 Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Runs Evened Out at the End of the Two Stadium Doubleheader
The Yankees
and Mets played a two stadium doubleheader yesterday. The Mets won the
first game 15-6 at the Stadium during the day. The Yankees returned the nine run
favor and won 9-0 at Shea in the night cap. Linda's text claimed that she jinxed the Mets. I asked her if Sidney Ponson really pitching on the
mound Wow! Best wishes for a speedy recovery from his personal and
baseball issues. I had tickets to both games but, of course,
could not make it because of my high school reunion in beautiful
Upstate New York (AKA "Appalachia" according to former Governor
Spitzer). It was great catching up with Ronjon, Oak, Bilbo, and the
rest of the class. Two thirds of our class started kindergarten
together in 1975 and graduated high school in 1988. Wow! You don't
see that too often. Posted by The Tank on the road "Back to the
Future" from beautiful Upstate New York returning to the greatest city
in the world, New York.
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Battle for New York
The annual subway series will be played out today with a Yankee Stadium-Shea Stadium double header tonight and two games at Shea Stadium this weekend. The Mets enter the double header with a 2-0 series lead this year. Both teams need to start playing better and this series, even if it ends 2-2 could be a spark for both clubs since each game is a "big game" of playoff style capacity and most star players A-Rod, Reyes, etc, and even some mediocre ones (Oliver Perez) bring their A games to the subway series.You always get good baseball at these games. Hopefully the energy can propel both teams to winning streaks that build momentum to the all-star break. Posted by Steve in New York
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Yankees and Mets keep losing
It is time to hit the panic button? The Mets and Yankees keep losing to bad teams. The Yankees lost 12-2 to Baltimore after losing 11-2 to the Mets on Sunday. The Mets got swept in a double header in Atlanta, losing to a pitcher who has never won a MLB game. Add insult to injury, the Mets top hitter, Ryan Church went to the hospital with a reaggravation of his spring training concussion. It is almost June. Almost time to hit the panic button. Posted by Steve, sitting next to the panic button.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Can Chien-Ming Wang win the big games?
Chien-Ming Wang has gotten a rap as someone who does not win the big games. While it is only late May, the Yankees have lost 4 out of the last 5 to bad teams (Mets included), and are 3 games under .500 and also falling further and further behind in the AL East. While it is not October, the Yankees are in a rut and it is also the final game in an abbreviated subway series with the crosstown rivals Mets. While it may "just be another game" the Mets already won the first game and will be going for the series win tonight on national TV. If ever the Yankees needed a big win (as the Mets did yesterday), the do tonight. The Mets had their stopper, ace Johan Santana pitch yesterday. He did what he was paid to do, going 7 2/3 innings and stopping the losing streak with a big win at the Stadium. Chien-Ming Wang is 6-1 this year. Can he do the same as Johan Santana and stop the Yankees' slide? Or will he still earn his big game rap. We'll know in an hour. Posted by Steve in New York
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Rain, Rain, Go Away...
After Steve and I were rained out last Friday night at Shea, I didn't even bother going to the Stadium tonight for the Subway Series.
As blogged in 2006, the Yankees and Mets dropped the ball in NOT putting retractable roofs on the new stadiums opening next year.
Posted by The Tank building an Ark.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Moose is Loose and Don't Panic in Prague
Mike "Moose" Mussina pitched seven brilliant innings enroute to the Yankees 12-0 and Moose's 249th career victory and 10th of the season. According to the television broadcast, it was his 16th consecutive season with 10 or more wins. Amazing!
Moose had all pitches and great fielding going. According to the radio broadcast (full coverage and analysis by yours truly), Moose needed the two weeks off to heal his groin, back, and other injuries. The Moose can still thankfully pitch, touch wood.
I don't want to put the cart before the horse BUT, if Moose can get one more win this season and at least 12 in his next two seasons (2009 is an option year), he will have 274+ career wins. He is among the AL leaders in strikeouts. If the Yankees win a World Series this year with Moose on the roster AND the closer he gets to 300 wins, the stronger his Hall of Fame case would be. I'm not saying he is a first ballot guy but might get in on the first try depending upon the competition in that year's class.
Anyhoo, enough of the future, let's hope he can continue to be the Moose of old the rest of this regular and post season.
-----
The Mets needed to win last night and didn't. It was their fifth consecutive loss. The Phillies won their extra innings game against Saint Louis so the Mets lead the NL East by 1.5 games.
Fear not fellow Mets fans because the Phillies bullpen sucks. They have several of over-the-hill relievers you have booed in the past.
Can the Mets screw up? Yes, but not likely and the Wild Card is the failsafe. Since Steve is travelling for work in Prague, I have five words for him: "Don't Panic in Prague, Steve!"
Go Yankees ! / Mets!
The Tank
Posted by the Tank on the sometimes rocky and stressful road to Subway Series closure in NY.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Weekend Baseball Rivalry Wrap
Linda and Steve's concern about the Mets bullpen was unfortunately confirmed on Saturday as the bullpen wasted Pedro's great start. Though the Mets have lost eight straight to the Phillies, the Amazings still lead the Phillies by 3.5 games.
On the bright side, congratulations to Steve's favorite player, David Wright for joining the 30/30 Club. According to Sunday's WFAN's radio broadcast, he was congratulated by his "baseball father" and 30/30 Club Member, HoJo - Howard Johnson, who managed DW in the minor leagues. Darryl Strawberry is the third Met member of the club.
The Yankees didn't sweep the Red Sox but won two out of three even though Pettitte and Wang had subpar performances. The Red Sox didn't have Many but the Yankees won the season series 10-8 and five out of the last six. This bodes well for the ALCS if both teams advance that far. Captain Clutch Derek Jeter came through with a three run home run in the eighth inning on Sunday. Though Jeter's home run was more dramatic, Friday may have been a slightly better because the Yankees rallied from a 7-2 deficit in the eighth inning to win 8-7. "Winners never quit and quitters never win!" I am very proud of the Yankees.
Bottom Line: The Mets are going to be fine, touch wood, and the Yankees are making the playoffs barring a collapse, God Forbid. The best hope for the Mets is NOT to play against the Padres in the first round and for the Yankees NOT to play against the Angels in the first round. OK, the Yankees are 4.5 games behind the Red Sox for the division BUT 2.5 games ahead of the Tigers for the Wild Card. The Indians must win the series from the Tigers starting tonight to improve their record, knock the Tigers out of contention, and have a better record than the Angels so the Yankees don't have to play them in the first round. This presumes that the Yankees are the Wild Card.
Posted by the Tank "Keepin' the faith, yeah, yeah, keepin' the faith" (Billy Joel lyric) for a Subway Series in NY.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Subway Series Part Deux Recap
The Boogie Down Bronx was jumping over excitement with Roger "The Rocket" Clemens starting against Oliver Perez and the Mets on Friday night. The Yankees were winners of their last nine and the Mets lost their last five and nine of ten. Perez let Yankees on base but worked out of trouble. Clemens was solid but the hard luck 2-0 loser.
I was disappointed to see the Yankees lose in person at the Stadium, especially since the Red Sox beat Barry Balco and the Giants, to gain a game in the AL East lead.
However, the Yankees won on Saturday and Sunday but in ways I didn't expect. For instance, Clippard didn't pitch great but neither did Glavine. Glavine is a future Hall of Fame pitcher going for his 296th career victory. The way to beat him is to take pitches as the Tigers did last Sunday in Detroit and the Yankees did on Saturday. The introduction of Questec has done him no favors as he normally gets the called strike even if it is two or three strikes off the plate.
The weather for each game was as unpredictable as the pitching. Friday night was cool -- I thought I should have brought a jacket. Saturday had a 40 minute rain delay. Sunday night was hot and muggy. Wang pitched 8.2 great innings.
Bottom Line: I expected the Yankees to win Friday and Sunday, not Saturday and Sunday to tie the season series at 3 wins each. The Mets still enjoy a 1.5 game lead in the NL East. The Yankees are 8.5 games behind the Red Sox and 3.5 games behind the Tigers for the Wild Card. Let's hope the Yankees and Mets meet again in October so I can have Subway Series closure and to help stimulate the local economy. That's when the real bragging rights are on the line.
