Friday Applesauce

by Eric Simon on Sep 19, 2008 10:25 AM EDT in Applesauce

It was linked to in this FanPost, but it deserves another plug. At Beyond the Boxscore, Sky Kalkman breaks down the National League MVP race using clutch performance, playing time and defense, among other things. Sky clarifies the "clutch" point thusly:

Let's start with that last claim, that performance in clutch situations matters. No, I don't think clutchiness is a real skill -- that is, you can't predict who's going to be clutch in the future. But looking back over the season, the players who performed better in the clutch did help create more runs for their teams, leading to more wins.

John Maine could be back on the field by Monday. He is scheduled to throw to live batters on Saturday, and if things go well he could conceivably pitch in a real game when the Mets return for Shea's final homestand next week.

Jerry Manuel's sense of humor keeps the Mets loose. I'll admit that after two years of "we battled" from Art Howe and three-plus years of "I'm going with my guys" from Willie Randolph, to watch a press conference where the Mets' manager is actually candid and doesn't use baseball platitudes as a crutch is refreshing.

At MetsGeek, Alex Nelson looks at the pitchers the Mets will face this weekend at Turner Field.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

ATL

I posted this in the game recap but:

Come on down to the ATL Eric. I’ve got an extra for Sunday right behind the Braves dugout. Tickets for all the games are going for less than face value. We should have a solid Mets contingent for all the games. I’m going tonight and Sunday.

Mets are 1-5 (Shea & Turner) in games I’ve seen them this year. But they have won one in row!

by whynot on Sep 19, 2008 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

More sauce

The Mets are coming to Buffalo!

http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/443060.html

This is good (for me, anyway), cos now I’ll get to see our boys down in AAA both when they come to Rochester to play the Red Wings and over there in Buffalo when I feel like making the drive. Much better than having ‘em in N’Orleans.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Sep 19, 2008 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

Nice

The press conference will take place at Dunn Tire Park. Is that anything like the Springfield Tire Fire?

by Eric Simon on Sep 19, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

The City of Buffalo is much like the Springfield Tire Fire

Dunn Tire Park is actually a pretty decent place to watch a ball game and holds up pretty well for a 20-year-old minor league park. The attendance doesn’t usually match the capacity (about 20K) but it’ll still be alright for my purposes.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Sep 19, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions