The Most Competitive Balance Ever and the Random Song of the Day

It seems all these teams are pretty well matched, right? Every time you think one team is better than the other, the other team takes it to game 5. There are a lot of things right and wrong with the 2nd Wild Card, but maybe that crazy buffoon of a commissioner saw all this coming. Records don't matter as much anymore except for home field advantage, so might as well make every team feel if they take advantage of an opportunity, they can do anything. It makes for more fun. We seem to have entered a Competitive Golden Age in baseball, helped along by the 1-game Wild Card. While this time around, the experience won out in the Division Series, with the Yankees, the Tigers, the Giants and the Cardinals moving ahead. It didn't matter that the Redbirds were 7 games behind the Braves and wouldn't have made it by even a sliver without the 2nd Wild Card. We all knew they are as good as any team out there, including the New Age Nationals, who looked defeated by their inexperience in the end.

For teams like the Mets, we know they CAN be competitive. Talent is clearly an issue, but the bottom line is they need to execute. And they need to execute in the 2nd half, and when they have the chance to put the foot on the neck of the competition.


My freshman roommate, Ted, who is a big-time Phillies fan, texted me this morning:

Ted: The ALCS starts tonight? 
       
     Wow. 
       
     That's cruel.

Me: Yep. Crazy, right? But Yanks deserve to NOT work. I hope it's not 
    Cards Yanks...

Ted: I agree. Although, I must admit, I've disliked Yankee teams in the 
     past more than this team.
       
     Translation for some reason I don't totally hate this Yankee team
       
     I don't think they are as good and for some reason that's endearing
       
     Like PH for a-rod and winning because of it, benching arod and his 
     replacement gets a key RBI...Raul...and I finally realized how good 
     Jeter really is...

     I like these things...what's wrong with me

Me: Oh, I agree with all you just said, but that doesn't change the fact 
    I think that franchise needs to feel disappointment more

Ted: Agreed

Me: I think those fans should feel what the National fans felt last 
    night, you know.

Ted: Go tigers, I'm just saying if the yanks do win...it won't upset me 
     very much.

Me: You don't live in New York. "Tings ah back to noormool."

    If they win, they will say.

    With Competitive Balance the way it is, I don't think they should 
    come out on top this year, though if they do, they will probably 
    have earned it.

Here's the Random Song of the Day.

LET'S. GO. METS.

 

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Discussing the Vintage as the Modern Becomes Vintage as Well

It was just after Ruben Tejada pop flied to 1st in the top frame that the TV went off, and that was the last the clubhouse's collective conscious experienced of the Mets Reds game until the 6th. We were happy to be distracted, as we sat listening to a Q & A with the author of a Biography of the Greatest Manager the Mets have ever had: Gil Hodges. While we listened to Jay Goldberg and Danny Peary discuss The Hodges Affect on two generations of NY National League teams, his legacy got somethin' goin' against the Reds, with their fresh star pitcher on the mound shutting down the New Big Red. Oh yeah, and Art Shamsky was there, unannounced.

Baller.

I keep saying it and it bears repeating: If you haven't been to the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse run by Jay Goldberg, you are missing out on some sweet baseball fandom. On top of the awesome collection of specialty baseballs, baseball art and great little trinkets Jay has, every one of the events that I have traveled to has been mind blowing, including a fantastic book discussion of Campy and a baseball art exhibit for Left Field Cards. Do yourself a favor and go to their website up there, and get on these mailing lists for some awesome baseball discussions. I have not read tonight's book about Gil yet, but based on everything said about Mr. Hodges, I'm sure there will be some lessons for me to take that will make me better at what I do. For someone whose softball number is 14, I don't know nearly enough about the guy. I look forward to the read and I look forward to meeting you all back here after.

The discussion wrapped up in the top of the 6th inning, after listening to the writer interview Art (he's got a baseball clinic in September you guys should take a look at.) The TV was back on while we all stood around talking baseball, and a welcoming 4-0 lead greeted us. And then it grew bigger. And then it was the bottom of the 6th and I could see, based on the hit total and the pitch count, that our boy had been pitching fantastically. As the crowd dwindled down, a couple of us stayed till the end of The Show, where we shook our heads and laughed in disgust at the circus act that is the Mets Bullpen. They wrapped it up and I have the game recorded. I'm gonna go watch it till the 6th inning. I'd like to see what it is that I missed.

LET'S. GO. METS.