Posted by the Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Monday, May 21, 2007
David Wright Dialed In While the Yankees Fight the Good Fight. (Subway Series Game 2)
Light rain started to fall as I entered Shea. Future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine was on the hill versus Yankee youngster Darrell Rasner.
The Yankees get off to a good start as Damon walked, Deter struck out looking, Matsui singled to center, A-Rod walked to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Posada's ground out to Reyes scores Damon. With a full count, Abreu flies out to just short of the warning track in center. At the end of a half an inning, Yankees 1 - Mets 0. Glavine is pitchered below pitching to A-Rod.
The announcer announces that Josh Phelps is playing first. Nothing against Phelps but Jason Giambi doesn't need two caddies at first, Mientkiewicz and Phelps. "Bern Baby Bern" Williams should have his roster spot.
Reyes singles off the top of Jeter's glove. Friday night's hero Endy Chavez is up and hears it from the Shea faithful. Even though Posada's throw was high, Reyes is safe at second with a stolen base. Chavez hits it hard off Rasner's pitching hand, right on the wrist from my laser vision candidate eyes. Not another injury to the beleagured Yankee pitching staff. Reyes advances to third.
Rasner throws four practice pitches while Joe Torre, Ron Guidry, and the Yankee trainer look on. On the fourth pitch, Rasner has to leave with terrible pain and jogs off the field to the jeers of the Shea faithful. Rivalry is one thing, but injury is another. Ouch!
Rasner's broken finger makes it almost two painful to blog. It is also a great opportunity with my friend John. Like the Tank, John is the Yankees fan first but also roots for the Mets. For instance, he was at Game 6 in 1986 when the Mets beat the Red Sox.
As we catch up, David Wright hits two incredible two run home runs including one which hits the top of the Universal Express sign in left field. DW is also intentionally walked twice later in the game.
"I still love you even though you are my son," a 40 something year old Mets fan behind me said to his ten year old Yankee fan son. The Subway Series takes no prisoners.
As the rain continues to fall, the Tank is thankfully staying dry in his seat in the Mezzanine overhang at Shea. John has other plans for the evening and has to go. He asks me if I want to leave with the Yankees down 8-2. I tell him that I can not with injuries, rain, etc. My faith in the Yankees is tested. I feel like Scarface alone at the end of the movie when all comers besieged his home. The Yankees and I must make our stand.
A-Rod homered to open the eighth inning. Posada hammered a solo shot to right center. Bobby Abreu walks. Schoenweis is pulled. Cano is out on a ground out to second which advances Abreu to second. Phelps doubles Abreu home. Yankees 8 - Mets 6.
Giambi's groundout to first advances helps to third. Damon walks. With first and third with two outs, Willie Randolph goes to the pen to get Derek Jeter to ground out.
If anything, Lastings Milledge should start singing more family friendly tunes like Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" which is the XM Satellite Radio Song of the Game during the 8th Inning Stretch. It would be an acceptable side project like Jose Reyes' Spanish Academy. (BTW, today's phrase is "No soy mariano, soy capitan". "I am not a sailor, but the captain.")
Endy Chavez's perfect 4-4 ends with a groundout to Farnsworth to start the bottom of the 8th. Beltran walks. Delgado thought the ball hit his foot so he doesn't run to first. David Wright is automatically walked again. With two outs, Julio Franco pinch hits for Scott Schoenweis. Comedian and Mets Chris Rock fan tries to get the "Let's Go Mets" cheer going to hardy few left at rain drenched Shea.
Both Beltran and Wright steal. Franco hits it to Cano who slips and throws it away. Franco advances to second as Beltran and David Wright score and the Mets lead 10-6. Lo Duca struck out to end the 8th.
"Enter Sandman" blares out over the speakers as Billy Wagner, not Mariano Rivera, enters the game. Wagner has 10 saves in 17 appearances with a 0.50 ERA coming into the game. Hideki Matsui flies out to center. A-Rod singles to right center for his second hit of the game. Jorge Posada singles to right center. Posada is now 4 for 5 and hitting an American League leading .383.
