Winning Streak Applesauce - Mets Sign Urbina, Royals Ban Rany, Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

by James Kannengieser on Jul 3, 2009 9:20 AM EDT in Applesauce Comment 22 comments

Down 5-0 against a pretty darn good pitcher in Paul Maholm, the Mets came back to win in extra innings (but not without some Frankie drama mixed in). For the umpteenth time, can everyone stop saying this team lacks leadership/edge/grission? I'm looking at you John Franco.

Meet the Mets

With the Phillies loss to the Braves last night, the Mets are just 1 game out of first place. Pitching matchups for the weekend are set:

Friday, July 3: Livan Hernandez vs. Rodrigo Lopez (making his first start since 2007)

Saturday, July 4: Fernando Nieve vs. Jamie Moyer

Sunday, July 5: Johan Santana vs. Joe Blanton

Check out Mets Geek for a preview. Lopez/Moyer/Blanton + Citizens Bank Park = No excuses not to hit some home runs. Tim McCarver and Kenny Albert will announce tomorrow's game on Fox. Hopefully everyone will be outside and as far away from a television as possible. Listen to Howie on the radio.

The international player signing period has begun and the Mets acted quickly by signing LHP Juan Urbina. Baseball America ranked him as the #8 international prospect. Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, whom Buster Olney calls the "lefthanded Stephen Strasburg", defected while in the Netherlands.

Gordon Edes at Yahoo! is foolishly bearish on the Mets and their farm system, claiming that they "don’t have much to offer in a deal". Also, Ken Davidoff at Newsday lists the major trade deadline deals over the last few years.

Faith and Fear reminisces about the Roger McDowell and Lenny Dykstra for Juan Samuel trade from 20 years ago.

The Mets stayed in the same hotel in Pittsburgh that was hosting "Anthrocon 2009", a convention for people who like to dress in animal costumes. Weird. Reminds me of that bizarre scene at the end of "The Shining". That always freaked me out.

Around the NL East

Javier Vazquez had yet another FIP-fest (5.1 IP, 5 K, 0 BB) and the Braves scored 3 times in the 8th to beat the Phillies 5-2.

Fire Jim Bowden is not happy about Elijah Dukes's demotion.

The Marlins signed Minnesota castoff Luis Ayala. Enjoy him Fish fans, just don't let him face Greg Norton.

The Fightins' wonders what's wrong with Ryan Madson. I have a possible answer that isn't mentioned - maybe it's unsustainable for the guy to maintain a ~4 K/BB and 0 HR/FB%, as he had through June 14th?

This is one TV show I will not be watching.

Around MLB

Blogger and Baseball Prospectus co-founder Rany Jazayerli was "banned" by the Royals after publishing some critical words about the organization. The Royals later backed off some of their threats.

Beyond the Boxscore adds some objectivity to the interleague attendance discussion.

Jim Leyritz: douchelord.

R.J. Anderson at DraysBay bids adieu to Winston Abreu.

DodgerSims celebrates Christmas in July, with the return of Manny Ramirez.

Mike Silva continues the "Should Joba be in the bullpen?" discussion for some reason, which is only a discussion for the Beningos and Francescas of the world.

Colin Wyers at THT looks at the reliability of UZR. A couple takeaways:

Defensive metrics are less reliable than offensive metrics.
An infielder's UZR is more reliable than an outfielder's UZR.

Joey Chestnut is a slight favorite over Kobayashi in the July 4th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Anyone going?

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Comments

John Franco

I’d really prefer that he just stop talking all together. Two words for you Johnny, “Brian Jordan”.

by Endys Game on Jul 3, 2009 9:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's not that I think he's wrong about David

I don’t want to buy into the idea that it’s really important to have one solitary playerlord on the team in whose shadow all the other players are doting proteges.

It would be awesome if Wright could be that guy but we don’t need that particular subplot to make the Mets story great.

by TheBigStapler on Jul 3, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does Ambiorix Burgos have a kid we can sign too?

by Reg Dunlop on Jul 3, 2009 10:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brooklyn Cyclones are ridiculous this year

Went to a rain-free game last night and watched Mark Cohoon pitch 8 scoreless innings, 3 H, 8 K, 0 BB. Matt Bouchard, back this year from an early season-ending hip injury last year, looks like a total champ. Luis Rivera went 2-4 with monster shot and 2 walks.

The team has 11-2 record so far.

Just wanted to share that.

by TheBigStapler on Jul 3, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Probably because there are no prospects on that teamb

because the Wilpons almost care more about the Cyclones than the Mets.

