May 20
Hat Tip to HotFoot for the link to this Great Met Fan Joe Petruccio’s Blog. The only other artist I’ve seen capture the feel of the day to day of the Mets this well is the Legendary Sports Cartoonist Bill Gallo of the NY Daily News.
Here is a look at Petruccio’s latest sketch.
Touched by an Angel! (but still lose)
MLBTradeRumors
The Sunday Question { Wright, Harvey, Niese, Parnell for... } – May 19, 9:18 AMThe Sunday Question { Hefner over Parnell? Wow. } – May 19, 9:16 AM
The Sunday Question { I'm assuming you mean that... } – May 19, 9:15 AM
The Sunday Question { I'd keep David Wright, Matt... } – May 19, 9:10 AM
Ike Davis Says He Probably Has "A... { I guess we have about... } – May 19, 9:07 AM
79 comments
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
Excellent cartoon.
I think this is where I make my usual “I was never touched by an angel but I was touched by an uncle once” joke that I heard years ago on one of those HBO young comedian specials. Hopefully it’s just as uncomfortably funny as ever!
Mr North Jersey
5/20/2010-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
metsfan4decades
5/20/2010-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
I saw this gentleman’s daily rendition the other day with Jerry. It was quite amusing. Very talented. Someone on that site asked him for an email address because they wanted to hire him for some work. He’s making quite a name for himself.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder if it was Jeff Wilpon offering him a job…
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
No scratch that.. it’s probably Willie
metsfan4decades
5/20/2010-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
LOL – actually, it was a very clever pic of Jerry with his own head up his butt….
metsfan4decades
5/20/2010-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
If you click the link for his blog in this post you’ll see this week’s pictures.
udontmesswthejohan
5/20/2010-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
Great stuff. Wish he had happier material to work with.
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Ceetar, I just want to commend you on how calm you were a few minutes ago while Mike Francesa yelled at you on the phone.
Mr North Jersey
5/20/2010-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
lol
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
he was on the call?
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know, I’m just teasing him because a caller on Mike’s show’s point was “how can you bunt the runner over from 2nd to 3rd bringing David Wright to the plate when David Wright strikes out so much” from the game the other day, which I know Ceetar felt strongly should not occur.
Mike then proceeded to blow a gasket, yelling and finally literally slapping his forehead and cutting off the call, saying softly “I can’t do it, I can’t argue about the proper way to play baseball. If you as a Met fan don’t want David Wright up with a runner on 3rd and 1 out then you don’t want David Wright on your team because what are you going to do with him if you don’t want him in the position to drive in runs for your team?” That’s not an exact quote but I think it sums up how Mike ultimately ended the call, after lots of yelling.
The caller though was really calm and respectful, just trying to ask about other options and to make his point that the team could have gone about that moment another way.
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve never called a radio station, despite being tempted to chime in.
I don’t think I’d ever call Francesa though, why argue with a brick wall?
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
You’re probably too young to remember him but many years ago I called up Art Rust Jr. when he was doing sports talk at night on WABC. To give you an idea of when this was my question to him was “do you think that the Twins rookies Gary Gaetti and Kent Hrbek will be able to keep up their good performance?”
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
before my time I suppose. at least listening. I don’t know who any of ‘em are
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, those guys were rookies in 1982. They were slugging corner infielders who came up together with the Twins, Gaetti played for 20 years and Hrbek played 14 all in Minnesota and is in their team HOF.
gategem
5/20/2010-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
Art Rust Jr. was in love with old timer Marty Marion. A friend of mine called Rust’s show claiming to be some fictitious ballplayer that played with Marion at Rochester in 1937. My friend claimed that Marion impregnated some of the local females and at the end of the season Marion left town fearing for his life. The entire concocted story stunned Rust who was lost for words.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
I like listening to Joe and Evan. Evan especially gets into all the technical stuff and nitty gritty stuff we talk about here.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
Just finished listening to Prokorov (or however you spell his name) from yesterday. He sounds like very interesting character.
It would be sweet if he bought the Mets.
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, Tommy Hanson just threw about 50 pitches to 11 batters in the 2nd inning, giving up 8 runs. He’s out after 1 2/3.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
He sucks!! Mets should be nice enough to take him off the Bravo’s hand. Perhaps we can send Ollie the Great in return.
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
nah, Ollie needs to go to Milwaukee. We’ll take gallardo (sp?)
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
Actually, if the Brewers are wise, they might buy into the Ollie-Peterson angle (which there is a lot of evidence for) and see if they can ‘steal’ Perez from the Mets.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
I think we can ship off Maine along with Ollie. And couple Speedos as well…
For Gallardo? That would be crazy…
Which route do you take to get to Milwaukee? rt 80 is it? I think I have enough room in my trunk for Maine’s golf clubs and Ollie’s walks…
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
Never made it quite as far as Milwaukee, but I think it depends on which route you take. 80 and 90 converge in Ohio, so you take those west, butI think you ahve to turn north after you pass Chicago. (As logn as we’re going near the White Sox..can we return Manuel?)
metsfan4decades
5/20/2010-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
After just needing 10 pitches to get out of the 1st inning.
