Bengie Applesauce - Molina visits Mets for first time, Kiko struggles, Wright's chance for revenge

by Joe Budd on May 7, 2010 8:45 AM EDT in Applesauce

Meet the Mets

Bengie Molina makes a visit to Citi Field tonight for the first time since the Mets' strange offseason courtship of the catcher. Is anyone upset that the Mets snagged Rod Barajas for about a quarter of the price (including bonuses)? Oh, and in case you want another giant plastic cup for your collection at home, you should probably buy a ticket.

Tonight's game is also the first chance at revenge for David Wright against the team that beaned him and forced this humiliation upon him.

Kiko Calero has been bitterly disappointing thus far in Buffalo. However, we should probably learn the name John Lujan.

Patrick Flood presents to us the Met season thus far.

Around MLB

Philadelphia Hall of Famer Robin Roberts passed away at the age of 83. Joe Posnanski, as usual, presents the man behind the legend.

Bill Baer is tired of his city being stereotyped. Speaking of stereotypes, once again, minority players are the target of the lack of hustle criticism.

Washington pitcher Scott Olsen had a no hitter going into the 8th.

Lance Berkman says that if he were the Houston GM, he'd consider trading himself. Houston GM Ed Wade says that if he were the Houston first baseman, he'd try hitting .350.

In a story I missed yesterday, Eric Byrnes is going to play slow pitch softball.

Hank Aaron and Willie Mays apparently do not get along.

Indians announcer Bruce Drennan has the greatest post game wrap up I've ever seen.

Crawfish Boxes shows you what you should be looking for in pitcher's mechanics.

Morgan Ensberg pretends to be Jerry Crasnick and talks about the unwritten rules.

Five numbers on what you can expect for the rest of the season.

Outside of MLB

More wiffleball video, this time from 1979. Some language NSFW.

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Comments

I like Flood's breakdown

I think the percent of innings pitched by the bullpen is a huge thing. I still feel it was a big reason we failed in Spetember in both 07 and 08.

Wright facing the Giants isn’t a big deal, if Cain was pitching maybe.

I am happy with Barajas, as far as hitting. Now looking at Flood’s comments on throwing out runners. he needs improvement

by Rickfansince76 on May 7, 2010 9:07 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Mr. Flood writes a good blog, methinks. I’m going to have to it gebookmarken

by tmu on May 7, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

That Crawfish Boxes pitching mechanics post is cool

by James Kannengieser on May 7, 2010 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

Wow, yeah.

Very cool read. Definitely recommended.

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 7, 2010 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

That FFF article about the collectible cups is funny

Also the Indians announcer video. I think this guy’s head is going to a splode.

by JoshNY on May 7, 2010 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

seriously, it's like listening to Lewis Black, this is great

by JoshNY on May 7, 2010 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

It really was a masterpiece

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on May 7, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Cage Match

Between Fatty McFatster and Barajasaurus Rex!!

by SFloridaMetsFan on May 7, 2010 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Wiffleball in applesauce...

…usually messy, lately good.

by mr. big tone on May 7, 2010 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

Drennans rant, priceless

Also if those collectible cups come full of the sausage they advertise, they become a totally awesome promo

by KeithsMoustache on May 7, 2010 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Its like if Louis Black was a baseball commentator (Which would be great)

by KeithsMoustache on May 7, 2010 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

The wiffleball video is highly recommended.

Dudes wearing helmets over giant 70s hair is generally pretty funny.

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on May 7, 2010 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

Am I the only one

That wouldn’t mind seeing a Giant get beamed in this series ?

by Blame-everyone-else on May 7, 2010 11:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I wouldnt mind at all.

I would especially enjoy it if it was Molina that got beaned.

by SFloridaMetsFan on May 7, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

He wouldn't feel a thing

“Ay ay a scratch, a scratch”

by James Kannengieser on May 7, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I doubt it.

Johan hit two of them last season, and that was that.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on May 7, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

What if it hit him in the head?

