I planned to write tonight about how I am genetically coded and morally obliged to root against the Dodgers and Red Sox based upon past rivalries.  But it also pains me to root against Joe Torre and Don Mattingly.  I make a decision to root for the Mets and against the Dodgers.
                       
The Dodgers jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead. 

The Mets countered with Luis Castillo's two run home run.  Dodgers 3 - Mets 2 at the end of the first inning.

John Maine wasn't great but hung in there.  The crowd encouraged him along.  Mr. Met's tour throughout the Mezzanine raised everyone's spirits except Linda's.  She booed Mr. Met and you know the story from previous posts.  Tonight's comments were even more stinging than in the past which I can not repeat in our family oriented blog.

The Mets finally took a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning.
  
You can blame the tying run on the first base umpire who missed Juan Pierre out at first.  Of course, I recommended a good laser vision surgeon.  Aaron Heilman came to save the day and "setup" Billy Wagner.  However, the last four runs were charged to Heilman.  The Dodgers took a 9-5 lead after seven and a half innings.  The Mets squandered the last six outs to lose the game 9-5.  The slipping away of the game caused the Mets to slip below .500 at 26-27.

There were lots of boos and a few chants to "Fire Willie".  But, the Mets last three straight wins hopefully bought Willie some time.  In the meantime, Linda and I separately texted Steve and I hereby now announce the founding of the Aaron Heilman Sucks Fan Club.  I'm so depressed that I am not even going to charge a membership fee.  Just boo him whenever you see him at Shea, on TV, or around town.

Posted by a depressed Tank reporting live from Shea Stadium. 

The Mets beat the Dodgers 8-4 last night to win their third game in a row, for the first time in over a month. Everything seemed to be working, hitting, a quality start, solid bullpen (the bullpen has only given up 1 run over its last 19 innings, walking none and striking out several), small ball, taking advantage of opponents mistakes, 2-out RBIs, and quality fielding. Basically all the things that were not going well in the past few weeks. This is very impressive considering the string of injuries the Mets have suffered over the past week. They have improved their record to .500 and have not undone the damage of the 1-7 record last week.

David Wright said "the off-field distractions are behind us" when asked about the recent awesome play of the Mets.

The challenge is to keep winning, and play with passion even in the losses so the media doesn't start its "Willie Watch" again. Memories are short term in this town. If the Mets can manage their way to 10 games over .500 and continue to play with the same spunk they have shown over the past few days.

Maybe the team is playing for Willie. Or maybe they are playing for Billy Wagner.

Posted by Steve, ready for the Mets to break out.

It was great to watch the Mets yesterday never say die. Down twice in the bottom of the 9th and 12th innings they tied it in the bottom of the 9th and scored 2 to go ahead and win in the bottom of the 12 (after the Marlins had a 1 run lead in the top of the 12th.) Solid bullpen work and come from behind heroics is something we did not see late last year and most of this year.

If the Mets do turn this season around, last night will be the turning point, not the Yankees win. The real test is this weekend against the Dodgers, can they keep the momentum going?

Posted by Steve in New York

PermaGuest Outlaw Jack wrote late last week that some free primo  tickets were available to Monday's Memorial Day game.  I really wanted to go but politely declined as I was out of town for the game.  It was almost a good thing that I didn't go; I saw the looks on fans' faces in the Port Authority after the Mets lost.  This was even more depressing after the Wilpons met with Willie before Monday's game.

After my recent interview with Johan Santana, I was really excited to finally watch him pitch in person last night at Shea.

Santana came through like he was supposed to.  He pitched seven solid innings, including pitching out of a couple of jams.  He helped his own cause with a double in the fourth but he wasn't advanced home. 

I guess I am the Mets good luck charm as the Mets are 5-1 this season when I go.  Maybe the Wilpons will pay me to go to games.  Gotta go, I hear my phone ringing. 

Posted by a cautiously optimistic Tank reporting live from Shea Stadium in Queens.

