Which Team Has Heart?

I'm sitting here watching this afternoon's game on the SNY Encore. I just saw Jayson Werth go yard. A month ago, I, and every other Met fan would have gone into panic mode, awaiting the inevitable Ollie implosion. Today, that did not happen. THAT, my friends, is a sign of a good team. That is the sign of a team that has basically said "Screw it, we're gonna win" before and during every game.

Oh, the Philth had their fun on Tuesday, smacking the bullpen around. The media had their fun questioning the Mets leadership, and talking about how the Philth just don't quit, and how they have such great leaders in Jimmy Rollins. The Philth had fun showboating at second base after a double (Rollins), and standing on home plate for 3 seconds after scoring (Victorino). The media, Philth and their phucking philth phans expected the Mets to roll over after that.

They were wrong.

Last night, Maine pitched well, and the Mets got a timely go-ahead 3 run homer from Jose, who trotted quickly around the bases, while raising his index finger in the air. Now, this act offended the Philth Phans, and their broadcasters, even Skip Bayless from ESPN (well, to be fair, Skip is kind of a moron). How dare Jose celebrate hitting a 3 run homer that broke a 3-3 tie. He should be classy like Rollins and Victorino. Oh, wait.

Let me tell you something. I am sick and damn tired of the media and opposing teams bitching about Jose, but overlooking, or even celebrating, the antics of other players. No one says boo about Victorino, who couldn't hold Jose's fucking jock, or Rollins, or Manny hi-fiving a fan DURING A PLAY for pete's sake. But Jose holds up a finger and it is like he murdered someone. STFU Skip Bayless, and the rest of the ESPN assholes, and Tom McCarthy and other out of town announcers.

As for the Phillies, don't some into our house and stand on home plate and mock Jose and the other Latin players and then turn around and bitch about Jose's trot. Oh, and Jimmy, next time, try to show up on time for the game. I think it is lovely how you drive yourself to the game while the rest off your teammates take the bus. I hope ESPN mentions this just once. That will probably be more than it will actually happen. Now, if a Met did that, it would be on "the crawl" for the next week, and would be the top story for every edition of SportsCenter. But since it is Jimmy, who ESPN loves nearly as much as Derek Jeter, nothing will be said. (side note, do you think ESPN suits would just cream themselves if Rollins was to somehow become a Yankee? Of course, he would have to play 2nd, since Jeter would not move for him.) The reigning MVP was benched today because he was late. Again, imagine if that was anyone on the Mets.

Today, Ollie pitched his ass off. Twelve k's, including Utley and Howard multiple times each. He went 7 2/3. He left with the Bases Loaded with Philth, and in came Aaron. I liked this move. Jerry showed Aaron he had faith in him in a tough spot against the Phils, a team that, well, Aaron doesn't exactly have a good track record against. Aaron got the last out. Mission Completed. Wags pitched a strong 9th, which was nice, especially given the quick turn around from last nights game.

The offensive hero today was Carlos Delgado, who drove in the winning run in the 8th with an 3 run opposite field double. I admit, I was down on Carlos, but the man has been on fire since June, and even hotter in July. So hot that he was moved back to cleanup last night and today. The bats overall were quiet against 85 year old Jamie Moyer, but at the end of the day, they won, and are in first alone by 1 game.

A team that had it's heart questioned showed it is strong.

The team that is supposed to be all heart has its leader show up late to the game today and get benched.

Has the tide turned? It's early still, but the signs are promising.

Just.Win.Series.

LGM!

Rants

So Clemens has disrupted scar tissue in his groin, which pushed his start back. I'm thinking he pushed it back because the Yanks are looking worse than the Astros right now.

Lou Pinella was suspended 4 games for a tirade over the weekend. Poor Lou, stuck in Chicago. To think, he could have been Yankee manager.

Gary Sheffield, still an idiot.

Let me get this straight, it was bad for the media to write about A-Rod going out with another woman, but it was OK for the Post to write about Paul Lo Duca dating other girls, while in the midst of a divorce?

The Yankees are now 15 games behind. Repeat after Ed, they are DONE! Over. Kaput.

Pedro throws off a mound for the first time today. This makes Ed happy.

Prior to the season, I predicted 30 wins between Maine and Perez. That might be on the low side.

Fox during the Yankee game over the weekend talked about how off the field stuff should not be written about. OK, then why the fuck did you feel the need to talk about Latings Milledge and his rapping? Oh, that's right, because he's not a Yankee. Fuck You Joe Buck.

Eric Mangini guest starred on the Sopranos this past weekend. Next week, (Spoiler Alert!) Tony does him a favor and whacks Belichicken.