Since if it hits him anywhere else it’ll get stuck in his fat rolls.

by SFloridaMetsFan on May 7, 2010 11:27 AM EDT reply actions

I can't condone that

He’s fat and annoying but a fastball to the head is no good.

by James Kannengieser on May 7, 2010 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

unless we were paying him $18 mil for 3 years

in which case, bring it on, opposing pitchers…

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on May 7, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

That would mean

Cora time… Is that what you really want?

by Joshuah on May 7, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

If Cora could be our emergency catcher,

why was D Wright double switched out in the 10th? Although that would make Cora a useful piece…

by djg2111 on May 7, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Cora is the back up everything!

full tilt grission!!!!!!

by SFloridaMetsFan on May 7, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Pont well taken.

what if it was a change up??
j/k

by SFloridaMetsFan on May 7, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

Did anybody see Milledge?

thought he hit a grand slam but it was just a double and so he got caught jogging between 2nd and 3rd.

by TheBigStapler on May 7, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

I saw it, and thought it was aHR at first too.

he put his head down after he thought it was gone. Better than his show boating at Shea when he 1st got here. I think that may have been one of those unwritten rules. He never knew it was still in play.

by Rickfansince76 on May 7, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Newsday (Lennon) ... Beltran may need microfracture surgery.

If that’s the case, his Mets career is probably over.

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

by The Glider on May 7, 2010 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, Beltran may need the surgery we all knew he needed a year ago?

in the immortal words of our former closer, F*cking Shocker. What a mess, although I’ve long since resigned myself to the fact that we won’t be seeing much of Voltron this season.

by KeithsMoustache on May 7, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

is this the last season on his contract?

It I remember right it is but not sure

by Rickfansince76 on May 7, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

No

One more after this

by SFloridaMetsFan on May 7, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

This plain sucks

Does this mean Omar is going to panic and sell the farm for a centerfielder or does F-mart come up?

by SFloridaMetsFan on May 7, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd vote for FMart

I thought he played well in CF for us last year. If he’s healthy and continuing to mash the ball in AAA, I think we should give him a shot … assuming that Beltran can’t make it back.

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

by The Glider on May 7, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we can compete with Pagan in CF

It would be nice to have a better back up CF though. If the starting pitching continues on this pace, and Bay’s bat wakes we should be more the fine.

I would want Carlos to do whatever it takes to come back healthy next year, I think we can take the East in 2011 provided we can further solidify our pitching next year. We will have only one hole to fix next year, and that would be out starting pitching, easy enough right……

by Coolpapabell on May 7, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

we might be able to compete

but only if we make up the value lost between Beltran and Pagan elsewhere.

I wonder if Carl Everett believes Jamie Moyer exists.

by Gina on May 7, 2010 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

That can happen ...

between a rejuvinated Franceour, adding Bay, Davis and Barajas. But we need Bay and Davis to step it up a notch or two. If we could get all these guys going at the same time … which doesn’t always happen, I know.

Also, I wonder about a line-up shake up. But I’ll wait for this series against the Giants first. I just don’t want to see GMJ starting any of these three games.

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

by The Glider on May 7, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah ...

Maybe we should just change the name of the team to … “The Meds”

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

by The Glider on May 7, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Applesauce

The Mets’ plastic cups are the best. In 2008, I was at a game with some family, and my cousin paid for all of our hot dogs and a fountain drink. Being cheap (which has nothing to do with my Jewishness!) I said to myself that the generic “Last season at Shea” plastic fountain drink cup would be a good thing to take home and use. About two and a half years later, I am still using it. It’s remarkably durable. Some of the writing has since come off, but it’s been through shakes and the dishwasher, and everything.

Who is John Lujan? And, how is it pronounced? I hope it’s pronounced ‘John Lu-John’, because that’s be awesome.

Bill Baer can be tired of Philadelphia being stereotyped and all, but that doesn’t change the fact that it really is a second-rate town with a distorted ratio of messed up residents to normal residents.

We need to hire Bruce Drennan, even though he semi-insulted us.

On pitching mechanics, I am subscribed to this guy on youtube who has extreme slow-mo pitchers pitching. Here’s the guy.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on May 7, 2010 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

I still have an enormous cup from a giveaway in 1991

and it’s still good.

From Fred to Jeff
and O to Jerr
Funny things
Are everywhere

- Dr. Seuss (if he were a Mets fan)

by StorkFan on May 7, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

All I have is the rinky-dinky regular old plastic cup the vendors sell.

Good quality stuff. Unlike the belts the team is using.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on May 7, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

by the caveman on May 7, 2010 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

The Wilie Aaron article was interesting. I do think the supposed beef might be way over blown.

by Coolpapabell on May 7, 2010 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

From the comments on the Philly article:

If a fan parks next to me with Dallas stuff anywhere visible I key his/her car after they walk away.

John Olerud, Hall of Famer. Got a nice ring to it.

by squid92 on May 8, 2010 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

Such a class act.

They should build a giant wall around Philly, Escape from New York-style. And then force people to make a case as to why they shouldn’t be left behind it.

May you be locked in a battle of wits against Jerry Manuel.

by BobbyV_Incognito on May 8, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions