Justin's Blog

 Archive for the ‘Mets’ Category

It seems slight strange to be writing about baseball when the world cup is on, but is hard not to when the Mets are doing as well as they are just now.

What's fun about the 2010 Mets (you almost have to say the June 2010 Mets) is not just they they are winning, but they finally have some character and look like they are having fun and playing for each other.

They have managed to get rid of a bunch of the over-age, over-priced, under-achieving players and their spots have been taken either by youngsters (the Mets #1 infield is now entirely homegrown and half of it is not old enough to drink!) or by older guys relishing their chance at the big time.

This is exemplified by Ike Davis (was playing Single A ball this time last year, now hitting clean up and diving into the dugout or the stands to retrieve fly balls) and RA Dickey (how can you not be a knuckleballer with a name like that?  Though I really think he should grow a handle bar mustache).

I'm still not convinced by Gerry Manuel as a manager, but you can't argue with the product right now.

This is fun.

:: Justin ::

PS There is a pretty obvious Therap-Baseball analogy in here, but I'll leave that to Richard!

Not only did I go and see Fame twice this weekend (it was even better the second time around) but I discovered something truly amazing: the Mets are actually fun to support again!

It's not just they are winning, but they are actually entertaining.  In Sunday's game against the Giants, Olli P did his usual and blew up within three innings, but there was always the thought that the Mets would fins a way back (particularly within a windy Citi Field).  The fact that they blew it after coming back is not even that big a deal, it was fun to watch!

I am even enjoying it enough that I actually went out and paid for an app for my phone! (this does not happen very often).  In this case it is the MLB 2010 app which is absolutely tremendous. Not only do you get all the usual stuff, you also get full streaming radio coverage and in game video highlights.

:: Justin ::

As Richard noted, I haven’t posted about the Mets in ages (understandable, they were so bad it wasn’t even funny)

Haven’t posted much about Hearts either, they haven’t been much better!

However tonight something went wrong and the referee obviously didn’t understand the rules.

In the last two games against the “Old Firm” (Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers) otherwise known as the Ugly Sisters or other terms I wouldn’t use here things went according to plan.  Hearts took the lead and then lost the game in injury time.  However, tonight, in the Quarter Finals of the League Cup, Hearts went up 1-0 at Celtic Park (by a penalty no less) and then in injury time a Celtic player was sent off.

The more I look at the replay above, the more I think that Andy Driver (the Hearts winger) should have just stood up and laughed!

:: Justin ::

It is a hard life being here in Connecticut, stuck between Red Sox Nation and Yankeeville.

A survey out last week found that only 9% of Nutmeggers had the sense to be Mets fans, oh well, I guess we are just the elites!

:: Justin ::

It’s been a while since I did a sporting post, so as I watch the Mets move towards a sweep of the Nationals it’s about time.

The football season in Scotland just ended with Hearts finishing in a very respectable 3rd position, thuse qualifying for next year’s Europa Cup.

I have grown to quite like this team, here’s why:

1. Csaba Laszlo: He is enough to make you love any team.  The new Hearts manager talks so much that not even Richard could interupt him.  His post match interviews usually consist of one or two questions and last about half an hour.  He has also controlled Hearts’ owner in a Joe Torre – George Steinbrenner sort of way and built a real team spirit.
2. Lee Wallace: The makings of a great and exciting left back, the combination of he and England U-21 winger Andy Driver is a sight to behold.  Lee Wallace also has a gun…
3. Eggert Jonsson: There is nothing this boy can’t do (and Iona says he is really cute).  The Icelandic international has played virtually every position and even scored a penalty in the decisive game against Dundee United.
4. A new found sense of team pride.  They may not always play the prettiest football, but you are going to know you are in a game if you play them and you are going to have to work to win.
5. Hibs Goalkeepers: Not Hearts players as such but they might as well be.  After you though they had made every possible mistake in the world, Yves Makalambay came up with this one in their final game against Aberdeen:

And so it is time for a well earned summer holiday.  August will be here soon with a European adventure (and probably a new look, even younger team).

More surprisingly, I am really getting to like this year’s Mets team:  Here’s why:

Daniel Murphy: Can you play outfield? “I can hit”  Can you play 1st Base?  “I can hit”  Can you play 3rd base? “I can hit”.  Well, he can’t play left field, that’s for sure, but he can play 1st base for sure, and yes.  He can hit!
Gary Sheffield: Never liked him before, but he seems to have taken to the old geezer role and is now a real asset.
Johan Santana: This guy is just immense.  Even when he doesn’t have it it’s like watching a master craftsman at work.
The team: The more players get injured the harder the team has to work and the more good it does for the team’s personality.
Video Replay:  Genuinely a great thing, especially when every decision goes in favor of the Mets!