Abreu hits to Wagner. Wagner fumbles the ball, recovers it, and throws wide of Lo Duca. A-Rod scores and the Yankees cut the Mets lead to 10-7. Will my faith in the Yankees be rewarded? Cano strikes out swinging on a 2-2 count. Josh Phelps strikes out swinging. The Mets win 10-7. Congratulations to Tom Glavine for his 295th win. BTO's "Takin' Care of Business" blares over the speakers.
Bottom Line: David Wright is definitely dialed in. As bad as this season is going, the Yankees didn't quit and the Yankees aren't mailing this one in. The Tank isn't quiting either. Keep the faith!
Posted by the Tank reporting live from the Subway Series at Shea Stadium.
Monday, October 09, 2006
10 Ways to Improve the Yankees and one bonus way to help the Tank's personal life.
While getting ready for Sunday's 18 mile NYC Marathon Tune-up, the Tank woke up early and felt empty. Not so much from the fact that I haven't eaten in 12 hours, but disappointed that the Yankees did not join their cross-town brethren the Mets in advancing to the League Championship Series. Therefore, this is Subway Series closure denied.
I often feel that I live in an alternate reality and I thought I had seen it all until I saw a man much bigger than the Tank knitting on the D Train. Yes, knitting. I thought I had seen it all but this takes the cake.
Did the Yankees lose? Did the Mets win? It is way too early to start writing this.
Onto the issues at hand, perma-guest Jack nor Steve thankfully did NOT take their lives this week.
Congratulations to the Mets! See you Wednesday night at Shea for Game 1 of the NLCS.
As for the Yankees, the result was disappointing especially after fighting back through the Matsui and Sheffield injuries. There are many questions for hot stove season and they need to be answered in short order.
1. A-Rod: Steve and I have had limited success in channeling the spirit of Tony Robbins to help him through his issues. Let's face it, A-Rod is not meant for post-season in Pinstripes -- only for fantasy stats during the regular season. If he is open to a trade (especially to the Marlins where he lives in the off-season), please God trade him for an ace like Dontrelle Willis. If the Marlins don't work out, consider doing it for some prospects with the Angels because we're not going to get Jered Weaver. His mom is reportedly ill in California so it could help him out. Speaking of moms, Linda's Mom didn't take my generous offer of A-Rod and the entire Build-A-Bear Company for David Wright during the summer. Since Christmas is coming up, I would be willing to trade A-Rod for Build-A-Bears for my four Goddaughters.
2. Mussina: Re-sign him but for much less than $19-20 million. Probably for $5-10 million plus incentives. Moose needs to also get away from the snide comments during the season because he couldn't hold the 3-1 lead in Game 2 against the Tigers.
3. Front-line pitcher: Use Mussina's $10-15 million in savings to get in the Barry Zito Sweepstakes. Granted, he isn't the same Barry Zito as a few years ago but better than we have right now, except for Wang. The Yankees are going to have stiff competition from the Mets and other teams.
4. Give Youth a chance: Rasner and Karstens pitched good. Give them a chance in Spring Training and hopefully beyond. Please sign Bruney as a potential successor to Mariano because Farnsworth isn't living up to
his potential.
5. Sheffield: Tough call to re-sign him because of his bat and grittiness. Only about nine or ten games at first base is not enough of a sample plus Giambi is signed through 2008. If A-Rod is gone, consider moving Sheffield to third which he played years ago. He definitely has the arm. A radical idea but the Tank is known for his out of the box ideas.
6. Melky Cabrera: Melky is the key to a healthy clubhouse in 2007 and beyond. He and Cano are fun to watch and give the team much needed energy. How do we deal with Matsui who only has one year left? Maybe
platoon, DH, and rest when needed with the understanding that LF is his once Matsui's contract is up.
Time to literally run the 18 Mile NYC Marathon Training Run. More later.
7. Joe Torre: He is like a father figure to many but it maybe time to bring in Lou Pinella. Mr. Steinbrenner doesn't have much more time left, Lou Pinella is going to shake any complacency and get George one more ring, God Willing.
8. Bernie: Not sure if he'll retire and wouldn't blame him if he did. Would love to see him play a leadership role like he did this year. Worst case scenario, a coach at the Stadium or somewhere within the family.
