mws44

I'm talking about taking away his carries. I don't want him carrying the ball anymore.

 

That was Ward.

Oops. My bad. I was trying to remember which one of them it was when I was typing that.

I sit Bradshaw's ass on the bench until somewhat gets hurt and/or he learns how to hold the ball. He had a fumbling problem in college, the coahces worked on it, and it's obviously come back.

 

That's three times he's lost the ball this year.

 

Ward and Jacobs are doing just fine.

Jacobs put the ball on the ground 2 or 3 times last night. All of the running backs had a problem holding on to the ball. Bradshaw's one fumble wasn't even a fumble, but Caughlin didn't review it because we were punting anyway. Then the Eagles jumped off side and it would have been a first down if we didn't lose the yardage on the non-fumble. His entire back was on the ground, but they called it a fumble.

It is nitpicking but I have one gripe with a particular Spag play call. That play where we have the corner Blitz from the quarterbacks throwing side. You can spot it a mile away and that receiver is always open for like a 6 yard gain before the safety slides over for the tackle. It's a great play call on 3rd down if they have like a 3rd and 10, but I don't get the call when its first down. Its like a guarenteed 6 yards. Do any of you guys notice this? We have done it a few times this season.

If you noticed the next few plays there, Webster was showing blitz and backed off quickly to cover the receiver. If the QB makes the mistake of throwing to that receiver again, Webster has a pick 6. If the QB doesn't go there, he still has it in his head that he has to look that way before he can get back to his first read and go through his progression which gives the DL an extra second of rush time. It's designed to confuse the QB on later plays, not always on that exact play.

I don't know what to think about this anymore. I was honestly trying to give him some benefit of the doubt that this had nothting to do with him getting paid, and just had a few bad moments. Now it is starting to look to me that he got his guaranteed money and really just doesn't care anymore. Where did the "warrior player" playing hurt and playing hard for his team go? Seriously dissappointed in his attitude toward the team and his carrer right now.

I want Ryan Church gone. He is a 4th outfielder, injury prone and rumor is he hated the team and being here. Adios amigo is all I have to say there.

I'm going to need a lot more proof that Church didn't like the city or his team than fat boy Francesa saying "that he knows for a fact" without stating a source. Jon Heyman even said he didn't hear anything like that. From Mets Blog:

Yesterday, on WFAN, Mike Francesa said he has been told that Ryan Church ‘hated it here,’ while adding, ‘I know for a fact that he didn’t like the team, he didn’t like the city and he was not a happy guy here.’

 

However, just five weeks ago, Adam Rubin wrote the following on his blog for Daily News:

 

“Church revealed that his wife Tina was driven to tears by the standing ovation the Shea faithful gave before his first at-bat (after returning from the disabled list). The hard-nosed Church said the fans’ embrace cemented his desire to spend the rest of his career in Flushing. He’s even open to signing a long-term contract now to wipe away his arbitration years.”

 

…thanks to Franco S for the link…

 

Francesa returns to the airwaves today at 1 pm. To listen live, click here. If you’d like to call in to his show and let him know of Church’s comments, call 718-937-6666.

 

Lastly, speaking of Rubin, he will be running a live chat with readers on his blog today starting at noon.

 

…Update…1:22 pm…

 

During today’s chat, Rubin was asked about Francesa’s comments, which he responded by writing, “Ryan Church really enjoyed playing in New York. How do I know? We talked several times during the year about it. Not with a notepad and tape recorder out. Just casual one-on-one conversations, when he talked about how much more he liked New York than Washington.”

 

…great work, adam…thanks…

Church was playing great ball before the head injuries. I think he earned a shot at a full season in right field. Hopefully he can stay healthy.

As far as closers go, I also think Kerry Wood is an interesting option if he can be lured away from Chicago.

"Like you did last year when you didn't practice and you led us to the World Championship

But the coach and team concept had nothing to do with that right? Not practicing because you are injured is very different than just not showing up and not contacting anyone.

Can't wait to hear the details of this one. Guy gets a new contract and immediately flakes out. I can only assume he had a serious family issue, because nothing else makes sense.

His catches are being made up primarily by Smith. Smith is quickly becoming the go-to-guy on third down and is proving to be more reliable than Shockey. It is really a perfect example of what makes this team so great. Whereas Shockey did provide key conversions and big plays when he was not doing those two things his mouth was running. So far I have not heard a peep from Smith about his role and whether he feels he is being underused.