It’s going to be a fun summer.  Looking forward to going to Citi Field (even though according to Google Maps, Shea Stadium still exists)

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:: Justin ::

Lots going on in the world of sports:

Hearts actually seem to be doing ok. Four weeks into the season they have 3 wins in 4 games and are sitting 3rd in the league. They did lose to Airdrie in the League Cup (Hearts are good at losing to Airdrie in cups so I’m not going to worry about this, I seem to remember a number of miserable trips to Hampden). The new manager seems to have the team actually playing reasonably nice football (though a few more goals wouldn’t go amiss). Now all we need is for our mad owner to step in and ruin everything.

Mets: Where Hearts can’t get it done in the last 1/3 of the field, the Metropolitans can’t get it done in the last third of the game. The Mets inability to close out games is quite increadible. However, in general, I am very much enjoying the new Mets under the new Manager. It’s nice to have Jose (Jose, Jose, Jose) back playing the way he should. It’s going to be an exciting September.

:: Justin ::

Just another sporting Saturday.

:: Justin ::

Calum strumming away on his latest noisy implement. His goal for this one is to follow in the steps of Woody Guthrie, Joe Strummer, and Billy Bragg and write on it “This Ukulele Kills Fascists“! – We’ll see how well he teaches himself to play!

To celebrate his actual birthday we to what will probably be our final trip to Shea Stadium. The game was pretty miserable with the Mets losing 8-2 to the Marlins, but it’s always a good day out when you go to the ball park and it’s fun to see the new Citi Stadium almost complete. I’m looking forward to going there. We took a virtual tour and I think it’s great.

Some talk of the demise of Yankee Stadium, but in reality it died years ago in the 1970′s when the Yankee’s moved to civilization for a while and the house that Ruth built was no more. So when it comes to the passing of a grand old park in New York this year, there is really only one to pay attention to. For that matter, there is only really one team in New York worth paying attention to!

:: Justin ::

The football season started today in fine style with Hearts beating Motherwell (and Manager Mark McGhee who turned down the opportunity to come to Tynecastle this summer) 3-2.

The similarities between my two favourite teams, Heart of Midlothian Football Club, and The New York Metropolitans never cease to amaze me.

They have both suffered greatly over the last year from:

• A Lack of leadership
• Poor Managers
• Overly intrusive owners
• Unmotivated Players
• A lack of execution

In the last few months, each has appointed a new manager who seems to be turning things around.

Isn’t it amazing what leadership can do!

:: Justin ::

What other sport could generate a post like this one from Mets Walk-Offs and Other Minutiae

Friday, June 20, 2008

Nixon For ‘Resident

I don’t know if Trot Nixon is a “Gangsta” (am I the only one who doesn’t like that reference), but he did become the 335th player to hit a home run for the Mets.

* Of those 335, 64 have hit exactly one home run for the Mets. Among those he’s tied with: Tug McGraw, AFLAC answer from the other night Tim Foli (200+ games for Mets and Angels), Jimmy Piersall (who backpedaled around the bases), and recently deposed Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.

* He’s the 6th player whose last name starts with “N” to homer for the Mets.

Most HR For Mets Last Name Starts with N

14-Xavier Nady
14-Charlie Neal
9-Dan Norman
2- Jon Nunnally
1- Trot Nixon
1-David Newhan
Trot Nixon now has 137 career home runs. That’s the same number of home runs hit by Jackie Robinson, for whom the rotunda in the Mets new ballpark is named. He entered the season with 136 home runs, the same number of home runs hit by former Mets manager Jackie Robinson.

Trot Nixon had 133 home runs for the Red Sox

Most HR for Red Sox Hit at Least 1 HR for Mets

230- Mo Vaughn
133- Trot Nixon
121- John Valentin
And lastly…I hope I’m right on this. Inspired by something a colleague looked up the other day, I tried to create a list of Mets home runs by Presidential last name. I think I got them all.

Most Home Runs by Met Shares last name with US President

192-Howard JOHNSON
89-Gary CARTER
60-Mookie WILSON
17-Vance WILSON
11- Hawk TAYLOR
10-Claudell WASHINGTON
10- Lance JOHNSON
5-Bob JOHNSON
3-Sammy TAYLOR
1-Trot NIXON
1-Stan JEFFERSON
1-Darrin JACKSON
1-Al JACKSON
1-Mark JOHNSON
1-Paul WILSON

True Metstas know…No Met with the last name “Capone” has ever hit a home run.

Great stuff!

Now maybe the Mets will start playing like a team worthy of all its blogs

:: Justin ::