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

by squid92 on Jul 3, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So I was right

The cyclones starter>Redding!

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Jul 3, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Juan Urbina

is Ugeth’s son. Lets hope he doesnt try to kill Wilmer Flores with a machete.

by mets81 on Jul 3, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

or, you know, anyone else either

by JoshNY on Jul 3, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rany

That’s a great story. Maybe Eric will get banned from Citi.

I liked this quotation from Matt Diaz after the Braves beat the Phils:

“Everyone has a shot. The Mets are going to start getting healthy…”

by wobatus on Jul 3, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What a ridiculous thing to do

As he said, fans are free to scream about, insult, and even threaten managers, GM’s, owners, and just about anyone else involved with the team. But this guy points out an obvious pattern with the trainer who’s been there forever, and gets blacklisted. Did the Royals think this would accomplish anything other than negative PR?

"I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually inverse in proportion to the price of the seats." - Bill Veeck

by Prince on Jul 3, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That scene was freaky...

I almost choked on my breakfast when I saw that picture from the scene of the Shining, lol.

by Joe D. on Jul 3, 2009 11:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

John Franco as Grady

Perhaps they need a good talking to, if you don’t mind my saying so. Perhaps a bit more. These players, sir, they didn’t care for Citi Field at first. One of them actually stole a pack of matches, and tried to burn it down. But I “corrected” them sir. And when Jerry Manuel tried to prevent me from doing my duty, I “corrected” him.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jul 3, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

convention for cross species dressers

This is beyond belief. Why on earth do they hold it in PIttsburgh?
Was Scranton booked?

by coyote522000 on Jul 3, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My brother lives in Pittsburgh and was totally spooked by the whole thing. I begged him for photos but he was too scared.

I said this over on TGP, but between the haunted hotel in Milwaukee and the Furries in Pittsburgh, the Mets’ week was like one of the tougher levels on Super Mario Bros.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Jul 3, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha!

That’s great.

"I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually inverse in proportion to the price of the seats." - Bill Veeck

by Prince on Jul 3, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because the better cities turned them down.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Jul 3, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know who's worse.

Them or the uber-fans of anime?

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

by R_Adragna on Jul 3, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alright, I'm going ahead and guess the lineup for tonight

SS Alex Cora
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
LF Gary Sheffield
1B Fernando Tatis
RF Ryan Church
CF Fernando Martinez
C Brian Schneider
P Livan Hernandez

This is my optimal choice when it comes to realistic, Jerry-like lineups

Here’s possibility #2

SS Alex Cora
1B Daniel Murphy
3B David Wright
RF Gary Sheffield
LF Fernando Tatis
CF Ryan Church
C Brian Schneider
2B Luis Castillo
P Livan Hernandez

If I had to bet, with Moyer going tomorrow, is that Jerry will go with the first one

Although I could be totally wrong, and Argenis Reyes could be hitting cleanup after Santos

by Pat Andriola on Jul 3, 2009 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Okay, Jerry went a little different:

Alex Cora SS
Daniel Murphy 1B
David Wright 3B
Gary Sheffield RF
Ryan Church CF
Fernando Tatis 2B
Nick Evans LF
Brian Schneider C
Livan Hernandez RHP (5-3, 4.04)

I’m just surprised by this. With Moyer going tomorrow, I guess this means that tomorrow Church may get a day off and F! will be in center, then we’ll have Sheff in RF, Tatis in LF, and Evans at first base.

I’m also surprised that, with Livan pitching, Jerry would go with one of the worst defensive lineups possible. There is not one above-average defensive player at his position in the whole lineup (well, Little Nicky did well in a small sample size in ’08).

Ok, Livan. Strike everybody out.

by Pat Andriola on Jul 3, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hot Dog Eating Conteset....

Competitive eating, huh? People going to watch people eat? Yeah, wonderful entertainment. Are we so starved for entertainment that we will go see people eat? Now, if the contest was competitive f**king, that’s a different story— and it would draw a much, much, much bigger crowd— and it would be more fun to watch, right??

"We praise or blame as one or the other affords more opportunity for exhibiting our power of judgment." Friedrich Nietzsche, "Human,All Too Human" (1878)

by wgarrett on Jul 3, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Should be "Contest"

There is competitive spelling— spelling bees— and I would have lost the competition with that misspelling. :-)

"We praise or blame as one or the other affords more opportunity for exhibiting our power of judgment." Friedrich Nietzsche, "Human,All Too Human" (1878)

by wgarrett on Jul 3, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs