Wishes For 2009

I know I was a crappy blogger this year, so just say it. Almost as crappy a blogger as the Mets were crappy ballplayers in September. But it's over, I'm not watching anymore baseball and will only occasionally blog during the off season as circumstances warrant. I will, however, offer my thoughts on what is needed for next year.

1. I like Jerry. Keep him. He came along late, but he definitely pushed the Metropolitans in the right direction.

2. I am becoming skeptical on the youngins' - Jose Reyes and David Wright. Yes they is cute. Yes they can make the plays - most of the time. But when it comes to being clutch, Jose ain't your guy and neither is David. You may all boo me, you may call me a traitor. But face the facts... they have a been 50 percent of the nucleus of the team for the last 2 years (and '06 too, of course). And I don't have to tell you how that went down. One more year I say. Maybe maturity and the last two years can give them the confidence to pull it out when we need it most.

3. Pitching. Disastre. Need I say more. Closer, another solid starter (at least one), a setup man. We need more help in our bullpen than George Bush will need building a positive legacy.

4. Leave the Carloses. I know they ain't young, but they're good. Keep 'em another year.

5. Shop for a second baseman, Castillo has sucked. Would be nice to get someone that can hit AND play second base, especially since we haven't seen either from Luis all year.

It was a hard baseball year, almost harder than the '06 collapse. I think this was because July gave me hope. And then September crushed it to bits. It's all a little Hillary Clintonian. Everyone talked about you, you were the one to beat. But in the end, fizzle. She fought, we fought. But in the end, our adversaries proved to be stronger.

At least for some of us there's always next year. 

Pitching, Pitching, Pitching

I am back in the comfort of my sprawling apartment in DC, back to the giant TV and every baseball game a girl could want.  So last night I watch the nail biter of a game v. the Brewers. This nail biting thing has become a little too de rigeur these days. While it makes for great baseball, it has been giving me heartburn for the last week or so. As was early in the season, the culprit seems to be pitching. 

Pitching, pitching, pitching.

They got through it last night, by the skin of their pretty little asses. But mostly because of the incredible defensive play of the team. Amazing catches by little Nick, badass throws as fast as gunfire from Endy!, David tackling the ball more like a defensive end then a third baseman. 

Last night was all about saving themselves from a melting bullpen. And they did it. Ten innings, 6-5. As long as the bats are alive, they may survive September.

As for some of the candidates, I am not quite as certain. 

He's Lost Control?

That Oli. Always an enigma. Yesterday, a balls to the wall performance until the 6th. And then, out of nowhere the inning turned into a struggle a la the Democratic nomination. A gazillion pitches, every one of them more tense than the last one and unfortunately resulting in three runs.

It's ok. 8-3 ok. The Mets pulled it out with bats that are thriving better than mold in DC (it has rained nearly 5 inches in a day here). The Carloses are alive and well, David and Jose are starting to awake too. Even Scott Schoenweis pitched a blemish free inning.

But Oli, what's your deal? I know you still probably enjoy comic books and miss your hometown. But c'mon, you're in New York. You're playing in the big leagues. You're getting paid a lot of money. And you and your greedy ass agent want even more money come next year. So don't go the way of Romney or head down the path currently being forged by Hillary Clinton. You can do this. The good news is that unlike in politics, in baseball you can control about 85 percent of the outcome.

P.S. I didn't write about the whole series against the Reds, which the Mets took 2-1. Lovely play on Saturday, but the MLB package didn't offer the day game. This is the second time a Saturday day game was unavailable - bastards!

Losing One Can Mean Everything. Or Nothing.

My favorite part about the MLB package is that you get to watch announcers from all over baseball. So I have been listening with glee to the Dodgers announcer who knows as much about the Mets as the current Congress and President seem to know about policy making.

This false sense of perspective must have worked on me. I fell asleep on the couch sometime in the 4th inning without too much agita. The Dodgers had a pitching meltdown that looked disturbingly Met-like. The boys were winning 4-1. I felt alright going to bed.

But I had ignored the warning signs - no hitting. David Wright striking out. Lots and lots of base runners stranded. I was so focused on the decent pitching and excellent offense, I ignored the soft underbelly... bats as cold as an office building in summertime. Mets lose 5-4.

As in life and in politics, you can't have it all. Sometimes you win one, sometimes you lose one. As this stage of the baseball season it's not just one that makes the final decision. As for politics, I guess we'll see in Denver.

Rumble, Rumble

The rumors are at a fevered pitch, re: A-Rod and my boyfriend.

I know that I was a little enthused about this a few weeks ago, but now my feelings have changed... I know he's a great bat, but when I think about our untimely demise in 2007, I can't help but think what we lacked in all of this was leadership and maturity. We had David, we had Mosies, but what we need is more leadership. And I'm not sure if A-Rod is all that. Look at the whole things with Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS. We need grown ups who can bring a positive attitude to the team. Is this A-Rod?

My Facebook status says it all...

A New Boyfriend?

Tonight, the Times is reporting that A-Rod is going to opt out on his contract with the Yankees. This may seem a little bit like suggesting to a Chilean socialist in the 70s that they should go out on a date with Pinochet's best marksman, but A-Rod is one of the Yankees best weapons and one strategy to beat them is to disarm them.