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In the Business of Losing Series

7 Games under .500. One game under the reverse watermark for the 2012 New York Mets, which was 8 games OVER .500 at the end of the day on June 3rd.

And, so, we march on...

LET'S. GO. METS.

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Playin' That LOB Chicken.

Usually in a back and forth LOB scoreless game like that, the better team will win. The better team will not always be the best team on any given night, but the better team will most likely be the best team by the end of a game like that. While a 0-3 loss, an interesting game, nonetheless. Props to all the pitchers who did their job under severe cardiac arrest. Both the Mets and the Reds popped the clutch as they sped off towards the cliff. Unfortunately, the Mets got their coat caught on the handle and fell to their death, while the Reds were able to roll out safely. Jot this one down in the right column. Prepare for another game.

And so, we march on.

LET'S. GO. METS.

 

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Facial Hair of Mets' Past and Present: Pat Zachry

Throughout human history, mankind has been fascinated by the hair growing on, around and above our chinny chin chin. For many of us, the fascination has carried over into our love of baseball. There has been a plethora of fantastic beards, 'staches, goatees and mutton chops since Rounders and Cricket evolved into America's grand ol' game. The Mets are no exception, having presented many styles over their 50 years. Born out of my own fascination is the first of an Exploration into the Facial Hair History of the New York Mets.

We will explore all eras of the Orange and Blue. The 70's and 80's will most-assuredly be well-represented.

There are 4 categories in which the awesomeness of the facial hair will be graded: Fullness, styling, length, and creepiness factor. Scores will be given between 1 and 10; "1" being "not awesome at all," "10" being "totally awesome." Creepiness factor will be graded between 0 and 10, with "0" being "not creepy at all" and "10" being "looks like a sex offender." The creepiness grade will be subtracted from the sum of fullness, length and styling. Grading "length" will not be based solely on how long the hair is, rather how the length works in making the beard awesome. "Styling" regards how well the facial hair is kept up. "Fullness" is pretty self-explanatory: the patchier the facial hair, the less points for fullness. The categories will all be graded by how well they compliment each other.  The highest grade facial hair can receive is 30 points.

We begin with arguably the best beard this franchise has had on the Flushing Field: Pat Zachry.

Pat was modest when it came to his facial hair in Cincy. It wasn't till he got to New York that his beard potential was fully realized.  

He began his Mets career as clean shaven as ever...

Then, it was onto the 'stache...

By 1978, his facial hair had grown to epic status. 

Zachry was one of the best pitchers for the Mets during a time when they averaged over 90 losses. Traded from the Reds as part of the Tom Seaver deal, Zachry compiled a 3.63 ERA, appearing in 135 games from 1977-1982, starting 113 and completing 20, 6 of which were shutouts. He won 41 and lost 46, averaging only 123 2/3 innings every year. Had he been healthier, The Metropolitans probably would have won a few more ball games.

"Well, I hope to learn how to control my temper, otherwise it will be a short career." 

--Pat Zachry, Mets Yearbook 1978

He injured his foot in his All-Star season after kicking a helmet on the dugout stairs. The Manager had just taken him out of a game and Pat was upset.


But we're not here to talk about his career. We're here to talk about his awesome beard.

Fullness: Pat Zachry's face has growing strands of hair not more than 1/100th of a millimeter between each other (it's a fact.) The beard clearly wraps around his face from ear to ear, extending all the way from his cheek to his neckline.  He certainly gets a 10 in this category.

Length: At the time of the photo on the right, Zachry must have been growing and maintaining the beard for quite some time. With how full the beard can get, the length only adds to the awesomeness. I raise a 10 card.

Styling: Hard to completely see how groomed the beard is.  If he, like me, can grow it on the upper cheekbone and on parts of his neck (it certainly appears that could be a possibility), then the beard is very well-trimmed. From what we can see, there doesn't appear to be uncut hairs sticking up over the general plane of the beard. He maintains the length very crisply. I'm going an all-out 10 on this one.

Creepiness factor: Too awesome to creep me out. Somebody certainly might disagree, but I subtract no points for creepiness.

Pat Zachry's beard very much deserves the honor of leading off the Mets' Facial Hair History Exploration. He is awarded 30 "awesomeness" points. I'll even go as far to say his beard is awesomeness incarnate.

Pat Zachry...

You and your beard were extremely worthy of wearing the Orange and Blue.

LET'S. GO. METS.

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More Scoring Opportunities Bite the Dust

The 2012 New York Mets couldn't put together any string of hits throughout this entire series, leading to a 1-3 loss and a clean sweep by the Reds (who have won 6 straight) on Keith Hernandez Bobblehead Day.

