Friday, June 30, 2006

Big Games in the Regular Season

Mike Francesca did his best to aggravate Mets fans yesterday after their second game against the Red Sox. He kept baiting them with lines like “they spit the bit.” He kept referring to the Mets-Red Sox series as a “big” series for the Mets; a “big” test. Of course he only said that after the Mets lost the first two. He said: “We went up there to broadcast as a sign of homage to the Mets, but they blew it.” All of this proves that Francesca knows little about baseball or the meaning of “big series.” Either that or he can’t see the truth through his Yankee-blue colored glasses.

A big series in the regular season is when you are playing a division rival and you are within a few games of each other. And, the closer it is to October, the bigger such a series becomes. The Yankees playing Boston right now would be a big series, for example. When the Mets played the Phillies a few weeks ago in Philadelphia, the Mets had a five or six game lead and had the opportunity to knock the Phillies out of the race in June with a sweep. THAT was a big series for the Mets. An inter-league game is only a big series to a team that still has to battle to make the playoffs.

Note to Francesca: The Mets lead in their division is greater than the leads of the other five division leaders COMBINED. After the Philly sweep, the Mets could look at their schedule and note that they had just played their last big series in the regular season. The Mets next big series will come in October. And, now that the Red Sox have a four-game lead on the Yankees, every series is a big one for the Yankees. Maybe that’s what Francesca meant to say. The Mets just buried his beloved Yankees.

Friday, June 16, 2006

The New Jersey Redskins

I turned on the Mets new TV channel, SportsNet NY, this morning to watch highlights of the Mets game I attended in Philadelphia on Thursday. In addition to the Mets highlights, SNY had a piece on the quarterback competition in the Jets camp and an interview with a Giants player. Of course former Redskins were prominent in each piece: SNY interviewed Patrick Ramsey and Lavar Arrington.

I liked both players when they played for the Skins. I would love to see what Ramsey can do if he gets a chance to play, and play behind a line that will protect him. I think Jets fans are in for a positive surprise. The Jets got a first rounder for practically nothing.

I also wish Arrington well. He is a playmaker, if an undisciplined one, and I hope he plays very well against the Cowboys and Eagles this year (but very average against everyone else).

Monday, June 12, 2006

Carlos Beltran

This is my first post since Art Monk was robbed of his enshrinement into the NFL's Hall of Fame. I have been too busy with work to post, but today I need to follow up on a post I made last August.

I say I need to follow up because my wife is sick of hearing me say this during Mets games:

Now they (Mets fans) love Carlos!!!

Maybe if I post it, it will reduce my urge to say it (and help my marriage) whenever I hear Mets fans cheer Carlos Beltran as if they loved him all along.

It is obvious why fickle Mets fans now love Carlos: He has the most home runs of any centerfielder in the major leagues this year and his defense has been nearly flawless. He's batting .297 (team rank: 2); with 17 HRs (2); 49 RBIs (1) and a .406 OBA (T1); a .631 slugging average (1-no one else is even close) and 1.037 OPS (1). He will be the starting centerfielder for the NL all stars this year.

Why is this issue important to me? As a Mets fan and former season ticket holder, I'm sick that great players do not want to play for the Mets unless the Mets give them over-the-top compensation. They have to go over the top because Mets fans can be the most unintelligent and unforgiving fans in baseball, as Beltran's experience here proves.

The list of excellent players that recently said they wouldn't play here is long. Delgado, another Mets fan favorite this year, screwed the Mets in negotiations last year and signed with Florida for much less than the Mets were willing to pay him. Beltran allegedly begged the Yankees to get to around 80% of the Mets offer so he could play in the Bronx. Griffey wanted no part of Mets fans. Glavine hoped the Braves would take him back.

When the Mets have to pay more to attract the same talent as other teams, they are at a tremendous disadvantage. All other things being equal, they will be less successful. And it is all due to their fans.

As I posted last August, Beltran deserved cheers for his willingness to sacrifice his statistics to play despite pain from several injuries. Mets fans should cheer Beltran the way Pedro Martinez did in Los Angeles last week when Beltran made an incredible diving catch to preserve a tie game. Beltran was in obvious pain after the play and took several minutes to get back on his feet, but he stayed in the game because the Mets had lost Cliff Floyd earlier in the game due to a twisted ankle and Jose Reyes due to a sprained wrist. By all rights, Beltran should have left the game; Pedro knew it and stood on the mound and applauded Beltran. I hope Mets fans take their cue from Pedro, not just for Beltran but for all of the players who bust it to win, even when it doesn't show up in their statistics.