Tag: New York Mets

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MLB General

The Full Count: Slump Busters


1. One Man Show: When a stud like David Ortiz struggles the first week, you know he’s going to break out eventually. He did so yesterday as the Red Sox topped the Rangers 3-2 on Sunday Night Baseball. Ortiz hit his first two homeruns of the season, which drove in all three runs by the Sox. He got no help from his teammates in the win, as more than half their lineup went o-fer. At least Curt Schilling was able to return to his usual self after a poor first start. Schilling had one earned run in seven innings.

2. Return of the King: David Ortiz wasn’t the only star to break out of a slump yesterday. Albert Pujols had no RBIs, homeruns, or runs through five games and just one hit. But yesterday, he went 2-5 against the Astros with a homer and two RBIs. The rest of the Cardinals’ team performed too in a 10-1 rout. Scott Rolen drove in four runs, Yadier Molina had three hits and three RBIs, and starter Kip Wells allowed one hit in seven innings. The Astros are now 1-5, while the Cards aren’t much better at 2-4.

3. Losing to the Worst: The Yankees weren’t dealt the toughest opening schedule with the Devil Rays and Orioles. However, they have struggled with both teams in a 2-3 start. Yesterday, New York lost 6-4 to Baltimore despite A-Rod’s continued dominance. Rodriguez hit his fourth homerun of the season, but the O’s got round-trippers from Paul Bako and Kevin Millar. For Bako, it was his first homer since 2004. Erik Bedard rebounded from a poor first start to get the win for Baltimore.

Player of the Day: Johan Santana, Twins: 7 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 9 strikeouts in a win over the White Sox.

Stat of the Day: No Yankees starter has made it past the fifth inning this season.

Walk Off: Though the Mets were virtually handed the division in pre-season predictions, the Braves will prove once again to be a strong contender in the NL East. They just beat the Mets 2-1 in a series despite being outscored 16-7. That means the Braves’ pitching is back where it needs to be for them to be successful. Their relievers have been even better than expected, and Bob Wickman has three saves and a 0.00 ERA in the closer role.

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New York Mets

The Full Count: Mets still holding a grudge


1. NLCS Revenge: Remember last year when the Mets had a much better team but lost to the Cardinals in the playoffs? Well, New York started off this season with some sweet revenge. They swept the Cardinals in three games while outscoring them 20-2, including a 10-0 embarrassment last night. Carlos Beltran hit his first two homeruns of the season and drove in four runs, and Jose Reyes also went yard for the visiting Mets. But most importantly, John Maine showed his potential in the rotation by allowing just one hit in seven shutout innings. For the Cardinals, Albert Pujols just went 1-10 in the series.

2. Comeback kids: The Braves have won two extra-inning contests in a row over the Phillies, and last night’s comeback was fueled by their young talent. The Phillies got seven shutout innings from Cole Hamels and led 2-0 going into the 9th, but Brian McCann launched a two-run homer off Phils closer Tom Gordon. Then in the 11th, obscure pinch hitter Scott Thorman hit a solo shot to give the Braves the lead. Atlanta at 2-0 is one of eight undefeated teams left in the majors, while Philly is among the eight winless.

3. The Next Ace: Rich Harden has never had trouble on the mound; the key for him is simply staying healthy. He showed his potential last night as the A’s avoided a sweep by the Mariners. Harden went seven innings with 7 strikeouts and no runs allowed. If Harden stays healthy and other A’s pitchers improve, they have a shot at winning the no-man’s land AL West.

Player of the Day: Curtis Granderson, Tigers: 2-5, 3B, HR, 5 RBI in the Tigers’ 10-9 win over the Blue Jays.

Stat of the Day: Six different starting pitchers went at least 7 innings and allowed one or less earned runs on Wednesday. Three others added 7-inning, 2-run performances in a night dominated by pitching.

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All Other Sports

Odds and Ends: Karma rears its beautiful head


OK, this is the last mention of politics for a long long time, we promise. Representative Jim Leach of Iowa (aka “The Man Who Hated Fun”), sponsor of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, was voted out of office yesterday. The anti-gambling act was added onto a bill that was supposed to improve port security and signed into law by President Bush recently. Seriously, if we can’t bet on the Raiders to not score a point on Monday Night Football, then what is the point of watching that game? Screw you, Jim Leach.

In other news…

[SignOnSanDiego]: Two students named Sudeep Paul and Anand Durvasula were arrested for breaking into Heinz Field on suspicion of terrorism… turns out they were making a music video.

