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. 

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!

Our Guam

Wow, what a weekend between the Mets and the gorgeous weather. The past two days were literally the most beautiful of the year - 70s, 80s... perfect biking weather. And I took advantage of it.

That, of course, meant that I only saw a bit of the Mets take the series 2-1 from Arizona, the team with the best record in baseball. Now before you think we're out of the woods, think again. Yes, we won today in a pitchers duel (yes, we won a pitchers duel, shocking I know) between Johan and Dan Haren. But yesterday was a complete and total pitching meltdown, not dissimilar to the Pittsburgh avalanche last week. Friday was a beauty, with Moises Alou back, Jose's bat alive, and pitching that held it together. What can I say... we're streakier than my pollen covered windows.

And we're still a half game out of first. Consider this series kind of like Guam - sometimes it's the perception and the subsequent momentum that matters more than anything.

Rocky Road

Yesterday was free cone day at Ben and Jerry's, but I abstained since beach season is around the corner. However, I still got a dose of Rocky Road watching the Mets last night. And against the Pirates at that. Almost worse than watching a bungling against the Nats.

Ugly night. Crap throw by Reyes, bullpen dramas (Heilman continues on a trajectory that looks like Fred Thompson's presidential bid - doomed from the third week; two run scored off Billy Wagner; Sanchez loading the bases), and the usual high number of stranded runners.

After 11 innings, they won 5-4. That was the dessert.

Time to Trade in the Honda....

The Mets are off tonight, headed to Milwaukee and what I expect will be a tough series for the boys from Queens. But clearly the news of the day is the 2nd base upgrade to Luis Castillo, a hot prospect indeed. I think Gotay really tried, but in the end, this team needs more than a Honda to be where we want to be come the fall. And a three-time Golden Glove winner is more juice than your standard V-6; it's kinda like a Porsche.

While injuries have ravished our defense, in particular 2nd base, it can't be denied that we need a little dynamite added to our batting lineup. We need another .300 plus hitter... my boyfriend David is close, but none of our other bats have been able to come through this year - the Carloses or Shawn Green specifically. I can' t wait to see the Jose/Luis cocktail at one- two... let's hope it really is as delicious as it looks to be today.

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.

Re-Awoken

So, a sweep. A sweep!

Not that the Oakland A's are emblematic of the bad asses in the AL. But they beat the Yankees, they beat Boston, and they beat St. Louis. So they ain't THAT bad.

Although yesterday they looked pretty bad. And the Mets capitalized on every weakness. Unlike Saturday, the bats were on and Jose was on FIRE or at least running like there was a fire.

The Mets are the bear that has been re-awoken. And you know what bears snack on as appetizers? Birds. Cardinals to be exact. Usually around 7 pm.