Willie got to keep his job but fans want some blood. Is that person Omar Minaya? He has done some questionable moves like sign Mota (after the steroids) sign Sosa rather than go to arbitration (then let him go), trade Millidge for next to nothing (but we DID get a bargain this year but long term we lost). So Omar got lucky with Millidge and Santana.(Imagine if Santana did not sign?)

Lastly he did hire Willie. So if Willie does not turn the team around, maybe Omar will be shown the door?

While on this topic, my friends have written me saying that Willie is done. If he is genius Mets fans, who is the savior?

Bobby Valentine? If so I will start watching the Yankees for the first time in my life.

Keith Hernandez? Please.

Here are my choice if the Mets foolishly fire Willie:

HoJo. He knows the team and has lots of management experience in A ball for the Mets. Then you can bring Mike Piazza in as the batting coach.

Posted by Steve in New York

Willie Randolph had a much anticipated meeting with Mets' ownership (Fred and Jeff Wilpon) and GM Omar Minaya today to discuss the "state of the team" but in reality it was most likely to discuss his future as manager.

Willie emerged with his job intact, a decision that I think is sound. While the Mets can't seem to win these days they are only 1 game behind Atlanta in the loss column and 2 behind Philly and this is only May. Steve and the Tank to Mets fans: chill out.

Posted by Steve in New York

Yes, the Russian Army recently paraded tanks and soldiers in Moscow.  But, I am talking about the world's best Red Army, Manchester United Football Club. 

Wow!  You may have heard by now that Man U traveled to Moscow this past Wednesday for the Champions League Final against Chelsea.  It was so classic that ESPN Classic made it an Instant Classic.

Man U struck first blood with a goal in the 26th minute.  Tevez almost scored on a crossing pass and made it 2-0.  Chelsea countered late in the first half to tie the match at 1.

Both teams had their opportunities in the second half but it went to extra time. 

Chelsea's Drogba drew a red card after he slapped Vidic in the 117th minute, or late in the
extra (over) time.  Vidic took one of best penalty kickers out of the match as we went to penalty kicks.

I was nervous going to penalty kicks as Chelsea's Cech is a better goalie than Van Der Sar. 
   
Penalty kicks brought back memories as my Central New York Team Handball Club won the U.S. Team Handball Federation Division II Championship on penalty throws in 1994 in Hotlanta.  I was named Most Valuable Goalie.

Back to Moscow.  It was the fourth Champions League final in the last eight years to go to penalty kicks.  Some of my reactions are below:

Tevez - Gol!
Ballack - Darn it!
Carrick - Yes!
Chelsea player - Darn it!
Ronaldo - You stutter stepping idiot!  Cech easily caught his classically weak penalty kick.
Lampard - Ah!  Just beyond Van Der Sar's finger tips
Hargreaves - Whew!
Ashley Cole - Darn it!  Just hit Van Der Sar's finger tips
Nani - Wow!  Nice fake move by Cech
Down to Terry.  What?  He missed!  Terry was more wide right than Scott Norwood - OMG!
It's tied at 4 after 5 penalty kicks.
Anderson - Yes!
Kaku? - Ouch!
Giggs - Yes!
Carvahlo - Blocked by Van Der Sar. 

Manchester United won 6-5 on penalties.  Yes!  The Red Army rolls again.  I jump up and down and high five total strangers.  Others look on in disbelief.

Ronaldo lives.  So does Rooney who had no shots on goal.
      
I felt bad for Chelsea's Lampard after his Mom recently passed.  R.I.P. 
                 
Posted by a psyched up Tank reporting live from Jake's Saloon on 57th Street and 10th Avenue. 

On Thursday, the Yankees won their second game in a row and first series since the Mariners in early May.  The Yankees benefitted from great pitching performances from Rasner and Kennedy, respectively, thank God!
                                   
When I watched Joba throw 35 pitches on Wednesday from my seat in the right field bleachers, I knew that the Yankees were preparing him to start in the near future.  I am not crazy about Joba a starter but that's management's decision.  I would be a little less reluctant if Bruney was healthy to take Joba's eighth inning spot.  Farnsworth, Ramirez, Hawkins, Ohlendorf, and others will have to step up.