 

In fact the only Giant who is voicing any concern over his play time and impact is Sinorice Moss....and when that is the worst stuff coming from this team that is a HUGE deviation from seasons past. I mean Sinorice Moss is bitching about playing time?

Thats true, he doesn't really have a gripe because he has done marginal work with his opportunity, although I think he should have been running Hixon's route on that play that Eli over threw. I still think they can utilize Moss as both a decoy and a deep threat.

Boss looked fantastic this week.

:brooding: :explode:

Was Hixon hurt? I thought I saw him once on the field but not much at all.

I saw him on special teams. Looks like he is holding down Tyree's spot on punt coverage.

Darcy Johnson is 84 and he was in on at least one play where Eli overthrew him.

 

Kenny Philips saw a lot of action the 2nd half.

I thought that pass to Johnson would have been perfect if DJ made a small adjustment to his left. The ball would have fallen into his bread basket. He will probably do that with a little more experience.

Well it was the first full game of the season for all of the guys, so it was bound to get a little sloppy at the end. It almost always seems whichever team dominates the first half struggles in the second. We pretty much dominated the entire first half of the game, but still have the problem of punching the ball in when inside the 15, like we do every year. The second half was just a sloppy half to survive the game.

If the O could get it in the endzone when they were hot the game would have been 24-7 at the half. Not terrible, but definately a lot of room for improvement.

One question..why is Butler the gimp even in the game?

That was quick! So can Bob Papa not do Giants games anymore since the NFL network signed him? He always called the preseason games on tv.

That just brings up the argument of the fan vote. MLB either needs to eliminate the fan vote or stop this game from meaning anything. In my opinion this game should just be a fun exhibition, let every player that the fans voted in play and what ever happens happens.

Reyes isn't in this game because we as Mets fans are still slightly in our last year funk and didn't cast our votes early and often. Ramirez is a very solid player though.

Do you guys remember when we thought Rick "the genius" Peterson had him all fixed up. I think a pitching coach's message wears off on him after a little bit of time. He stops paying attention. It happened in Pitt. It happened with RP and it will happen with Warthen. Ollie will always be that inconsistant scatter brain we have seen since he arrived here.

The big debate on WFAN tonight is whether the Mets should give up Pelfrey for Holiday. For the love of God can we develop ONE freaking pitcher inside the organization? I couldn't believe the number of moron fans I heard say they would do that deal.

He is rediculous.

It took me a long time to start liking Keith on the broadcast. Once I learned to stop paying attention to his arrogance and ego, I realized how good he is in the booth. Completely honest, no filter commentary. That's the way commentators should be throughout the sporting world, it would be much more interesting.

Just think of how many fights between teammates and people related to the team have taken place in locker rooms and on planes throughout the years. The fans have mostly remained unaware of any of that crap. There is way too much reporting on things like this now. Reyes should have said the same fucking thing Keith did about the situation and squashed it right there. That is where Reye's immaturity comes into play.

Note: Johan Santana is Doing his Job

By Matthew Cerrone - Jun 29, 2008 8:41 am

 

 

Johan Santana let up four hits, four walks and three runs, while striking out eight, in six innings pitched during a loss yesterday at Shea Stadium against the Yankees.

 

Santana is 0–4 with a 2.53 ERA in his last five starts, during which the Mets have averaged two runs per game and are 0–5. Meanwhile, in that same time, only three other National League starting pitchers have a better ERA than Santana.

 

…though, it should be noted that, in his previous start to yesterday, he allowed a grand slam to the opposing pitcher, on which all runs were considered unearned thanks to an error by David Wright, even though he, santana, let up the home run…

 

Jerry Manuel, on Santana, talking to reporters after the game:

 

“I don’t know if he can pitch any better than how he’s pitched lately. Us not scoring runs puts a lot of stress on every pitch. He feels like he can’t make a mistake…What an ace has to do is give you a chance to win every night, and that’s what he does…He’s keeping us in games, but we’re just not getting the job done offensively.”

 

Santana, following yesterday’s game, said to reporters:

 

“I’m doing my job. Other than that, there’s nothing else I can do. I can’t go out there and do the things that my teammates have to do.”

