Steve entered Shea Stadium with high hopes last night, hopes that the Mets would have an easy victory over the lowly Washington Nationals. With the Phillies playing the Braves, there was hope that the magic number would be reduced to 3.

The Nationals jumped out against Glavine right in the first inning with two home runs and had a 4 run lead. The Mets cut it in half by the second inning to make it 4-2. But then the wheels came off. Glavine gave up two more runs and then the bullpen gave up another 4 runs. The crowd started chanting "Lets Go Braves!" since the Braves were playing the Phillies. At least the Phillies lost. The Mets did rally but fell short. The largest cheer was when the scoreboard flashed the Phillies final.

What I saw last night was a team that did not play with a sense of urgency. Sure they scored some runs in the bottom of the 9th, but they did not play with a do or die, must win attitude. Maybe with 5 games left and only a 2 game lead and a magic number of 4 they will start doing that tonight. We'll see.

Over in Tampa Bay, the Yankees blew a 5 run lead to delay clinching the wild card slot. Their run against Boston is identical as the Phillies, but Boston won and their magic number is 3, making it harder for the Yankees to win the AL East. It will be a crazy week filled with a lot of drama.

Posted by Steve Live! from Shea Stadium.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:22:55 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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There are rumors that Willie Randolph and the Mets front office are at odds. They feel that he did not perform that greatly, that anyone could have took the NL East last year. Now that the Mets are not playing with a sense of urgency, Willie is being set up as the fall guy.

Yes the Mets have slumped hard this year, back in June and then the last month losing 7 to Philly. Could the manager have changed it?

Probably not. A manager makes on the field decisions, and while some people question some of Willie's tactics, a manager does not win games, the players do. Sure the law of probability and statistics say that if Willie pinch hit for XX here with YY and brought in Wagner in the 8th instead of Mota, maybe the Mets would have won this game or that game. An article published in the Wall Street Journal last year said that the manager is responsible statistically for maybe 5-10 games a year. The Mets woes are not nearly that bad.

Willie came to the Mets in 2005 and broke even. In 2006 the Mets won the NL East and it looks like the Mets will win the NL East in 2007 as well. Here are his stats. I say stop making him a scapegoat and let him manage the team.

Regular Season: 267-212
Postseason: 6-4
Experience: 3 years

Posted by Steve in New York

Tuesday, September 25, 2007 7:02:53 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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David Wright is a legitimate MVP candidate. But what makes an MVP, is it the most valuable player to his team or the most valuable player in the league? If the league, then a star player on a last place team can't win (think A Rod on the Texas Rangers). I think it is a combination of both.

Since I believe it is a combination of both, Wight is not a runaway candidate. While Wright has carried the Mets, he has competition from three others who have played over 150 games and on teams not making the playoffs: Matt Holiday, Albert Pujols, and Miguel Cabrera. If the Mets lose out to the Phillies, Ryan Howard or Chase Utley will automatically win by default.

Look at the stats below, Wright does not lead the exclusive club of potential winners in any category except stolen bases. (A call out since I feel it makes him more well rounded.) The obvious choice is Matt Holliday, but his numbers are impressive, not dominating.  I still think the odds are in Wright's favor. If the Mets continue to win this week and go far in the playoffs, I think Wright has the potential to be the first New York Met to win the award. If the Mets blow it, Holliday wins.

To have your name thrown around in very serious contention for MVP is great for the young Mets third baseman. Remember how young he is and he will only get better.

Posted by Steve in New York

Monday, September 24, 2007 4:52:56 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Eleven days ago I was in a bar in Seattle watching the Mets on national TV come from from behind to defeat the Braves and lower their magic number to 11 and extend their NL East lead to a comfortable 6.5 games with the Phillies coming to town. I have tickets for Tuesday's game and 11 days ago I was worried that the Mets would have clinched last week and I would be watching a meaningless game. Eleven days later, after another sweep by the Phillies to start a five game losing streak, the Mets are only up by 2.5 and the magic number is 5. While it is technically possible for them to clinch on Tuesday night when I am there, I am not holding my breath.

