Breaking Good

It would of course been better had we been able to take the series from the Pirates on our way into the break (and we could have, but there's always a lot we could have done, amiright?)

The good feeling can keep going, though, since we didn't get swept.

We didn't blow the game, Dillon Gee kept pitching well, Eric Young kept hitting, Marlon Byrd kept being The Word, Satin got another hit, Buck is Bucking Hitting again, and all the while two Mets prospects were starting the Futures Game at Citi Field (Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero.)

And Mike Piazza was elected into the Mets Hall of Fame.

And Hit a home run in the Celebrity All-Star Softball Game.

The City is all dressed in Orange and Blue, with many a Met fan walking around near my neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen, the Fan Fest at the Javits Center this weekend bringing them from all over. This All-Star Game, a gift to the Wilpons from Bud Selig, is great for the Mets brand, not only here in town but all over the country (and the World.)

There are still a lot of question marks, but it seems as if the bad feeling that has surrounded this team for a while now is slowly dissipating. Our pitching is some of the best in baseball, we have arguably the best 3rd baseman in the game, and though the outfield is still something to be desired and our star 1st baseman is still having a rough go at it, 2013 has brought a good feeling back to the National League side of New York.

It has become a cliché thing to say these last few days, but as our record stands at 41-50 (whereas it stood at 46-42 with a 3-game losing streak goin' on a year ago) maybe, just maybe, we'll have a reversal of fortune regarding the 2nd half. Am I saying we're going to make the playoffs? No. (my opinion is that Terry Collins, not talent, is what is keeping us from going on a real run. I obviously hope I'm wrong and would gladly welcome a run deep into October with Terry leading the charge, I just don't believe that's a scenario with him managing.....I guess Ya Gotta Believe, right?)

Regardless of my feelings on Terry Collins, I don't believe the success we've had recently is a fluke. I believe this team is capable of continuing to play winning baseball, and I look forward to what the 2nd half has in store after an Orange and Blue All-Star Week.

Enjoy the break and the festivities, everyone.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, and follow on Twitter here.

And So, There is No One

My main concern with this Hall of Fame vote was whether or not Mike Piazza was gonna get in. I have my problems with the idea of a "first-ballot" vs. a "not first-ballot" hall of famer, which, along with the steroid speculation I also have a problem with, combined to predictably keep our iconic catcher out for at least one more year. BUT, his vote total, 57.8%, is a very optimistic number regarding his long-term Hall chances.

Being a baseball fan, this entire ballot intrigued me and I am not surprised (except for the Biggio exclusion and Curt Shilling's low total) that no one got in. My stance on steroids requires a whole 'nother post, but all I can say regarding the statement made by the BBWAA is that I am looking very forward to seeing how the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum gets shaped over the next decade.

Though I will not be joining them this evening, Matt Musico and the Rising Apple Crew (this week consisting of Danny Abriano and Dan Haefeli) have got all the Mike Piazza Hall of Fame talk covered on tonight's Rising Apple Report podcast, which promptly begins at 6:30PM. They'll also be discussing the Wilpons' finances, which will, as always, be an ever-enthralling topic.

I will be on Taryn "The Coop" Cooper's A Gal for All Seasons podcast, however, with fellow Rising Apple writer Kevin Baez, tonight at 7:00PM. She covers many sports on this show, with an emphasis tonight on Hockey and the Mets, with the lockout over and the Hall results, respectively. It's a podcastic evening with the two shows back-to-back, so make sure you tune in!

This blog lately has been mainly Random Songs and pushing podcasts. That will continue, but I WILL be getting back to the cream of this blog's crop real soon. Coming up in the next week or so will be a few 2012 stories, capped with a video I've put together of a game from last year, so be sure to tune in for that.

For now, enjoy the podcasts and a Random Song, brought to you by the Big Bad Baseball Gypsy, who has been listening to ELO for 3 straight weeks.

MIKE. PIAZZA.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.

The Inaugural Podcast and the Random Song of the Day

If you unfortunately missed out on yesterday's first ever Rising Apple Report, the half-hour of Mets talk can be found right here. It went excellent.

Except the gem by me, "(Grady Sizemore) hasn't gotten his legs under his feet..."

Hmmm...

Anyway, we're working on getting the subscription service underway at iTunes, and we will let you know when that is available. The show will be at least a weekly spot.

Here's the Random Song of the Day.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.

Welcome to 2013.

Happy New Year everyone.

A lot coming up in this here year, and we kick it off tonight at 6:30. Matt Musico, myself and Will DeBoer are heading out on the internet airwaves for the inaugural Rising Apple Report Podcast. We'll be talking plenty of Mets at half after 6 sharp, including some Major League outfield options and Mike Piazza's Hall of Fame chances. So, be sure to tune in here then.

Much more coming up here at Converted Mets Fan as the freshness of the New Year wears off and we settle in to what this new time is like, but for now, enjoy a Random Song to pass the afternoon along.

And make sure to tune in at 6:30.

Thank you for your continued patronage.

And to those of you new to this site, welcome. 
Glad you could join us.

20. 13.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.