Tuesday Applesauce

by Joe Budd on Apr 28, 2009 10:21 AM EDT in Applesauce

Meet the Mets

As I'm sure most of you know, Omir Santos hit his first career home run last night. And, oh yeah, it was a grand slam. And, another thing, he's better than Brian Schneider.

The Mets are only 2 games out of first place in the NL East and there's still a long way to go in this season.

Some injury woes to report, however. Carlos Delgado is getting his hip checked out. Luis Castillo is having back spasms. I second Eric's desire to see Castillo back soon.

It seems that injury is the only way that Manuel will keep Oliver Perez from making his next start against the Phillies. Perez gave up only one earned run in 26 innings last year against Philadelphia.

Still only topping out at 85 mph on his fastball, Freddy Garcia is considering retirement.

Met shortstop prospect Wilmer Flores is battling some minor leg soreness.

Citi Field attendance is down 23.4 percent, but they're still operating at 90 percent capacity.

And, finally, you've gotta do two things: believe and have heart. Tom Seaver looks like he's 13.

Around the NL East

John Maine hit Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the hand with a pitch, forcing Ramirez out of the rest of the game. He is now listed as day-to-day.

Despite what Bob Carpenter may think, the Nationals are not a good team going through a bad stretch. Despite getting 5 home runs, the Nationals lost to the Phillies on Raul Ibanez's grand slam, 13-11. National closer Joel Hanrahan blew his third save of the season. Philly closer Brad Lidge will likely rest for a few days with a bum knee.

Off the field, Philadelphia relief pitcher JC Romero is not taking his suspension sitting down. He is going to stand up, walk to a courtroom, and sit down again, filing suit against the makers of the supplement he was taking.

Oh yeah, Jimmy Rollins is going to pull himself off the interstate with a .400 month.

The Mets were just a chaser for Rick Ankiel, as the Cardinal outfielder has begun taking shots against the Braves. Joel Pineiro won his 4th.

Around MLB

Barry Bonds made a public appearance at a Giant game last night, looking very thin.

What managers are on the hot seat? Probably too many.

This is not MLB, but still cool. 5 straight no-hitters.

Could Phil Hughes be the Yankee savior?

Grab a half pound burger tonight and chow down in solidarity with Livan. He'll need all the support he can get. Maybe we should leave that up to the Met hitters...

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Attendance

that’s down 23.4% from last year, when the Mets were (obviously) playing in a bigger stadium. (whether 91% capacity at New Shea is better than 87% capacity at Old Shea is a matter of personal opinion.)

by JoshNY on Apr 28, 2009 10:37 AM EDT reply actions

Wow, Jimmy Rollins making unlikely predictions that champion his own awesomeness.

Can someone explain why he’s considered less of a jerk than Jose Reyes?

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 28, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

Because

he has “Phight.” He’s a Phillie. He’s not a Met. He makes predictions and “backs them up.” He has grit. He knows how to win.

by jasondg on Apr 28, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Speaking of which

Dont feel like doing a fanshot, but Rubin’s blog cites one AL scout:
“A second scout assigned to the Mets thought more generally that the team is in trouble, despite being only a couple of games out of first place. The AL scout cited all the grit on the Phillies, as evidenced by their recent late-game comebacks, and suggested the Mets just can’t compete in toughness.”
Christ, even professional baseball-watchers buy this shit.

by TBlz on Apr 28, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

OMG

You can’t be serious. How can someone who’s paid to make objective observations be so stupid?

by Prince on Apr 28, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

c'mon, have you read Moneyball?

Scouts are morons. They’re all failed ballplayers who idolize the guys who should’ve failed but didn’t like Eckstein. They have no time for such weird notions as “talent”.

2009 Mets: maybe its the Phillies turn to have a terrible bullpen?

by Greenpoint Ian on Apr 28, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Sums up Omar Minaya to a tee

And he was even a failed scout.

I will not allow the denigration of the life essence

by GenJackRipper on Apr 28, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Well said.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 28, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

(bangs head against desk)

'Oh yes, I know all about that duty-of-a-citizen stuff. It doesn't go. There are exceptions to every rule, and this was one of them. When a man risks his liberty to come and root at a ball-game, you've got to hand it to him. He isn't a crook. He's a fan.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Apr 28, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Do the fanshot

I beg you.

by jasondg on Apr 28, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Done

by TBlz on Apr 28, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

show him the money

The most charitable explanation is that the scout gets paid for good information and analysis and that gibberish is what he gives away for free. Otherwise, teams should just hire lumberjacks, prison gang enforcers, and middle school teachers b/c those guys are really tough.

by hotspur on Apr 28, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I love it.

“The AL scout cited all the grit on the Phillies, as evidenced by their recent late-game comebacks.”

batting helmets. batting titles. obp.

by Durelo on Apr 28, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I want to spout some stats here

Regarding the utter terrible-ness of the Marlins and Nats bullpens, but I just remembered that web-nanny has me in her clutches. Foiled again!
Besides, if you google anything regarding “Nationals blow it”, or “Washington bullpen gives up the booty,” the only thing that returns is a picture of Rollins flexing a bicep.

by TBlz on Apr 28, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I could do that job with twice as much success.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 28, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

And with three times the grit!

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 28, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Uh, all the Phillie comebacks?

The Follies have been good for like, 3 years now, and as many, many people have pointed out, if not for the Mets inability to finish the job in 2007 and 2008, the Follies would not be World Champions (how I HATE saying that), so don’t tell me they’re better, or grittier, or have more heart, that’s crap. How does that scout have a job making statements like that?

by zmanmetfan on Apr 28, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Who says

He’s any less of a jerk/punk than Reyes is considered by Folly fans? Rollins is a punk, period.

by zmanmetfan on Apr 28, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the stab at the MASN guys

Carpenter and Dibble are as bad as they come. I could never stand Sutton much, but I think I would listen to him over an original “Nasty Boy”.
Listening to those guys preach about how great the Nats are, how fast they can score, confuses me. I dont know whether to laugh or vomit on myself.

by TBlz on Apr 28, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions

They'll win 100 games

once they iron out a few small problems (starting pitching, bullpen, defense, team leadership, chemistry).

by Prince on Apr 28, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Talent in general.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 28, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Over two years

Maybe.

by zmanmetfan on Apr 28, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I said this before, and it bears repeating.

Bob Frickin’ Carpenter still has a job? WTFH?!?

I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!

by R_Adragna on Apr 28, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

well, most broadcasters

would considering calling nationals games for a whole season some sort of cruel punishment, but regardless, i agree. he should not be at the major league level.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Apr 28, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, true.

Ron knows for a fact that it is.

I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!

by R_Adragna on Apr 28, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

are you kidding me hanrahan?

after the mets game i checked the fangraphs for the other nl east games and then turned my computer off after seeing as how even the nats would screw this great come back up.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU STUPID NATS.

and yes, dibble and carpenter are the worst. i get to listen to them almost every day here in stupid dc.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Apr 28, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions