The Show Get's Lit Up

I've got a new column over at F.U. titled Saving Grace, a look at the concerns we had about the bullpen coming into this year, and how it has been a surprise in that it is good despite the new parts. I finished it up at about 8 PM last night. Of course, The Show, who I kinda praise, then craps the bed, the floor, the walls and the ceiling. Dammit.

John Maine started, and continued his recent string of some wildness, walking two in the first, and both runners would score on a ground rule double by Ward. In the second inning, a couple of more singles, and a run driven in on a single by Uncle Cliffy (who went 3-4). Maine struggled through 5, with the fifth being the only inning he went 1-2-3. In the bottom of the fifth, Shawn Green hit a long home run to right center, and it was 3-1. After a PLD groundout, Easley singled, Newhan pinch hitting for Maine walked, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Alas, Reyes grounded out, as did Endy. Then, enter the Show, and exit a chance to win.

After getting the first out, Show allowed a single to Zambrano, then walked Theriot. Uncle Cliffy hit another single to load em up. After getting Soriano to fly out, The Show then delivered a meatball to Aramis Ramirez, who sent it to the second deck in left, for a 7-1 lead. The Show then walked Ward, and was replaced by Aaron Sele, who gave up doubles to Barrett and Jones, for a 9-1 Cubs lead. On a night the Mets needed the bullpen to keep them in the game, they were unable to do so. Burgos, newly recalled from AAA, pitched the 8th and ninth (his new role will apparently be to go 2 innings), and gave up a run after allowing a double to Fontenot (in his first MLB at-bat), throwing a wild pitch, and allowing a sac fly to Barrett for the final run in the 10-1 beating.

I'm a little worried about Maine. I'm not sure if he is getting squeezed, or if he is simply missing his spots. After a stellar April, May has been not so kind. This is two starts in a row with 3 runs given up, and he followed up a 6 walk outing last time with 3 more walks. His WHIP is still only 1.25, and his ERA is a very good 2.15, but I am concerned that he has not had his whole arsenal for a couple of starts now. Last night, his fastball was hittable, the game before, he threw nothing but fastballs for the most part. It is not a long term concern, but a short one on my part.

I had said yesterday that I thought Zambrano was due for a good start, and he made my fear come true. Eight innings, 6 hits, 3 walks, 3 K's. Was it an audition? Possibly, but the Mets are going to make the decision to go after him (assuming he goes FA) based on his whole body of work. Right now, his numbers are still awful.

Tonight, Sosa makes his third start, facing Rich Hill, who is 4-2 with a 2.51 ERA and .96 WHIP. A lefty, meaning we will probably see Gomez in the lineup in place of Green.

Miscellaneous Notes

1. Lastings Milledge is in trouble again. This time, he is heard on a rap song (he is not the main vioce, just a guest star) titled "Bend Ya Knees". Apparently, the title of the song is a trick, since it is not about going to Church and praying. The Mets are not happy, saying

"We disapprove of the content, language and message of this recording, which does not represent the views of the New York Mets"

Now, I like Milledge, and thought he got something of a raw deal last year. He seemed to mature in the offseason. But this is only going to add fuel to the embers that were always going to be there. This song, which is coming out thanks to the record label he is CEO of, is going to be fodder for the haters. Coming on the heels of Imus, it is bad timing. He uses several derogatory terms in the lyrics. Now, there is obviously no way he could have known the climate would be as it is now. But given his past, you would think he would be a little smarter. This is not going to end well. I fear a trade on the horizon.

2. ESPN the Magazine, as Matt Cerrone on Metsblog pointed out, has a cover story on how clubhouse workers are the new steroid connection. The cover is a photo of a guy wearing a Mets polo shirt, holding out two Mets jerseys with a needle on top. I got it last week in the mail, and was immediately sickened. I had wanted to write about it, but had not found the time. I'm glad Matt brought it to light on his site, as he has a large following. For my part, I have cancelled my "ESPN Insider" account, and the magazine. As for the issue, I did not read the story, the cover tells me all I need to know.

As we all know, the guy in question has not worked for the Mets in 10 years, and all his crimes happened in the time since he left. Why ESPN feels the need to continue to link the Mets to this is beyond me. I have a question for them, where is the story on Personal Trainers, like Anderson, and all the other guys who's names have been linked? I would think they have an easy time getting HGH and other performance enhancers. You follow around Bonds and subject us to abject ball washing of each accomplishment, no matter that they are tainted. In this case, a clubhouse flunky leaves an organization, and, the horror, becomes a workout fiend and deals steroids. AFTER HE WAS A METS EMPLOYEE. Stop the linking of the team to this piece of shit.

What about a story on the NFL, who has had more people suspended for steroids than any other sport. For fucks sake, Shawne Merriman, a top player was caught and suspended 4 games, but the story went away as quickly as it broke. ESPn loves the NFL, so no chance of a story with say a Cowboys jersey on the cover.

I implore all Mets fans to make their voices heard. Complain to ESPN. Email them, write them, cancel any memberships. This attack on our team is nothing more than an attempt to increase circulation by smearing a NY team. Show them we will not stand for it. Tell them the unfair treatment of our team will not be tolerated. Until we stop buying and reading their shit, they will continue to make something out of nothing.