9. Posada: Pena did a great job working on his throwing. However, Jason Varitek with the Red Sox shows how quickly a catcher can decline and the team with it. Start grooming a successor now.
10. Mariano Rivera: Despite religious objections, start the top secret cloning project in Area 51 ASAP, God Forgive me. (OK, I have been working with rogue scientists on a clone of Heather Locklear, especially
from her "Melrose Place" days.)
Bonus (I have to look out for myself every now and then): If Carl Pavano doesn't ever pitch for the Yankees, take the insurance money and get the phone number (for the Tank) of the local beauty queen, Gia Allemand, who he allegedly was in a Florida accident with. Heck, with all my real injuries (hamstring, pernial tendonitis, knee, IT Band, etc) and Gia's good looks, I would be legitimately "rehabbing" for years if not decades to come.
Feel free to comment on the pages of SteveAndTheTank.com. We're there for all suicidal candidates from whatever team in whichever sport you root for. Please stay away from the ledge. Thank you!
Go Mets! / Yankees!
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Mets Advance
My flight took off last night with the Mets down by a run in the 5th inning. Eight stressful hours to Milan and the moment the flight landed I checked my phone for word from Los Angles. The Tank, Michelle, and the mystery vendor all SMSed me the good news, the Mets have advanced to the 2006 National League Champion Series. Wow. It is huge that the Mets won via the 3-game sweep because they can rest the pitching.
As it stands now, the Mets do not know who they will play at Shea on Wednesday when they open the NLCS. The St. Louis Cardinals can advance tonight with a victory over Iron Mike Piazza and the San Diego Padres. Even thought the Padres have better pitching, every Mets fan is pulling for the Padres for a few reasons:
- Mike Piazza will return to Shea!
- The Padres have the worst home record of any winning team in baseball.
- Even though they would have had to win 3 in a row to get to the NLCS and have momentum, they will be worn down by the difficult 5 game series. Think about the Mets wearing down the Braves in the 1999 NLCS and the Yankees steamrolling the Braves in the 1999 World Series. (No need to thank us Yankee fans, we were rooting for you, we hate the Braves and John Rocker!)
- The Padres don’t have Albert Pujols
Go Mets!
Too bad the Yankees did not advance, I really wanted a Subway Series. The Tank and I talked Jack off the ledge. With all the injuries the Yanks had this season, the fact that they won the division and made the playoffs is cause to be happy. Remember making the playoffs, even if there is an early exit, is a good thing. And the Yanks have made the playoffs 11 years in a row. It was not A-Rods fault! The Tank will do a post today on the Yanks season.
Posted by Steve in Milan, Italy, in route to Sofia, Bulgaria.
The NY Post Says it all:
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Folding to the Gambler Kenny Rogers; Fearless Football picks; R.I.P. Buck O'Neil
It was an historic night for older pitchers as the Yankees sent 43 year old Randy Johnson out to the mound against 41 year old Kenny Rogers. The Gambler the baseball ball, not the great country singer also named Kenny Rogers, unexpectedly pitched 7.2 shutout innings against the Yankees and the Tigers won 6-0. Of course, pitchers like him and Jeff Weaver never ever pitched that way for the Yankees, only for other teams.
Anyway, I am keeping the faith and going to say extra prayers and eat extra vitamins tonight. Go Yankees!
Good luck to the Mets closing out the Dodgers.
Time stops for no one and here goes the Tank's fearless Football picks:
Don't worry Kara (big Gators fan at work), #5 Florida beats #9 LSU.
#7 Texas beats #14 Oklahoma. (Not to self, one of the Tank's goals is to see the "Red River Rivalry" one of these years.)
#16 California beats #11 Oregon.
Bills lose to the Bears.
Jets lose a close game at Jacksonville.
The Giants bounce back in a must win game against the Redskins. They have two weeks to stew over Jeremy Shokey's comments and have hopefully for their sake learned that the game starts in the first quarter, NOT the fourth.
