That is about all Jerry Manuel or any New York Mets’ fan could do last night when the Cardinals’ struggling Chris Duncan blasted a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning of St. Louis’ 8-7 victory last night.
Well, what happened next was a ninth-inning, game-ending solo shot by Troy Glaus, but that was almost a guaranteed given after the light-hitting Duncan spoiled what had been a relentless, valiant offensive effort on behalf of the Mets.
The Mets have lost games by almost every way imaginable this season. Some may say “that’s just baseball” or “it will even out over the course of a long season,” but when a man hitting .107 against left-handers amid other woes crushes the first pitch he sees off your lefty specialist for a round tripper, what is there to say?
After his team battled back to take a 7-5 lead following a disappointing start from Pedro Martinez, Manuel, who may not fully understand the concept of a double switch (see Yankees-Mets on June 28), played it right in setting up the lefty-lefty match-up against Duncan.
A fourth outfielder at best on the Major League level, Duncan is now batting .242 with six homers over 65 games. Some may remember him as the man all Mets’ pitchers wanted to face during the 2006 NLCS (it certainly wasn’t Yadier Molina or So Taguchi). He went 1-for-8 during that series, playing in only five of the seven games.
And there Duncan was last night, adding to the growing number of miserable Mets’ moments this season. Moments where Billy Wagner squandered Mike Pelfrey’s best career start one night and came back the next day to rain on Johan Santana’s gem. Moments when the Mets win in Anaheim, home of baseball’s best manager, but lose in San Diego, home of baseball’s worst record at the time.
So there were the Mets again last night. They had overcome a tough start from Martinez (5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 K) pounded out a few clutch hits to take a 7-5 lead. What looked like (dare we say?) a win to build upon turned into another head-scratching, stunning disappointment that begs the question, what will happen next?
The Mets have been living this tease of a season for 84 games now. Conventional wisdom may say something's gotta give eventually, but the last year and a half have been anything but conventional for the Mets (and being the first team to blow a seven-game lead with 17 to play is just the tip of the iceberg).
----------
Quick Hits: Tampa Bay swept the BoSawx once again. Could the Rays be baseball's version of surprise Beantown busters? The Giants humbled the arrogant, elitist New England fan base. Unfortunately, Kobe and the Lakers couldn't follow suit, but that is because LA's engine was missing its Diesel. ... Roger Federer has made it through to the Wimbledon semis once again where he will face Russian Marat Safin. I never thought that could have been possible after listening to all the pathetic pundits that suggested Federer had something to prove at this year's tournament. Despite his failure to win either of the first two majors, which includes a disastrous showing in the Roland Garros final, Federer, arguably the best player in world history, does not have a damned thing to prove at this stage of his remarkable career. Everyone must have forgotten that Federer is the only man in history to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open back-to-back for four successive seasons and I'm betting he will do it again.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Mediocre Mets Get to Church On Time
Three days, four games, and the New York Mets are right back where they started.
The recently-completed Subway Series ended with a 3-1 Mets’ victory that pushed the Amazins’ record to a less-than amazin’ 40-41.
For over a year now, the Shea Stadium Faithful has been teased more than the patrons of your local gentlemen’s club and this past weekend was a prime example of the false sense of hope Mets fans have endured.
The Mets won one, lost two, and then salvaged a split by winning the finale. Carlos Delgado turns in an incredible, nine-RBI performance in the series opener, and then closes the series with a 1-for-10 clip at the plate. Oliver Perez can be even more maddening, flashing brilliance one day and looking more dismal than the economy five days later.
Baseball is a game of streaks and slumps, but don’t confuse that with inconsistency.
The Mets are a .494 baseball club with exactly half of their regular season schedule complete.
Their manager can talk all he wants about how the team will come around, and the players can keep telling themselves that they have championship-caliber talent. Just as they did this past weekend, they have shown how good they can be, and have been as equally nauseating at times.
Right now, Omar Minaya’s hand-crafted specialty is a .500 baseball team that encounters just as many ups as downs.
As disappointing and maddening as that assessment may be, it is not time to stop believing, yet. Teams have muddled in mediocrity before eventually proving their merit.
The Rockies were a .500 team for much of last year before an unbelievable late-season surge put them in the World Series. The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals (remember them?) finished the regular season at 83-79 before somehow capturing the world championship.
The Mets could wind up being the 2008 version of the aforementioned clubs, but for every day they remain mired in their current mediocre state, that outcome becomes less and less likely.
----------
Church on Sunday: The Mets couldn’t have picked a better day for Church. On Sunday, fittingly enough, the Shea Faithful welcomed back Ryan Church into the lineup after the right fielder missed nearly a month of action due to lingering effects of his second concussion this season. With the fifth through eighth slots in the Mets’ lineup rivaling that of the Long Island Ducks, Church’s return was nothing short of a blessing. The left-handed hitting outfielder promptly produced two well-struck singles during his first MLB action since June 5. Instantaneously increasing the legitimacy of the Mets’ offense upon his return, Church is batting .304 with 10 homers and 35 RBI over 184 at-bats as a Met. Damion Easley, Fernando Tatis, Marlon Anderson, and Trot Nixon, who were all fill-in options for Church, have combined to hit five round trippers and drive in 32 runs over 247 at-bats. Welcome back Ryan!
----------
Lynch Loses License: As noted earlier, there may have been a bit of uncertainty surrounding the fantasy draft prospects of Buffalo Bills second-year running back Marshawn Lynch after the former Cal standout was flagged for clipping an Ontario woman with his SUV. Thankfully for those hoping to acquire Lynch once draft season rolls around later this summer, the 22-year-old will be wearing a uniform that is blue, not orange, come September. Lynch won’t be driving to training camp this year though, and it has nothing to do with astronomical gas prices. As a result of his hit-and-run incident that left the Canadian victim with minor injuries, a traffic court judge revoked Lynch’s New York State Driver’s License. While pleading guilty to “failure to exercise due care toward a pedestrian,” the Bills’ starting running back said of the incident, “It was raining real hard, there was a dancing pedestrian in the middle of the street. I slowed down to let her go and continued on my way home. I didn’t know my car had hit anyone or anything.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