The Mets can't collapse, like they did in 1998 and 1999, when they had horrible finishes to miss in '98 and force a 1 game playoff in Cincinnati in '99. The Mets can't collapse, they have never won two division titles in a row, and to blow it now would send them spiraling as a franchise. Forget about the playoffs this year, that is not important. What is important is winning the NL East. Not giving up. Not collapsing. Boston collapsed in 1978 and we all remember Bucky Dent. Right then and there, the Red Sox joined that ultimate choke list, the one that includes the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies, 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1995 California Angels. Boston was cursed, doomed to fail. From Bill Buckner in 1986 to Pedro Martinez in 2003. Even last year they blew the East and nobody was surprised. They are a franchise scared by 1978. The Mets can't become a franchise scared by 2007.

Posted by Steve in Amsterdam.

Sunday, September 23, 2007 4:59:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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My friend Otto and I hadn't watched a game in over a year so Friday's extra innings game was the perfect opportunity to catch up.  Aces Halladay versus Wang pitched well.  The game was deadlocked until the Jays take a late lead with two runs in the seventh and eighth each. 

You know the Tank put on his rally cap for the bottom of the ninth.  Will my rally cap work its magic (God Willing, touch wood, lucky rabbit's foot, etc.)
                                         
Buckle up kids, here we go.

Damon doubled, Jeter grounded out to advance him to third.  Abreu singled.  A-Rod singled to score Damon.  Matsui grounded out and Abreu scored.  Posada got to first on the error the Cano singled.  Giambi singled to tie the game.  Cabrera flew out to end the ninth.  Yankees 4- Blue Jays 4.  Wow, the rally cap worked.  Wooooo!

The Yankees bring in Mariano in the 10th.  One, two, three.
                            
Damon had a 2-0 count when a woman ran onto the field.  I've seen men run onto the field but never a woman.  In the spirit of gender equity, the police and security escort her from the field. 

It is unclear who she wanted to talk to or meet.  However, Damon's momentum stopped as he flew out to left center field.  Jeter grounded out to short.  Abreu walks on a full count.  A-Rod grounded out to third to end the inning.

Joba time.  Motley Crue's "Shout at the Devil" comes on the speakers.  He comes in with 1 ER in 18.1 innings with a .49 ERA.  The only run was the Red Sox last Sunday night.

One down, Thomas walks, Hill struck out.  Adams struck out.

Guns N Roses "Welcome to the Jungle" blares in between innings the top and bottom of the 11th.

Matsui comes to the plate to ACDC's "TNT".  Hideki flies out to shallow center.  Molina, who entered in the 10th for Posada, grounded out to second.  Cano flies out to deep left.

Joba struck out the first two batters and the third flew out.

About half the crowd left but those of us who did were treated to more "Rocky Balboa" clips in between innings.

Giambi grounded out to the second baseman playing in short right center.  Cabrera flew out to left on a 3-2 count.  Damon flew out to left.
                           
Al Leiter is featured in between the top and bottom of the 13th.

Luis Vizcaino comes in to pitch to Reed Johnson.  Vizcaino strikes out Johnson.  Lyle Overbay grounds out to Giambi who blocks the ball with his body and tosses the ball to Vizcaino for the second out.  Alex Rios walks on a full count.  Joe Inglett is DHing for Frank Thomas.  A Yankees fan yells to a Jays fan to who is Inglett.  Who is Inglett?  Darned if I know.  Inglett singles to Damon in left.  Aaron Hill grounded out to Molina who throws it to Giambi who makes a great catch.            
    
Brian Wolfe comes in to pitch to the Captain, Derek Jeter.  Jeter's single just passed him with 2,343 hits for 118th place on the all time hit list.

Abreu grounded to first who threw to second but Jeter's slide and Abreu's hustle kept Abreu safe.  A-Rod flew out to short.  Matsui walked.  Molina struck out to end the 13th.  Darn it!

Brian Bruney comes in for the top of the 14th.  Ugh, he gave a home run run to give the Blue Jays the 5-4 win.  Though the Yankees lost, we showed lots of heart to comeback when all was lost in the 9th.

Posted by the Tank reporting live from the Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.

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Sunday, September 23, 2007 3:30:42 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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I was 2-1 in my picks last week.
       
This week's Fearless Picks:

Jets will squish the Fish at the Meadowlands.  JR and his brother will be rooting on the Jets onto victory.
                              
The Giants woes continue.  (Never bet against the Gunslinger, Bret Favre.)  The Giants lose at the Redskins.  Tom Coughlin is a good guy but Bill Cowher or even Bill Parcells maybe the coach next season if the Giants can't turn it around. 

The Bills lose big at New England.

Posted by the Tank in NY.

NFL

Saturday, September 22, 2007 2:18:49 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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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.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2007 5:00:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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