For the game of the year (so far), the T.O. Bowl in Philly. While everyone is focusing on T.O. (who'll come up with some good catches and about 70-90+ yards receiving), the main key is going to be how the banged up Eagles secondary contains Terry Glenn who is actually the better receiver. Yes, T.O. is the better athlete but Glenn is the better receiver.
Most importantly, Rest In Peace, Mr. Buck O'Neil. Let's hope you finally get into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Friday, October 06, 2006
One step closer, one stalled step (Division Series Game 2)
How often do you see the following?
The Yankees leave 18 runners on base and lose 4-3 to leave the Stadium with a split against the Tigers.
Jeff Weaver pitches five shutout innings in the Cardinals 2-0 victory at the San Diego Padres. (Yeah, that freakin' Jeff Weaver who couldn't pitch to save his life with the Yankees while his kid brother Jered pitched lights out for the Angels this season.)
Kenny Lofton waiting for the Dodgers bus to move in center field so he could strike out and not use the bright lights as an excuse for his out strikeouts.
Answer to all of the above: Not often.
Speaking of non-answers, Brooklyn Pete unfortunately didn't file a report as I had hoped. His fingers were probably numb while sitting in Section 35 near Heaven at Shea. I don't know if perma-guest Jack had a chance to go to the makeup of Wednesday's rained out game at Yankee Stadium.
Anyway, the Mets take a 2-0 lead over the Dodgers on a night where living legend Ralph Kiner threw out the first pitch at Shea and Tom Glavine turned back the clock with six shutout innings.
11 victories (6 for the Yankees and 5 for the Mets) closer to my much needed Subway Series closure.
Go Yankees! / Mets! / Twins! (to wear out the As pitchers) / Padres! (so I don't have to talk San Diego Rich off the ledge)!
Posted by The Tank in NY!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Which one of you is the Tank? (Live From NLDS Game 1)
Steve and I go through our good luck ritual in meeting at Union Square. A good luck wheat grass shot starts us off on a healthy note. Being contrarians, we take the N at Union Square instead of the 4/5/6 to Grand Central and then transfer to the 7. Unfortunately, we wait a while for the N and I talk Steve out of jumping onto the tracks.
Steve and I took a brief walk down memory lane meeting from last February at Table 1 in Antarctica to today, Game 1 of the NLDS.
Today is about exorcising demons and Steve and I have many, especially when it comes to the Dodgers. The Tank is still emotionally scarred by the 1981 World Series loss to the Dodgers after being up two games to none. Steve is still scarred by the 1988 NLCS. Steve brings along a ticket from a 1981 game against the Dodgers.
After transferring to the R in Queens, the butterlies start growing. Steve has a headache and about to hurl where we entered at Gate B.
After a long wait on line in the 80 plus degree heat, we got to our seats just in time, touch wood.
John "Remember the Maine" works a perfect first after Reyes makes a great catch to start the game.
Beltran works out a two out walk. Delgado singles to center to advance Beltran to third. DW grounds out to second to unfortunately end the first.
Kent singles to center to end the perfect game. J.D. Drew hits a dribbler toward third to advance Kent to second and to get an infield single.
 Russell Martin doubles to right field but Kent and Drew are tagged out at home by Lo Duca on a great throw by Shawn Green (as the Tank predicted as we were walking in). I have never seen anything like this. Anderson doubles down third to score Martin. Darn it! Intentional walk to Betemit.
The Tank really has to go to the Men's Room plus to give the Mets good luck, touch wood. It unfortunately doesn't work.
Carlos Delgado hits a "Mike Piazzaesque home run" (after September 11 per Steve) to the top of the TV camera stand with one out in the fourth. Floyd follows with a bomb to right field near the HIP sign. Mets take a 2-1 lead. Green swings at ball four on a 3-1 count and then strikes out to end the inning.
Betemit singles to open the fifth. D-Lowe sacrifice bunts him to first. With Maine coming up second in the next inning, Bradford and Feliciano are warming up in the bullpen. Furcal works a full count and walks. Feliciano comes in to relieve Maine who throws 80 pitches and to pitch to Kenny Lofton. Steve and I are skeptical because Lofton struckout twice against Maine. "Remember the Maine!" Willie and you should have kept him in the game. Lofton thankfully strikes out against Feliciano. Willie brings in Bradford to pitch to Nomar. Steve asks who is going to pitch the sixth and seventh. Nomar grounds out to Reyes who throws to Valentin at second to end the fifth.
Taking after the Tank, Steve goes to the Men's Room to hopefully inspire the Mets to score more runs. No Mrs. Wright Shirt for Kathleen is found either.
Valentin grounds out on the first pitch to Nomar. D-Lowe is only at 68 pitches. "Increase the pitch count, increase the peace" is one of the Tank's trademarks phrases. Michael Tucker pinch hits for Bradford and works a full count. Reyes strikes out.
Mota gets Kent to ground out to open the sixth. Drew struck out. Mota strikes out Martin to end the sixth.
Lo Duca leads off to open the top of the sixth. A man to our left says to hit it "like a 19 year old" and Lo Duca singles to left. (Steve nor the Tank condone violence against women but are happy with the hit.). Delgado singles to right and Lo Duca advances to third. "Brass Monkey" blares out while the pitching coach comes out to the mound to stall while the bullpen starts to warm. DW comes up and doubles to right on D-Lowe's 90th pitch while LoDuca and Delgado score to increase the Mets lead to 4-1. DW advances to third on the throw home. After Floyd is intentionally walked, D-Lowe is pulled for Hendrickson with one out and runners on first and third to the tune of Queens' classic "Another One Bites the Dust". Ace Frehey's "New York Groove" comes on while Pedro is acknowledged by the crowd. Shawn Green strikes out. Jose Valentin is HBP and the bases are now loaded with Mota coming to bat. Mota flies out to right.
Anderson bunts in between second and first to beat out the throw. Betemit hits to Valentin in the hole. Valentin throws to Reyes who gets his legs cut out by Anderson. Anderson advances to third and Betemit is safe at first. Julio Lugo pinch hits. On 0-2, Mota throws a "bounce pass" to Lo Duca according to the "witty" man on our left. Lugo is out looking. Furcal singles in a run to make it 4-2. Steve hopes Lofton strikes out again but he flies out to right. Nomar is up with two outs. Nomar doubles on a 1-2 count to left to tie the game at 4. Darn it! It takes the air out of the sails of the crowd. Kent strikes out to end the inning.
Michael Almonte sings "God Bless America" during the Seventh Inning Stretch.
The Tank takes a restroom break to inspire the Mets. Penne inexplicably starts the inning. Reyes walks, Lo Duca flies out, Reyes steals second. Beltran walks. Delgado singles Reyes home and Beltran to third. David Wright doubles to right to score Beltran. Floyd strikes out. Delgado grounds out to first. Mets 6 - Dodgers 4.
Heilman gets one, two, three in the top of the eighth.
The Tank leads the crowd in Neil Diamond's classic "Sweet Caroline" which is also the XM Satellite Radio Eighth Inning song. Steve says it is also his sister's song.
Reyes singles with two outs. Lo Duca singles on a 3-1 count to advance Reyes to third. Beltran fouls off several pitches and works a walk to load the bases. Carlos Delgado is 4 for 4 coming into the AB. Steve hopes he goes 5-5 like Jeter last night. No shift, whoa! Delgado stikes out on 2-2. Darn it!
The young couple in between me and the "witty man" leaves their seats but the Tank ensures they don't leave Shea to give the Mets bad luck.
Metallica's "Enter Sandman" comes on as the Mets closer Billy Wagner warms up.
Wilson Betemit should have been out on strikes but doubles to right. Saenz flies out to center but Wright couldn't handle Beltran's throw to tag Betemit who tagged from second. Furcal strikes out. Steve and I flash the two out with our fingers to the crowd. Steve doesn't want to face Nomar either so we hope Wagner gets Ramon Martinez out. Martinez doubles to right-center. Darn it. The Dodgers pinch run for Martinez. Nomar gets two strikes and the crowd erupts. Nomar fouls off a pitch. A high pitch and a low pitch take it to 2-2. Nomar strikes out and the Mets "Take Care of Business" 6-5.
Steve gets partial Dodger closure as the Tank gets foul ball closure.