The bigger problem? What about my first love?

Sitting Shivah

It's dead. Over. And I did not really talk about it today and asked everyone in the office (the boys really), to not talk to me about baseball today. They didn't.

The rabid NY media have already started feeding on the corpse of the 2007 Mets, so I won't be too harsh as I join the group 'o buzzards. But what I will say is that I don't think Willie deserves to be fired. I think the end result was a team that had a lot of talent, but ravaged by injuries could never again quite find the full glory of those sweet spring days.

Pitching was always a nagging problem and in the end it took us down. Aging pitching, along with young pitching with tons of potential proved to be the wrong combination for a long season. The older bodies couldn't hack it, the younger ones proved to be too inconsistent to deliver every time (although I think both John Maine and Oliver Perez were highlights of this team and will deliver for years to come).

Oli and Johnny were not the only highlights.... David Wright was spectacular all around and we'll see more of him next year. Mosies Alou, at 41, was key to keeping us even half alive in the second half of the season. The youngins' --- Endy, Anderson, and Milledge all have lots of potential.

Just a bit on attitude: Post All Star Break there was definitely a slide in the attitude of some of the players. And this is the thing that lost it for the Mets. They collapsed on themselves.

It doesn't change how sad I am. I will watch the playoffs and will occasionally post my thoughts about them. But I won't be rooting for anyone, my season has passed.

So Close...

I was within a block of my boyfriend and did not see him! Today, the Washington Post reports...

Mets star David Wright touring the Spy Museum and lunching at Clyde's on Tuesday before showing up for his team's 9-8 loss to the Nats. Even though he was out of uniform, fans recognized the latest member of the 30-30 Club (that many homers and stolen bases in one season).

What is killing me is that is ONE BLOCK from my office. I eat lunch at Cyde's and ride my bike by the museum everyday on my bike ride home.

Boo hoo. Oh well... see you in Florida, David.

Can't Seem to Catch a Break

What is such a bummer about last night's 10-inning, 3-2 loss to the Phillies is that it has much less to do with skill than with luck. I'm not saying the Phillies suck; clearly they have had a late season surge that would bring envy from most of the political candidates on the stump these days. But one late inning run proves nothing except making the pennant race a little tighter.

My fave quote in all the coverage from last night was from my boyfriend -"A team is most dangerous when they're backed into a corner."

A 5 and a half deep in the hole corner.

My Boyfriend is HOT

Ok, I know David Wright is hot, like cute hot, but his numbers are amazin'. According to my friends over at Metsblog.com:

Mets 3B David Wright is the only player in the National League hitting over .300, with at least 80 runs scored, 80 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 20 home runs..... He is batting .403 in 77 at-bats in August, and .373 with a .489 OBP since the All-Star break. He has reached base in 15 of his last 19 plate appearances.

This post is motivated by the wonderful post excerpted above and the very stupid article in today's NY Post. This feeble attempt at lifestyle writing by a sports writer is worse than an actor running for president. Leave the Cosmo crap to those who can pull it off, Mr. Kernan. Thanks.

Who's Your Daddy?

Yesterday was beautiful everywhere. In LA where the Mets won 4-3 in 10 innings and even in Washington where I am still only riding my bike due to injury (yes, my Mets empathy extends to physical states.... I'm on the DL too).

While Jose Reyes' trip out west got slightly better yesterday (nice triple), David Wright has just been on fire. The fundamentals - great hitting and running - have made the difference, especially in this series against the Dodgers. This was an important series to win, if only to remember come the fall.

Plus, it is kinda nice to beat the father you never really knew. At least I guess that's what the Dodgers are.

SWF seeks Starting Pitcher

All I want for my 34th birthday is some decent Mets pitching. If you watched or are watching Today's impending loss to the Dodgers, you'll understand why. Sosa (remember all the S's, particularly scalped?) gave away David Wright's beautiful 4-0 lead to an 8-4 trailer (in the 8th). That's not just giving it away, he Deanified or McCained, a la 2004. Total implosion.

I'm done. And I don't give a damn about Barry. Nothing can save my boys today. So even with Oli's filthy night and Glavine's chaos night, we're goin' down today. Bottom line, I need solid pitching more than a need a boyfriend.

UPDATE: I am also seeking someone who can hit, get on base, and score. The Mets have the ability, we just haven't seen it in a while. Kinda like having a boyfriend that never takes you out.

Slaughter and Collapse

While I am most definitely depressed, I tried to cheer myself up today by going for a bike ride and not thinking about the Mets. But I came home, browsed the dead trees (Post and the Times) and then decided to check the score of today's game.

Damn. Double damn. Triple damn. Infinity damn. Slaughtered by Detriot. And two of their best butchers called in sick. The only decent news I can glean is that David Wright hit another home run and the Mets did score some runs. But Tommy G is the man and if he has fallen in a K-less hole then we are in deep doo doo.

Enough. I can't take it. I almost out of Baci chocolates so these guys better get their crap together. I refuse to be fat and depressed at the hands of lesser chocolates.