My Apologies to Mr. Kiner

This has easily been the longest I have ever gone without writing a Converted post since starting this blog. A lot (kinda) has gone on with the Mets since then, but I have hardly been checking it, just touching base on the podcast each week. Obviously, we have heard the two words "Stephen Drew" too much, without a resolution in sight.

The news, however, that I really should have chimed in on outside of just talking about him on podcasts is Mr. Ralph Kiner. One of my favorite parts of this Mets fandom I have adopted is the radio crew we have had over the years, and Ralph Kiner was certainly a gem. The thing that really sticks with me is what I heard Ralph say in person on Opening Day 2012. There at the podium, nearly 90 years old, Ralph, amongst other things, said, in that distinct voice we have come to know and love, and endearingly drawn out at his older age, "I am very happy to be here....but at my age, you're happy to be anywhere!"

Doesn't that just sum it up? We're all gonna die one day, and clearly the older are closer to it, though none of us know when it's arriving. Regardless of age, Ralph sums up the attitude we should all go through life with, even when death is blatantly a lot closer.

Though I will finally be revving up posting since we are coming up on games here, I'll leave you with this one-liner from the man who will be sorely missed:

"All of the Mets road wins against the Dodgers this year occurred at Dodger Stadium."

REST. IN. PEACE. RALPH.

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, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

Podcast & Today's Mets Legacy - The Franchise Returns

Tonight, Danny Abriano will join me for the latest edition of the Rising Apple Report. We will discuss the current state of the Mets starting pitching, as well as welcome Andres Salgado of Marlin Maniac to discuss his Miami baseball franchise going into 2013.

So, join us at 6:30PM EST for the latest edition of the Rising Apple Report!

Rising Apple Report, Ep. 13 - Starting Pitching's Falling Down & A Marlin Maniac

Today's Mets Legacy Video (and Yearbook) comes to us from the Opening Day postgame Kiner's Korner in 1983, with Tom Seaver in his first Mets start since 1977, and a winning Doug Sisk.

LET'S. GO. METS.

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

Pelf Gets Freesed

Yesterday, the Mets lost to the Cardinals 7-1, mostly a byproduct of more miserable Pelfrey pitching.

His stuff was very hittable, and both David Freese and Yadir Molina were able to tee off on him. I get that it's only his second outing, but it's hard not to think to yourself, "Here we go again..." He has never instilled confidence in me when he's on the mound, and I am ready to irrationally rant about getting rid of him. His fastball was treated to the batting practice special. His breaking pitches didn't break. He pitches a boring 90 mph...in fact, Adam Wainright's 87 mph has more pop and life than Pelf's 90 mph. He's boring, in every way possible. His pitching is tiring, I don't like hearing Pelfrey talk about baseball, I just not a fan. Seems like a nice enough guy, but I can't get over his boringness. Yeah, I know that's not a word, but he's so boring that I just invented a word for him.

Here are some other takeaways besides how boring Mike Pelfrey is:

• Beltran is a class act. The hostility towards him by certain Met fans, I believe, is unwarranted. Very weird seeing him in the Cardinal jersey, though, and with that #3. Who's got 15 on the Cards? Jim Edmonds isn't still playing right?.........Oh. Furcal.
• Daniel Murphy did a great job shortening his swing on an 0-2 count to stay with an inside off-speed pitch and hit one through the hole in the first inning. Murph played the full 9 innings, hitting everything like he does and showing us why he needs to get his knee out of the way at 2nd base.
• Bay is getting on top of pitches, leading to too many soft hits on the ground. He got lucky with a chop over the third baseman's head for a double in the middle of the game, but this still has to be corrected. Ralph brought this same point up when Bay hit the double. Speaking of Ralph...
• Ralph Kiner everybody!!! Always fantastic to hear him talk about the old days and compare and contrast them to our current days. He's still so sharp. In his first inning of work, Kiner had this to say about injuries: "In the old days...you didn't tell anybody you were hurt. You played. 'Cause if you didn't play...you would maybe never get back in the lineup."
• Speaking of injuries, even though every baseball team has them this time of year (or all the time, for that matter) because it's the Mets the number of injuries is magnified by the media. I can understand Terry Collin's frustration because, going back to what Kiner said, maybe these injuries are being babied a little bit. They are probably being extra-cautious for normal spring training aches and pains. And I have to say I agree with Keith when he says they are probably due to overdoing it in the off-season. Players used to actually take the off-season off from staying in shape, and use spring training to get into game-shape. But now, these athletes are in game-shape all year round, and that might be leading to more of these strains.
• Great double-play turned in the fourth by Josh Satin at 3rd and Ike Davis at 1st.
• Josh Satin has a big swing, but it's a nice one. It will be interesting to see how he does when he and his huge eyebrows inevitably gets some big league time.
• Lucas Duda has a great swing, and I am sad the Grand Slam against the Tigers the other day was not televised. But I'm sure I'll have plenty of chances to see him hit another one. Duda.
• Lucas Mayhem can certainly hit, he's just gotta clean it up behind the plate a little bit.
• Garrett Olson (lefty getting a chance because of the Byrdak injury) has a great beard. In fact, his beard is better than his control (ZING!!!) (no internet link of his current beard, and his beard was weak pre-Metropolitan)
• Glad I finally got to see Ramon Ramirez. His stuff is nasty. Great zip. Great movement, Got two quick outs before the Cards hit him around a little bit, but I am a big fan of the pick-up. Should prove a good one.
• Den Dekker can really run it down in center field. He's going to be a star if his bat comes around.
• Fantastic diving catch by Juan Lagares for the 3rd out in the 8th inning

Mets Yearbook 1978: A Certain Valentine, Bubble Gum Blowing Contests and Joe Torre

I was sick on Tuesday and decided to watch a certain something I had recorded; Mets Yearbook 1978 to be precise. I had seen a good amount of them and had been recording a good amount more on the DVR. They have all been fantastic, and wrap up, in essence, the awesome time had of any baseball season, win or lose. None more evident than Mets Yearbook 1978, the 17th Season of our New York Mets.

If some of you have not seen the Mets Yearbook series, please get on it. For me, somebody who did not live through the Life and Times of Flushing in 1978, the yearbook does a great job of endearing these characters they call the 1978 New York Mets to us. None more endearing than a character we have since known in another Mets era. That character is Bobby Valentine.

Now, this was Bobby's playing era. This is when Bobby grinned his teeth towards the Lady-Bubble-Gum-Blowing-Contest Judges to get extra credit for blowing the biggest bubble. Decked out in the Snow White-pinstriped pullovers, Bobby readies with such concentration, entrancing the crowd to see how far that bubble can blow. He has been assured his "bubble gum was not going to be tampered with by the measuring stick." Ed Kranepool can't keep up.  

“I think I’m looking forward to next year’s contest. I’m gonna practice all winter, if my teeth can hold out, I’ll be there,' Kranepool says.

"It never occurred to Eddie to work the lady judges the way Bobby did." As Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing put it.

Bobby Valentine batted .269, with .346 OBP, and 18 RBI in 160 at bats.

And the Mets went 66-96.

(But that's the thing, it still looked like so much fun. Much more fun than that horrendous 2009 season. I can't think of anything endearing about that one, outside of Omiracle and...nah, nothing else. Losing seasons can be endearing, and yes, we clearly want less of them. But don't be miserable folks. Have fun. It's baseball.)

Outside of the Bubble Gum eating contests, you have many things to look forward to. Don't want to spoil too much, but you got Banner NIGHT, Happy Days Vs Wives Softball game, Pete Rose breaking a National League Consecutive Hits Record, and Old Timers Day, with Ralph Kiner arriving in his Pirates Uniform via Hot Air Balloon (The way the Mets did Old Timers Day looks awesome and they should bring that back, let this generation get Kiner in a Hot Air Balloon!!) Oh, yeah, and Joe Torre manages and he's miked up. And the second best infield in the league. And John Stearns, speed demon. And the San Diego Chicken!!! And Willie Montanez's Home Run Trot! Guys, come on!! Go DVR it!!!! Go!!! Cause then after that you're gonna have to watch Mets Yearbook 1979:

“We're very Optimistic, B-bob. I hope that everyone who is seeing this movie will come out to Shea Stadium in 1979. I just know it’s going to be a great year, and we’re gonna win a lot of games, and you’re going to have a lot of fun.” --Lorinda de Roulet, COO of the 1979 New York Mets

Man, I can't wait to watch Mets Yearbook 1979. I wonder what's gonna happen...

Thanks for reading! Converted Mets Fan is now on Twitter. Follow me @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.