During my lunch break today, I took a taxi over to the East Side for physical therapy after running 18 miles in yesterday's  New York City Marathon Tune-Up.  Once I got out of the cab, I walked one block north to Fifth Avenue and 66th Street.  I saw A-Rod and his business colleague across the street.  Is it really A-Rod?  (I really need laser vision surgery more than I thought.  I do need to get rid of my geeky glasses and not being able to see well.)  Yes, it was A-Rod, this is an opportunity of a lifetime.  Once the light turned to the Walk Signal, they crossed the street and I asked if I could get a photo.  A-Rod graciously agreed and the photo of us is below.  He was really cool and I wished him the best of luck in the playoffs.  Keep the Faith ! / Go Yankees!

Posted by an ecstatically grateful Tank reporting Live from Fifth Avenue and 66th Street in Manhattan.

P.S. Life Lesson: I am glad I recently bought a new and small digital camera that I carry almost everywhere.  Wooooooooo!!!!!!

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Monday, October 01, 2007 3:29:29 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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I am running on fumes -- four hours of sleep after the Aussie Rules Football Grand Final late Friday night (early Saturday morning) and having to troubleshoot an issue at work early Saturday morning.
                                   
The Mets early runs came with two outs.  Beltran singles home Castillo.  The Mets lead 4-0.  The Marlins change pitchers but Alou singles home Delgado.  The Mets lead 5-0.
                   
"The Natural" movie song and inspirational video comes on in between innings.

Castro singles.  Milledge homers over the left field fence.  Mets 7 - Marlins 0.  Four Phillies fans with "Choke '07" on the back of their t-shirts parade around Shea in front of my Mezzanine position.  They are booed and showered with beer, food, and rubbish.

Reyes bunts Maine to second.  Castillo doubles home Maine.  Mets 8 - Marlins 0.  Wright grounds out.  Beltran flies out to center.  At the end of three, Mets 8 - Marlins 0.
          
With two out in the fourth inning, a lady behind me almost jinxes Maine's no hitter.  Aussie Rod is forgiven for his earlier reference because this is his first visit to Shea.  Aussie Rod and I exchange comparisons between cricket and baseball.  In cricket, if the ball hits the batter's hand while he is batting, the ball is considered in play while it would be a hit by pitch or possibly a foul ball depending where and how it hit.  Quite fascinating.
                   
Milledge hits his second home run of the game to the Mets lead to 9-0.  Maine strikes out.  Jose doubles down the first baseline.  Castillo is almost hit by a pitch and a fight almost breaks out.  Tempers are momentarily calmed. 

Castillo then walks on four pitches.  Another pitching change.  A few pitches later, a real fight breaks out after Jose and a Marlin exchange words.
         
Harvey Garcia is the new pitcher and his first pitch is way inside to DW.  His second pitch was hit past the shortstop.  Reyes scores.  Mets 10-Marlins 0.

Beltran strikes out.  The "A-Lou" cheers are lead by the Paperbag Kid pictured below.

Alou flies out to shallow left field.  Speaking of Alou, he makes a great catch to preserve the no-hitter to end the top of the sixth.

Castro hits a home run to extend the Mets lead to 11-0.  Milledge hits a sure out dribbler down the first baseline but the pitcher misses it and overthrows first.  Milledge advances to second.  Maine pops up to
first.  The crowd rises to its feet as Jose comes to the plate.  Jose pops up to short and lead 11-0 at the end of the sixth.

Andino hits a ball off DW's glove but Reyes recovers to throw out Andino at first.  Uggla hits a ball that DW can't field but the third base umpire rules it foul.  Uggla unfortunately works out a walk.  Jeremy Hermida strikes out after being up 3-0.  Amezaga pops up to DW.  Through the top of the seventh, Mets 11-Marlins 0.  Get up and stretch, it's the Seventh Inning Stretch.
              
The Mets add another run as I go to the restroom.  Mets 12 - Marlins 0.

The Paperbag Kid is wilting in the sun but the nearby fans urge him NOT take the bag off his head.  Asphyxiation is a high price to pay to but the Mets have never had a no-hitter.  Not Ryan, not Seaver.  Is today the day that history is made?  When will the Paperbag Kid ever breathe (regularly) again?
               
The first batter strikes out after 3-0.  The second flies out to Alou.  Hoover hits a dribbler down the third baseline but DW didn't throw it.  Darn it!  To the din of the crowd, Willie pulls Maine and brings in Willie Collazo. 
                                 