From exiting our seats to entering the train station, we held our new sign titled
"Reyes 4 UN
"Secretary General
"SteveandtheTank.com"
to the roar and approval of our fellow Mets fans. Winning games and solving world issues is what Steve and The Tank are all about.
Posted by Steve and the Tank live from Game 1 of the NLDS at Shea.
The View From the Ledge
I blame my late grandfather, Joseph Caramella. He never forgave the Giants and Dodgers for moving out west. He became a Mets fan in 1962 and never looked back. He hated the Yankees with all his heart. He took me to my first Mets game when I was 5 years old in May 1977, before most of the 2006 Mets were born. I remember it like it was yesterday, the Mets lost to the San Diego Padres, I still have the ticket stub.
Joseph taught me well. I grew up hating the Yankees and loving the Mets. What else is a boy from Queens suppose to do? I never hated the Dodgers, I did not feel betrayed, it all happened before I was born.
Until 18 years ago tonight. The 1988 National League Championship Series started 18 years ago tonight. Gooden vs Hershiser in an amazing pitchers duel. I was working at Shea Stadium and of course worked Games 3, 4, and 5, alongside our recent mystery vendor. Joseph died just before the 1988 season and I was now the carrying the family burden of being the die-heart Mets fan. But Orel Hershiser and Kirk Gibson defeated the Mets. Now the Dodgers again! Joseph and I need closure.
So as The Tank indicated, yes I was on the ledge with the news of Pedro out for the season, then 1/2 of next season, then family problems for Steve Trachsel, then Cliff Floyd’s ankle, then Carlos Beltran’s quad, then El Duque’s calf injury. I did not eat, sleep, shave or go to work for days.
The Tank tried everything. Only one thing worked. I went here. I remembered these words, words that still bring a tear to my eye and chills down my spine:
“Behind the bag, it gets through Buckner, here comes Knight and the Mets win it!!”
That got me out of bed, shaved, dressed (in my Mr. Met run to Home Plate Tee Shirt) and ready to head to Shea! You Gotta Believe!!!
The emotion is why I am a Mets fan! Years of suffering make the winning so much sweeter. The Yankees are all business and pretty boring. They just keep winning and winning. The Mets just mess with your mind. Panic is all part of being a Mets fan, if you can’t handle the panic, the ups and downs, then go root for the Yankees.
The Yankees may have 26 rings, but they will never have the Miracle ’69 Mets, Tug McGraw ’73, Mookie Wilson/Bill Buckner ’86 and Robin Ventura’s Grand Slam Single in ’99.
The Yankees always win. The Mets sometimes win. But when they do, it is written up in the history books and we all go crazy. Let’s hope that the 2006 NLDS vs the Dodgers is no different! It is NEXT year. I’ve been waiting.
Posted by Steve, off the ledge, on his way to Shea Stadium with the Tank for Game 1.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
I don't Care if the Mets Win the World Series
The Mets
have been so exciting to watch, Reyes get a single, steal second, advance on a
FC to third and get home somehow, that I don't care if they win the World
Series. They are the most exciting team in baseball and so much fun to watch. I
just hope that they keep up the excitement.
That
said, I will be rooting and hoping all the way for a WS victory. If the Mets do
make the series, I am pretty sure that the Mets will face the Yankees. Rematch
of 2000. The Yanks will be favorites because they have that insane lineup and
the starting pitching is about the same. I actually think that the Mets have a
slight edge due to superior middle relief. With Mo still a little iffy and
Wagner lights out the only distinction at this point is the middle relief. We'll
see.
Remember
if the Mets win the World Series my picks for
World
Series MVP: Jose Reyes
NLCS MVP:
Carlos Beltran
Posted by
Steve in New York.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Subway Series Here We Come!
The Yanks cliched the AL East yesterday and the post says it all. Nine in a row is quite impressive. Since divisional play started in 1969, the NL and AL East has never been dominated by both New York teams. Until now. Awesome!
Hopefully the Mets and Yanks will meet in the Fall Classic and have the battle of the two best shortstops in the league. (The Mets clearly have the better third baseman. :))
Posted by Steve in New York.
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