 

….zing…ouch…the thing is, he’s mostly right…i keep reading people comment on how he has not been an ‘ace,’ whatever that means…fact is, only a few pitchers have been better than him, so, short of hitting a home run or two, i’m not sure what else he’s supposed to do…

 

Santana’s 3.00 ERA is fifth-best in the National League this season, while his 103 strike outs are fourth-best.

 

Only Tim Hudson, Aaron Cook and Cole Hamels have thrown more innings in the National League as a starting pitcher.

I don't know man, I haven't been very disappointed in Santana. I knew he gave up homeruns going in, and even that hasn't really killed him. He does give up a lot of hits, but limits the run damage for the most part and is the only starting pitcher on this squad who consistently pitches into the seventh inning. That's a reliever for 1 out in the seventh, then setup guy and closer. That's exactly the formula we were looking for.

The grand slam sucks, but that pitch was a high and outside fastball and he put a lucky swing on it.

MWS, awesome, man. Congratulations on your nuptials. I am actually getting married this October and going to St. Maarten for the honeymoon (only for a week, though, and not even a whole week, just Monday to Saturday).

 

It was sad how the Mets treated Willie. I believe Bernazard poisoned the front office as well as the clubhouse, and he continues to do so. Willie was never given a fair shake, and like Phillips said on ESPN, the Mets will have problems until they instill a philosophy of "chain of command". No players talking to Bernazard about the manager and Bernazard telling players what Willie was saying regarding player evaluations in closed door front office meetings. Bernazard is a grade 'A' asshole.

Congrats Jim. If you haven't already, you are about to hit the serious stress month of helping plan 6 hours of 1 day. That is if you are involved, which I was. It's stressful, but it's a good time when it comes and goes real fast, so enjoy it.

We all knew something was wrong in that club house, and we all pretty much knew what was up with Bernazard. It's amazing that someone can have that much power in the very public business that is baseball and not have to face any outside scrutiny like the manager and GM have to. This is one of the reasons Mets fans feel that there is no accountability I think. We don't get to hear from the real pupet masters, aka the Wilpon brothers and TB. Nice initials. They fit the disease destroying the Mets from the inside.

Congrats! ( on your wedding that is).

Thanks blu!

Damn! I got married on June 7 and went on a 2 week honeymoon to Hawaii. Things got busy right before the wedding, so the last Mets game I saw was probably around Wednesday June 4. The Mets were winning, everyone was happy, Willie was smiling and laughing in press confrences and it looked like the team turned it around. Couldn't catch any games after that because TV and timing in Hawaii is crazy (6 hour difference).

Then I see a news paper quote of the day "Michael Strahan on retirement"......damn. Oh well, we kinda knew it was coming but still disappointing.

So I wake up in my nice relaxing hotel room on Tuesday morning and flip on espn news to try and catch up on the sporting events of the world as a headline flashes on the screen "Mets fire Willie Randolph, Manual to be named interim manager".....What the? What the hell happened??

Well my wife and I are pretty huge Mets fans. Watch as many games as we can, had Sunday season tix last year (couldn't afford them this year with the wedding) and were extremely disappointed. I liked Willie as a manager, as you can tell from many of the comments I have made in the past on this board. Then they show the graffic that Willie is the second most winning manager in Mets HISTORY!! What kind of bizzaro world is this. When did the Mets ownership get possesed by the Yankee ownership?

Now I am reading how the whole deal went down with Omar flying out after Willie made the trip out to the west coast and axing him after a WIN!?

Man a lot of crap must have happened in those 2 and a half weeks I missed. I saw that they lost 7 of 8 in a stretch, but I still think Willie deserved the rest of the season to get it going, and we will never know how good of a manager he could have been if he was given control of his own clubhouse. Some embarasing times Mets fans.

p.s. Hawaii is fucking awesome. Go if you can kids!

Can't catch a fuckin break. When it goes bad, it goes really really really bad. Damn.

Thats about right. I think Castillo is the worst player on this team. I don't usually blast players, but I can't stand looking at him. He plays lazy, makes bad decisions in the field, barely has outfield power and doesn't seem to do the little things any more, which was sold as one of the reasons for bringing him here. He didn't even make an attempt to break up a double play earlier in the game, just kinda loafed out of the way and let the Braves take care of buisiness. Church would have barreled the guy down concussion and all.

6 fucking 1-2-3 innings this afternoon. Unbeleiveable.