Sunday Morning Applesauce: Hairston fills in admirably for the selfishly sick Beltran

by Stephen Schmidt on Jul 17, 2011 8:57 AM EDT in Applesauce

The Mets rebounded from their poor showing Friday with a big 11-2 win over Cole Hamels and the Phillies. Jon Niese was again exceptional for the Mets, anyone who had any doubts before the season started should have rethought those by now. Here's a few video highlights from the game, I especially love the dropped pop up and triple from an unknown player. They close out the series tonight as Mike Pelfrey takes on Kyle Kendrick in the rubber match.

The NY media began their "closer watch" yesterday. Bobby Parnell appears to be the front runner now after he went through the heart of the Phillies order in the 8th inning of a blowout. Terry Collins was certainly happy. Not everyone in NY is happy that K-Rod was traded though.

On the injury front, David Wright doubled in his first rehab start in St. Lucie. Hopefully he'll be back with the big club shortly. Jose took batting practice yesterday, and will be running at full speed prior to today's game. Don't rush this too much Jose, make sure you're healthy.

Despite being labeled "sellers", the Mets are still adding to their roster as shown by the signing of Gustavo Chacin. They also added Niuman Romero on a minor league deal.

Despite struggling in the field lately, Terry Collins doesn't have too many concerns about Ruben Tejada's glove.

Around the NL East:

Fangraphs takes a look at Jeffrey Loria after the Marlins announced they will be closing the Upper Deck permanently.

Chris Hatcher made it back to the big leagues as a reliever after breaking in as a catcher in the Marlins 13-3 win. That's a first in baseball.

The Braves lost some ground to the Mets in the Wild Card race as the Nationals beat them 5-2.

Around MLB:

K-Rod earned the win in Colorado following a Rickie Weeks HR. Good thing that vest is gone.

Chris Hatcher made it back to the big leagues as a reliever after breaking in as a catcher. That's a first in baseball.

Ozzie Guillen rants are often pointless but humorous, but this idea of his actually makes a lot of sense.

Beyond the Box Score takes a look at Carlos Santana, who was a trade deadline acquisition several years ago for a far inferior bat to Carlos Beltran.

The Mariners celebrated the 10th anniversary of their 116 win season by dropping their 8th in a row. The Rangers managed to extend their ML best win streak to 10 in that contest.

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I can only imagine

What would happen if Ozzie was the Mets manager

Insert witty signature here

by BlueChill on Jul 17, 2011 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

Oh my God

That fucking NYTimes article made me sick. I dare you to read past the part about how Capt. Fastball will never become a great closer.

"If this doesn't light your fire, men, the pilot light is out."

by Lonborg and champagne, Ollie and vodka on Jul 17, 2011 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

Thankfully, the Mets are now....

….run by someone with more than the capricious whims of an intellectual 5 year old. Maybe that’s why Omar gave him that ridiculous vesting option. Krod was his favorite player as well.

by Fmaxpont on Jul 17, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I read past it just fine

by rcnt123 on Jul 17, 2011 10:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

It's Destiny

   Dude, don`t you know that in order to be a closer, you must be destined to be a closer? Don`t you know that that in each generation, there are select few born, chosen by the BASEBALL GODS, with the talent and mentality to endure the tortures and trials of the 9th innning and come out victorious? Sure, there are hundreds of other relief pitchers who sometimes, maybe even often, have to get much tougher hitters out, but that’s deceptive. For you see, when even a terrible hitter comes up to bat in the 9th inning, their batting prowness is vastly improved. The reason this occurs is because a balance must be maintained, kind of. You see the BASEBALL GODS are silbings to the CRICKET GODS, both of whom are ruled over by the BAT-AND- BALL SPORT GODS. The BAT-AND-BALL SPORT GODS ordained many years ago, that if baseball is to be a pitcher’s sport, where the best hitters only get a a hit about a third of the time, then cricket must be a hitter’s sport, where the hitters get a hit, well, I`m not sure how often, but alot. Thus, a balance would be maintained, and order would reign in the universe.

    This infuriated the BASEBALL GODS, for they loved hitting, so the BAT-AND-BALL SPORT GODS placated them somewhat, by giving batters in the 9th inning increased abilities. But, if the BASEBALL GODS love hitting so much, why is it they that give the closers special abilities to conquer the 9th inning and why is it they that decide who gets to be a closer? And why did it take decades for the role of the closer to emerge? Nobody knows for sure the answers to these questions, although, it is suspected that a war between the BASEBALL GODS and the BAT-AND-BALL SPORT GODS, which occured around 30 years ago, mysteriously coinciding with the emergence of the closer in baseball, played a role.

And this is where the closer comes from and why they are special.

by Unappreciated Genius on Jul 17, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I rather enjoyed the article

The pacing and imagery were absolutely perfect for a baseball piece and it almost makes you remember how much more fun the game was when you were too little to know anything about salary arbitration and Rule 5 drafts.

by lstorie1971 on Jul 17, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Fun

I think it’s more fun when you`re older and know about these things, or at least it is for me. There’s somewhat of a science to it and that makes it fun. I imagine kids who enjoy strategy games, like I did as a child, would also come to enjoy the game more as they learn more about it.

by Unappreciated Genius on Jul 17, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Poor kid

In time the pain will pass

by rcnt123 on Jul 17, 2011 10:54 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I lost my baseball innocence at 5 as well

But it involved a Terry Pendleton home run. Kids today are just not as tough, clearly.

the artist formerly known as TeufelCat
@jeffpaternostro

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jul 17, 2011 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

i blame the internet

I think it was Bobby V who said: "You are never as good as you are when you are at your best, and you are not as bad as when you are at your worst."

by gbaked on Jul 17, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Game time?

They close out the series tonight as Mike Pelfrey takes on Kyle Kendrick in the rubber match.

I thought game time was 1:10 p.m.?

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

"Who has more fun than people?"

- Ralph Kiner

by The Glider on Jul 17, 2011 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

It is

It’s like when Gary Cohen says someone is “playing well tonight” and it’s broad daylight. He does that alot. It’s a force of habit. Most games are at night.

by Unappreciated Genius on Jul 17, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Organization

The Mets finally have someone who knows what they are doing…

by CoachPatAnderson on Jul 17, 2011 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

What kid has a "favorite reliever"?

And the situation is easy to deal with. Ask the kid if he likes Reyes. If the answer is yes then just tell him that trading Krod (as sad as it might be for this little kid) allows us to keep Reyes. No the tough part will be if Dickey forbid Reyes is not a Met next season.
OH, and it’s not impossible to root for a player on the Brewers. It’s not like he died on the field or something.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Jul 17, 2011 1:55 PM EDT reply actions