Another day, another 7 runners left on base. We never, at any point, felt in this series. No game was truly a dog fight. No game had any suspense. The Reds pretty much had control of every inning from the get-go, and the Mets never made it interesting. 

More and more, this team is taking shape. One day, they'll pulverize their opponent. The next day, they'll look like their '62 squad. One day, they'll match teams inning by inning. The next day, they're down early and can't get the big hit to crawl back. 

This team will keep us excited throughout the summer, and they will stay in the thick of it (thanks, in part, to weekends like this past one where every NL East team but the Braves and Marlins get swept [those two lost 2 of 3]). We know how good they can be, which is why series such as this one against the Reds are that much more frustrating.

What I liked about yesterday is that by the end of the day, the sweep was kind of forgotten for a moment as people gathered at the 92 Street Y for the ceremony announcing the All-Time Mets Team (if you haven't seen the lineup, click here.) I was reading some updates on twitter with some quotes from some of the speeches from the people who could be there to accept the honor. For an instance (and I believe this was the case for many fans who were either monitoring the event or were there) we all forgot about the trials and tribulations of the current Mets squad, remembering the great times behind us, daydreaming of the great times ahead and remembering every reason why we love this franchise. I look forward to the event broadcast this Thursday at 8:00PM on SNY.

This 2012 New York Mets already have a place in Metropolitan history. Only time will tell how huge that spot is.

Tonight (besides opening night for the 2012 Brooklyn Cyclones) the Mets and RA Dickey welcome in the Orioles and Jake Arrieta at 7:10PM. RA Dickey is another reason we're not all doom and gloom after a sweep like that. We are all extremely excited to see Dickey continue his dominance (I have no doubt that he will.) While I will be at Coney Island to watch prospects such as Brandon Nimmo, the New York Mets will clearly be in my heart (and my ear.)

LET'S. GO. METS.

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...And Those Baserunners are Stranded Still...

After digging themselves a 0-3 hole in the top of the 1st inning, the Mets could never get any rally going, stranding 7 runners throughout the course of the evening. The final score was 1-4, setting up a must-win Father's Day match-up to salvage the series.

This game was really lost in the 1st inning, when the first 2 batters reached on Jon Niese before we had even reached our seats. We stood in the standing room section of the 1st base field level looking forward to the Mets getting out of the jam. He struck out Joey Votto and got Brandon Phillips to fly out to center, and looked prime to extinguish the fire. He did not, however, have any command of his curveball and hung one to Jay Bruce, who crushed it to right field. We made our way to a sunny section in the upper deck, and it looked like the Mets might get right back in the game by stringing together some hits in the bottom half. Unfortunately, after David Wright's run-scoring double, the storyline of the entire night was written when David was stranded on 2nd. That run scored was the lone run of the night, as the Mets went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position and left runners in scoring position in 4 different innings. Every time they seemed to get something started with a couple hits or so to begin an inning, the next batters would have unproductive outs and the opportunities would be lost. Niese settled down and only gave up one more run all night, but it was too little too late. The Reds came into the weekend hot, and we have done little to cool them off.

It's time for Jon Niese to step it up. We've got him signed for another 5 years, and he has been mostly inconsistent: a great start here, a wobbly start there. It is time for him to string together a few starts where his body language looks as if he believes in himself. What a 3rd starter he will be when he finally shows some consistency. Whether it is the infamous gameplan or just better command, he has got to step it up. Come on, Jonathon.

Chris Young will head to the mound aiming to stop the Reds in their tracks and get another good streak started for the Mets. Johnny Cueto will head to the mound for the Reds. I am upstate for Father's Day and am sending a recon team out to Citi Field to collect a Keith bobblehead for me. I had planned to go to every bobblehead game but committed to going upstate before knowing the Keith Bobblehead was on Father's day. Oh well. The people heading out there for me are not Met fans so the last thing they'll want to do is keep a Mex bobblehead. 

After getting back on track with a sweep of the Rays, we must not let the Reds sweep us. We've got the Orioles on their way in, and just like us, everybody has kept waiting for the shoe to drop and it has not. They are a formidable opponent. Then, the Yanks (who are helping us out this weekend by beating the Nats twice) head into Citi Field as hot as they've been all year. This is an important week for the 2012 New York Mets. Keep those wheels on the vehicle.

LET'S. GO. METS.

 

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