Once Joba is back aboard as a starter, our pitching staff should be set as follows (touch wood):

Joba, Wang, Pettitte, Rasner, Mussina. 

Let Kennedy, Hughes, and Igawa continue to improve in AAA and the bullpen for this year.  One of them can take Mussina and/or Pettitte's spot(s) next season and the other(s) can be trade bait, spot starters, or bullpen.  (I think Pettitte will come back for one more and call it a career.)
                                                     
Just as important, the Yankees may have found their passion and groove.  New manager Joe Girardi was thrown out of Thursday's game after arguing a call with home plate umpire.  Though the ball just hit Giambi's bat, Girardi got his money's worth and was thrown out of the game.  He even kicked up some dirt and threw his hat.  Great theatre and it ignited the Yankees to victory on Thursday. 

That momentum thankfully continued into Friday.  The Yankees scored double the amount of runs, eight in Friday in the fifth inning of tonight's (Friday's) game as they did in the entire Rays four game series last week.  Granted, the Rays had great starting pitching but the Yankees started to heat up against the Mariners, touch wood.
                   
The Yankees 13 - Mariners 2.
                   
Bottom Line: Have the Yankees turned the corner?  The Yankees are still below .500 but hopefully shifting into gear, touch wood.  Keep the Faith!
         
Posted by a cautiously optimistic Tank reporting live from Yankees Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.             

It's hard to draw too much from a single baseball game.  But, Thursday may have been the tipping point for Willie Randolph and a turning point for Joe Girardi.

The Mets lost their fourth straight at the dreaded Braves.  More importantly, Willie Randolph is on the hot seat after his racial reference remarks.  He apologized to the fans and the Wilpons but they won't return his calls according to ESPN 1050 AM. 

I am not African American so it is difficult to me comment on how Willie's perception of the public.  However, I care most about winning and losing, NOT black and white.  I don't want to win, but need to win.  It consumes me and I am a nervous wreck from April through October. 

I never thought of Willie as an African American but one of my favorite Yankees who happened to be African American.  I am rooting for Willie to pull through this crisis but his issues are bigger than race.  They are the following:

(1) Lack of Leadership: Who is the leader of this team?  Is it David Wright?  Carlos Delgado?  Jose Reyes?  Will someone please assert themselves as the leader of the team.

(2) Lack of Discipline: Even after a team meeting, Billy Wagner continues to spout off on teammates.  Granted, he can back it up with a stellar performance but it puts more pressure on his teammates.  Baseball is a sport where you fail more than you succeed.  Putting more pressure on yourself and others causes more grief and hardship.

(3) Injuries: Moises Alou, Pedro, El Duque, Ryan Church, etc.  Heck, my right hamstring tightens as I write this.

Bottom Line: I unfortunately join Steve on the "Willie Watch".  The Wilpons should give Willie through the end of the season.  Willie has earned the right to right the ship.  Mid-season managerial changes rarely work. 

As always, I am here as a counselor on the Yankee and Met Crisis Hotlines (which is a large part of this blog).  
     
Posted by a nervous Tank on the Willie Watch in NY.

Joba Chamberlain will be joining the Yankees’ starting rotation soon. As part of the transition to get his pitch count up Joba pitched the 8th and 9th inning last night, throwing 35 pitches.

“This is the timetable that we had set,” Girardi said. “It’s going to (take) him a while to (get) where he’s going be - a hundred pitches. But this is what we had planned all along, and we’re sticking to our plan that we talked about over the winter and in spring training.” Sorry Joe, but this has Hank Steinbrenner written all over it. Welcome to the Yankees.

This is actually good news, the Yankees need a jolt to their starting rotation. Joba may have to make a start or two in AAA (that will be fun to watch, after spending this time in the majors he should tear up the minor leagues.).

Posted by Steve on Willie-Fired watch :(