Dear ESPN, it might be a good idea to wait until Bonds is within 3 HR's of Aaron to give updates. Do we really need to see on every scroll that he is still 9 away from the record?

Chris Pronger, still a headhunter.

Ding Dong the witch is finally dead. Mike Milbury is no longer an employee of the Islanders. I wonder which franchise will be stupid enough to hire him. Too bad for him Wang doesn't have any relatives that own a team.

Joel Sherman might be off Derek Jeter's Christmas Card list after this gem from yesterday "...
and a range-challenged shortstop who is now having difficulties with routine plays." Shit Joel, anyone who does not drink the Jeter kool-aid has been saying that for years. Welcome to the club.

Note to Julio Franco. Please, ask Omar to hire you as a coach or something. I respect you, but we need a guy off the bench who can catch up to a fastball.

Francessa last week conceded the AL East. Of course, after the Yanks took 2 of 3 from the Red Sox, he is probably going to claim he never said that.

Note to the Red Sox, please, do not let Wakefield pitch against the Yankees anymore. He has sucked the last two times he faced them.

Does anyone realize the Yanks were 5.5 games out when Roger announced his return. They are now 15 games out. Poetic Justice.

That's all the rants for today.
Let's kick the snot out of the Phillies this week, shall we?

Ed Has Seen the Future!

Last night, I was finally able to complete work on my time machine. Alas, I can only jump 1 month into the future at a time. Here is what I saw

The Mets open the season with a nail-biting 5-1 victory over the Cardinals. Tom Glavine picks up win # 291. Jose Reyes leads off the game with a single, then steals second and third. David Wright, in his new #2 spot in the lineup drives him in with a home run. All of NY says Wright has found his power stroke again.

In game 2, despite 7 innings of good El Duque pitching (giving up 3 runs), the Mets lose 3-1. After David Wright gets only 3 singles, NY wonders if he lost his power stroke again.

Game 3 sees the first surrender by an opposing manager, as the Mets destroy Braden Looper, scoring 10 first inning runs, prompting Tony LaRussa to drink a fifth of vodka on the bench, and wave a white flag. Jose Reyes leads off with a home run, and goes 2-2 in the first inning. David Wright hits 2 double in the inning, as fans are relieved he found his power stroke again.

The Mets go to Atlanta, and win two of three. Despite Joe Smith having pitched 5 innings of no hit ball, Mike and the Mad Dog still say he is not a good fit, since no one mentioned him to them back in early February.

The Mets return to Shea, to face the Phillies. Despite Jimmy Rollins’ Spring Training proclamation that the Phillies were the team to beat in the East, the Phillies enter the series 0-6. The Mets sweep the series, as John Maine, Tom Glavine and El Duque each go 7 innings. Billy Wagner picks up his 4th and 5th saves of the season, having not allowed a runner to reach base.

The Mets lose 2 of 3 to the Nationals, as David Wright, who is hitting .389 with 5 HR’s and 6 doubles, fails to record an extra base hit, leading fans to worry his power stroke is gone again.

The Mets then travel to Philly, where Mets fans outnumber Philly fans 2-1 (as there are 12,000 Mets fans and only 6,000 Philly fans in attendance. “Lets go Phantoms” chants are heard, as the fans realize that the AHL Hockey team is the only decent team in the city. The Mets sweep the series, by a combined score of 25-3. In two games.

Next up are the Marlins. Mike Jacobs goes 0-8 in the two game set, and states “I’m sorry I picked the Phillies over the Mets, what the hell do I know, I’m just a guy who can’t hit lefties”. The Mets win the two games.

The Mets return home to face the Braves, and lose 2 of 3, leading the NY Media to proclaim the Braves are in the Mets heads. Mike and the Mad Dog still refuse to acknowledge Joe Smith, stating that simple name cannot belong to a pro athlete. “It sounds like some guy on the street” says Mad Dog.

The Mets finish up the month taking 2 of 3 from the Rockies (despite Kaz Matsui going 9-15 during the series), losing 2 of 3 to the Nationals (Manny Acta has the Nationals in second place) and taking the first game of the three game set from the Phillies.

As the month ends, despite Glavine and El Duque pitching into the 7th inning in each of their starts, Oliver Perez looking good despite taking a couple of hard luck losses, and John Maine and Mike Pelfrey pitching very well, Steve Phillips still thinks the Mets will finish in third place, despite already having an 8 game lead in the East.

The Mets are 17-9. David Wright is hitting .379 with 7 Hr’s and 10 doubles. Jose Reyes already has 13 walks. Carlos Beltran and Delgado have 4 HR’s each. Moises Alou has started 20 of 25 games and is hitting .295. Shawn Green is hitting .280 with 6 doubles and 3 HR’s.