[NY Post]: Doc Gooden set to leave prison. Maybe he can participate in MLB’s “Take a convict to school day promotion

[Tiger Woods]: Tiger Woods is boring on his blog too

[Basketbawful]: What are Jerry Buss, Snoop Dog, Paris Hilton and Paul Abdul doing together?

[USA Today]: Miami lineman Pata’s death ruled a homicide

[Miami Herald]: Not so fast, Ricky. Miami still owns your ass.

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Cleveland Browns

Oct 27 in Sports History: Art Modell steals away in the night



Suckers!

In 1995: It is well known how miserable of a sporting existence Cleveland fans have suffered, but this might have been the lowest point, the cruelest blow, the coup de grace gut punch. Browns’ owner Art Modell signed a secret agreement with the city of Baltimore to move his franchise – which probably had the most loyal fans in the NFL – there for the 1996 season. Modell cried poor and blamed Cleveland officials for refusing to build him a new stadium. He took a sweetheart deal from Baltimore (who was desperate for a franchise after losing the Colts in similar fashion in 1984), the Browns became the Ravens and changed their logo and uniforms, and the Mistake by the Lake was soon a memory (it caught fire during demolition just to remind Cleveland what it really was). Cleveland kept the rights to the Browns nickname and colors and was granted an expansion franchise for the 1999 season. The Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000 while the Browns have gone 37-81 to this day.

In 2002: Emmitt Smith of the Cowboys took a handoff from Chad Hutchinson and ran off left tackle for 11 yards. They were last of 16,727 yards he needed to break the late Walter Payton’s career rushing total. The game was stopped for five minutes to honor Smith, and a post-game celebration was also held despite the Cowboys losing 17-14 to the Seattle Seahawks. Smith is the NFL’s all-time career rushing leader in yards, attempts and touchdowns.

In 1986 and 1991: A pair of memorable World Series Game 7’s took place: In 1986, the Mets completed their stunning comeback by finishing off the Boston Red Sox 8-5 and continuing the Curse of the Bambino for the 68th consecutive year. In 1991, Jack Morris of the Twins turned in a legendary complete game, 10-inning shutout of the Atlanta Braves and a Gene Larkin bases-loaded single clinched the second World Series in four years for Minnesota.

And no Boston, we didn’t forget that the Red Sox clinched their first championship since 1918 with a four game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals on this day in 2004.

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MLB General

Oct 19 in Sports History: When Kenny Rogers sucked


In 1999: Current postseason hero Kenny Rogers wasn’t so much in Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS. With the Mets attempting to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to force a seventh game, Rogers walked in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th to give the Braves their fifth pennant of the decade. The Mets had fought back with a dramatic game-winning grand slam by Robin Ventura in Game 5 and overcame Braves’ leads of 5-0 and 7-3 in Game 6 to force extra innings. Rogers’ walk of Andruw Jones was the only series in history to end on a base on balls.

In 1981: Rick Monday of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the hero in the NLCS with a dramatic, two-out, solo home run of Montreal’s Steve Rogers to give the Dodgers the pennant in the deciding fifth game. The game was played in what was believed to be the coldest temperatures ever for a postseason game, and it was quickly dubbed “Blue Monday,” due to the facts that the game was played on a Monday and Rick Monday (who coolly stopped two morons from attempting to burn a flag in the outfield a few years earlier) almost single-handedly knocked the Expos out of their only postseason appearance.

In 1987: Billy Martin was hired by George Steinbrenner to manage the New York Yankees for the fifth time. Martin replaced the fired Lou Pinella, whom he had spent the entire season criticizing from the broadcast booth. Pinella, in a strange twist, was named General Manager. Martin lasted until halfway through the 1988 season when he was fired and replaced by
Lou Pinella.

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Los Angeles Dodgers

Oct 16 in Sports History: Kirk Gibson’s heroics

In 1988: In one of the most amazing and downright surreal moments in baseball history, Dodgers’ manager Tommy Lasorda took “a roll of the dice’” (in the words of the great Vin Scully) and sent Kirk Gibson – who could barely walk – up to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Dodgers trailing the Oakland A’s 4-3 in the World Series opener. Dennis Eckersley, the most dominating closer of that era, took Gibson to a full count with a runner on second. After fouling off several pitches and barely able to hobble halfway to first, Gibson shocked everybody when he turned on an inside pitch and drove it deep into right field bleachers to win the game 5-4. Gibson limped around the bases, pumping his fist. He did not play again in the series, and the Dodgers used the momentum to bully the shell shocked A’s in five games. The red lights you see as the ball is going into the stands are a stream cars that left the game early , figuring the A’s had it won.

In 1969: The New York Mets, only seven years in the National League, shocked the sports world by defeating the Baltimore Orioles in Game 5 to win the World Series. The “Amazin‘s“, who set the record for futility just seven years ago with 120 losses in their inaugural season, turned it around behind the pitching of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and a young Nolan Ryan, plus timely hitting and defense. Donn Clendenon, a Pittsburgh Pirates and Montreal Expos castoff, was the hero with the big homerun in the deciding game and was awarded MVP honors.

In 2003Just when Red Sox fans didn’t think it could get any worse, Grady Little decided against his better judgment and the screams of millions of Sox fans (and anybody who remotely followed baseball) that ace Pedro Martinez didn’t have enough left for one more hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning . Little left him in, Jorge Posada hit a double to tie the game at five apiece, and Aaron Boone eventually won it with a towering solo homerun to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning off Tim Wakefield, sending the New York Yankees to their 39th World Series.

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New York Mets

Paul LoDuca: Seducer of 19 year olds, dropper of F bombs

Paul LoDuca is fucking freaking loving it.

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MLB General

The Full Count: Mets clinch the NL East



2006 NL East Champs

1. We are the Champions: The first playoff spot in baseball has been clinched. Not surprisingly, it went to the New York Mets. The Mets had had a magic number of 1 for four straight days until they finally won against the Marlins yesterday. The win clinched the division title for them, and officially ended the Braves’ streak of 14 straight division titles. Steve Trachsel pitched shutout ball for six-plus innings to improve to 15-7, and Jose Valentine homered twice in their 4-0 win. At 91-58, New York has the best record in baseball, and they’ve been the only team in the league to score more than 750 runs and allow less than 700. And they’ve done all this with their highest-paid player, Pedro Martinez, on the DL for most of the year.

2. Game of the Year: Possibly the best game of the season played out yesterday between the Padres and the Dodgers. Los Angeles, who was down a half game in the division to the Padres, retook the lead with a 10 inning, 11-10 win that featured a crazy back-and-forth scoring battle. Going into the ninth inning, the Padres were up 6-5, and they padded their lead with three runs. But the Dodgers did something that no team had done since 1964. They hit four straight homeruns in the bottom of the ninth–an incredible rally that tied the game up. No team had hit four in a row in any inning during the last forty years, but the Dodgers did it in the ninth to tie the game at 9-9. But Josh Bard hit a single in the 10th that drove in a run for the Padres. Then Nomar Garciaparra responded with a big-time, two-run homerun that won the game for Los Angeles and finally ended the 3 hour, 53 minute game. This was the final game of the season series for these two clubs, and they sure ended it well.

3. Different Directions: The season’s final battle between the Tigers and White Sox is underway. These two teams were once thought to be the best in the MLB; now they rank 3rd and 6th in terms of record respectively. The Tigers were able to win yesterday, putting them six games above the White Sox in the division. The ChiSox have now lost four in a row and likely won’t make up the ground necessary for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, the 90-60 Tigers are still leading the division, 1.5 games above the Twins (who didn’t play yesterday). Detroit won 8-2 after another great start from Kenny Rogers, who allowed no earned runs for his fourth time in his last eight starts. Magglio Ordonez led the charge offensively with two solo homeruns, and Craig Monroe hit a three-run jack in the ninth to seal the deal. It appears the Tigers will be on their way to their first playoff spot in years, and they’ve already clinched a winning season.

4. Scoring is easy: Just ask the Rockies, who put up a rare 20-run effort against the Giants yesterday. They scored in each of the first six innings, and in seven of the eight in which they batted. Underrated Garrett Atkins had a career day with a 4-5, 6 RBI performance. Atkins has gone almost unnoticed despite the .324, 110-RBI season he is having. Also, .332-hitting Matt Holliday went 3-4 and drove in three runs himself. Todd Helton put up two hits, runs and RBIs. But the greatest Rockie on the day was outfielder Jeff Baker, who was called up from the minors a couple weeks ago. Baker had two homeruns, three runs, and drove in six on the day. Colorado’s offensive machine was reminiscent of the old days at Coors Field, when there was a double-digit scoring effort almost every other night. A game like this hadn’t happened this year. By the way, the once-soaring Giants are now back down to earth and back under .500.

5. More popular than ever: Have you been to a minor-league baseball game lately? If not, than you can consider yourself in the minority. Minor league baseball drew a record 41 million fans this season, breaking the record for the third year in a row. Many leagues such as the Pacific Coast league, the Texas League, and the South Atlantic league set individual record to help the cause.

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MLB General

Sep 18 in Sports History: Dodgers outfielder goes nuts on flight



20 K day

In 1935 Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Len Koenecke was dismissed from the team by new manager Casey Stengel for erratic play and strange behavior. After being kicked off the flight home for being drunk and threatening the airline crew and passengers, Koenecke, a .297 career hitter, decided to charter his own plane home to Buffalo. On board that plane, he tried to grab the controls and fought with the pilots During the scuffle, the co-pilot reportedly hit Koenecke on the head with a fire extinguisher and killed him. He was 31 years old. (courtesy of baseballlibrary.com)

In 1996: For the second time in his career, Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox struck out 20 batters in a 9 inning game. Clemens fanned 20 Detroit Tigers and walked none in a 4-0 Boston vicrory at Tiger Stadium. Clemens also accomplished the feat against the Seattle Mariners in 1986.

In 1986: On the same day they tied the ML record for losses in a season in 1962, the New York Mets clinched the NL East Division crown with a 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium. It was their first division title since 1973, and their 108 victories was the most in the NL since the 1975 Reds. Jubilant Mets’ fans stormed the field in celebration, nearly destroying the playing surface. The Mets went on to defeat Houston in the NLCS and the Red Sox in the World Series.

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MLB General

The Full Count: Liriano down and out



Liriano out for the season

1. Double Blow: Yesterday was a big day for the Minnesota Twins; it marked the return of Francisco Liriano. While the day started out hopeful, it soon turned towards the negative. Liriano, though he pitched two great innings, left with elbow problems again. He hadn’t pitched for more than a month due to his elbow, and now Liriano will be out for the rest of the year. This will be a huge blow to the Twins, who need a pitcher down the stretch that can complement Johan Santana. The Twins lost to the A’s 1-0, with Oakland’s Dan Haren throwing eight innings of shutout ball. They still lead the White Sox by one-and-a-half in the Wild Card standings.

2. Perfect? Almost: After Anibal Sanchez’s no-hitter last week, we almost saw two perfectos last night. Ben Sheets and Freddy Garcia each took a perfect game into the seventh inning last night, with Garcia recording 23 straight outs to start his ballgame. Garcia and his White Sox faced the Angels, and he didn’t allow a baserunner until there were two outs in the eighth. Then Adam Kennedy, who is hitting .266 on the year, broke it up with the Angels’ only hit of the night. Garcia improved to 14-9 and his ERA dipped under 5 to 4.82. Meanwhile, Ben Sheets of the Brewers allowed nothing until a leadoff single in the seventh and a homerun to Pirates backup catcher Ryan Doumit. Otherwise he was perfect, finishing with eight innings pitched and 10 strikeouts.

3. Changing of the Guard: The San Diego Padres played the Cincinnati Reds yesterday in a matchup of current and past Wild Card leaders. The team currently on top, the Padres, stormed through the Reds, winning 10-0. Jake Peavy pitched 6 innings, allowing just 3 hits and no runs while extending his NL lead in strikeouts. Peavy has looked like the ace he is in three September starts, with a 1.66 ERA and .171 opponents’ batting average. Mike Piazza also hit his 22nd homer of the season, as he remarkably leads all catchers once again. The Padres Wild Card lead actually shrunk on the day, as the Philadelphia Phillies won both games of a doubleheader to move to 1.5 games back.

4. Ninety: The New York Mets became the first major league team to win 90 games on the season yesterday, improving to 90-55. They defeated the Florida Marlins 7-4, though they were trailing leading into the ninth inning. The Mets needed a pinch-hit RBI single by Carlos Delgado to send the game into extras, where they excelled. New York put up three runs in the 11th to beat the Florida Marlins, who got another great game from Josh Willingham. Willingham homered for his third straight game, and has 6 RBIs and 8 hits during that span. But that wasn’t enough to take down the mighty Mets, who have scored the second-most runs in the NL and allowed the second-fewest. They have the league’s best home record and its best road record, and should absolutely represent the NL in the World Series. Only a catastrophic injury or just poor playoff performance could keep them from that.

5. Penny’s worth to the Dodgers: Who is the most valuable player on the Dodgers? What player has propelled them from no-show to leader in the division? This is not a team loaded with stars. There are two players that have been particularly good though–and that made the All Star team. They are Brad Penny and Nomar Garciaparra, who each contributed yesterday in LA’s 6-0 victory. Nomar had two hits and two RBIs. He leads the team in batting average, homers, and RBIs among other things. Penny meanwhile, was in shutout form through seven inning to win his NL-leading 16th game. The 77-68 Dodgers are just 61-60 in games Penny has not recorded a decision. Both are valuable, but we’d take the player that started the All Star game and hasn’t looked back.