A "Let's Go Nationals" cheer rocks Shea as the Nationals score an early run in the first inning against the Phillies
                                            
Newhan singles home a run in the bottom of the eighth.  Mets 13 - Marlins 0. 

Gomez makes a great sliding catch on Andino in center.  Muniz gets Abercombie out and the Mets win 13-0.

Posted by the Tank reporting Live from Shea Stadium, Queens.

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Sunday, September 30, 2007 7:10:18 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Due to baseball coverage, I am posting this as a combo.

College: I was 0-2 last week, my first losing week ever in SATT, abeit grateful that Syracuse upset Louisville.  I am saddened that Alabama lost to Georgia.  I am 5-3 on the season.

This week's picks:

Syracuse beats Miami (OH).

Rutgers beats visiting Maryland.  Remember, the Scarlet Knights can't let their guard down.  This is a "trap" game and tough challenge.

#6 California beats #11 Oregon in a barn burner in Oregon.

Pro: I was 2-1 last week and 4-2 on the season.

This week's picks:

The Bills lose to the Jets.

The Giants win a close one against the Eagles at home.

Written by the Tank and posted by (a depressed) Steve in NY.

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Saturday, September 29, 2007 6:31:56 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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After last night's Mets loss, I listened to the FAN's legendary Steve Sommers predict that the Mets will play serious October baseball i.e. NLCS or World Series.  I still stick by my pick of the Mets losing to the Yankees in six games in the World Series that I made at the beginning of the season.

I agree with Sommers and politely disagree with my bro Steve.  I am a counterbalance to his and Linda's skepticism though I can sadly relate to it from my personal life.  I am hoping that we can negotiate a mega sponsorship deal with an online dating service that will help the Tank through his dating woes and give hope to others. 

Though I will be very tired after tonight's Aussie Rules Football Grand Final (Super Bowl) ending around 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning and have a 18 mile marathon training run on Sunday morning, I plan to be at Shea tomorrow afternoon to root the Mets onto victory because the Mets need the Tank's positive energy.

When it's darkest, pray and search your soul like I have and you'll find a champion.  Onto victory, Let's Go Mets!

Posted by an optimistic Tank in NY.

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Friday, September 28, 2007 4:45:26 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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And her name is Jimmy Rollins.

Here are the combinations for the lame Mets to win the NL East, both the Mets and Phillies have three games this weekend:

Mets win 3, Phillies lose at least 1.

Mets win 2, Phillies lose at least 2.

Mets win 1, Phillies lose all 3.

Mets lose 3, Phillies lose 3, Mets defeat Philly on Monday. (Or any combination of equal Mets/Phillies losses.)

The problem with this scenario is it requires the Mets winning baseball games against a below .500 team (Florida).  That is not going to happen.

Steve's Prediction for this weekend:

Phillies win 2 out of 3 against Washington. Mets win 1 out of three against Florida and finish the season 1 game out of first and one behind San Diego in the wild card.

Posted by a sadden but realistic Steve in New York.

Mets Analysis (MLB)

Friday, September 28, 2007 9:27:31 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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So sad. This came in from Linda:

Beat the mets, beat the Mets
Last place teams defeat the Mets
Hanging sliders, minor-league speed
Guaranteed to waste a seven run lead
Because the Met bullpen keeps fading away
October baseball won't be at Shea
Mota....Sosa
Every game is now in doubt
Can anyone who's on this staff
Get three men out?

Posted by Steve in New York

Mets Analysis (MLB)

Thursday, September 27, 2007 2:17:55 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Looks like the Mets may blow their lead and not make the playoffs. Optimists like the Tank will say, "They will make it, all they have to do is win 3 games and Philly lose 1 game, etc."

The Mets blew a 5 run lead last night and the bullpen broke down yet again. The team is playing so bad fans are rooting for the evil Atlanta Braves. This is not how it is suppose to be. Sure the Mets may win the division, but there will be an asterisk next to it in the stats. NL East Champions*. Did not play like champions.

The problem is the damage is already done. Mets fans are upset and more importantly the front office is upset. This week has sealed the fate of Willie Randolph, I fear that he will be the scapegoat this winter. That is a shame, Omar should be looking to rebuild the bullpen this winter, the Mets are scoring runs, but the bullpen is a joke. If the Mets win the division, they can't go far since the bullpen can't hold a lead. Unless the Mets win the World Series, heads will roll this winter and it won't be pretty.

Posted by Steve in New York.

Mets Analysis (MLB)

Thursday, September 27, 2007 7:16:05 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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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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