Where have we just recently seen this?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
like ever f-in outing for the Mets SP… well except for Pelf and Johan…
metsfan4decades
5/20/2010-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
Even worse is he had one man on first with 2 outs in the second inning before one run scored. 8 runs scored with 2 outs. One on a grand slam, of course.
I understand it’s the Red 3rd GS this year. Dang, never mind a GS, which the Mets don’t have, I believe we only have one 3 run HR this year….
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
Reds are pretty good this year. And they still have Chapman in the minors. They are a definite contender this season.
trs86
5/20/2010-2:11pm at 2:11 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting link on MB:
http://jerrylorenzo.blogspot.com/2010/05/we-are-with-you-pops.html
prismo
5/20/2010-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t get it?
You would expect his son to be behind him, but it doesn’t change anything.
He’s still a sub-par manager and should be fired. He’ll make more money in this three year period than I’ll probably make in my entire life, even if he’s fire half-way through the contract. I just can’t feel bad for him, no way, no how.
I won’t bring up the religious subtext, because I don’t believe it to be a part of Real Dirty.
trs86
5/20/2010-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
Hey I am just providing the link. I do find it interesting to get a family members perspective on these things.
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
I enjoyed touring through his blog roll. The “Matt Kemp” link produced some interesting videos. Very entertaining one called “The Adventures of Lil’ Matt” featuring Snoop Dog.
stickguy
5/20/2010-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
oops. I did.
And for those claiming the Mets (OK, the wilpons) are too “cheap” to fire him Jerry only makes about 750K this year, so has what, 500K left for the year? I really doubt that is enough to keep the team from making a much needed move.
trs86
5/20/2010-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
Nope.
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
Actually, I’ve gotten emails from this guy early last year when I was killing Manuel. I sorta kinda assumed it was a schtick, not really believing it was his son or anything.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
Good for Jerry that he has a son that supports him like that. And from what it sounds like Jerry’s a good man. But the wins don’t come from being a good man. Otherwise, I would be the best manager in the world.
stickguy
5/20/2010-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
I am sure Art Howe was a sweet guy too. along with many other nice men to have managed the Mets unsuccessfully.
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
Cora batting second..Pagan 6th. Might want to have Pagan 2nd you think..?
trs86
5/20/2010-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
Sometimes I wonder if Jerry sees 2 on the lineup card and thinks that means 2B.
But looking at the lineup as much as I hate Cora batting 2nd I can deal with Pagan coming after Wright.
stickguy
5/20/2010-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
Haven’t seen the rest, but I thought wrigth was going into the 3 hole, and bay 5?
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
Pagan’s just doing well, and I don’t feel he should be all the way down at 6th. and Cora should be 8th or 7th..
stickguy
5/20/2010-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
it just never changes.
I posted earlier what IMO is about the best option left. In my mind, which of course, is the only thing that matters. To me. Can’t you see. Your everything I …
OOps, got sidetracked there.
anyway, go with:
reyes/pagan/wright/davis/bay/barajas-carter/frenchy-barajas/2B/
I got carter and Frenchy platooning. carter hits 6th, francouer 7th, with barajas flipping back/forth depending on who is starting. And just leave the 2B spot in the 8 hole, regardless of who it is.
If beltran ever comes back, we can figure otu what to do with him, but possibly same line up he hits 2 (pagan on bench, or hitting 6th in RF).
stickguy
5/20/2010-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm. after finding this link, the question about why Jerry isn’t being fired has been answered. Omar didn’t hire him. The Big Guy did. And I really doubt that he is a Met fan these days.
http://jerrylorenzo.blogspot.com/2010/05/we-are-with-you-pops.html
trs86
5/20/2010-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
One step ahead of you buddy. ^
trs86
5/20/2010-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t have any problem with Jerry thanking god for his position but he would also have to thank him for his removal.
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
… One thing about Pops is that he a thinker and sees the
game from a different perspective, which is a gift that most of us don’t have
and which is why he’s In the position he’s in…
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
Hot Miranda Kerr pics… lucky dude Orlando… damn…
ceetar
5/20/2010-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
I followed the guy on Twitter. let’s see how that goes.
metsfan4decades
5/20/2010-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
I remember those days well – when God was a Met fan….
stickguy
5/20/2010-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
interesting post a metzmerized today. Pretty much sums up my feelings about what is “wrong” with Wright.
Now, what to do about fixing it is another story, but a new HC and manager with the right attitude would be a start! Oh, and bay and Davis starting to crank some HRS after Wright gets himself on base would probably help too.
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2010/05/let-david-be-david.html
Mr North Jersey
5/20/2010-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
What is wrong with Wright? It has overtaken what is the meaning of life as the #1 question in NY.
I swear I think all that can be said as a possible reason for Wright’s troubles has been said.
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
You are really daring someone to write a “David Wright has Crohn’s disease” article.
For the record I have no knowledge that David Wright actually has Crohn’s disease. Just putting forth an as yet unsaid possibility.
Mr North Jersey
5/20/2010-3:45pm at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
I can see it now tomorrow we will have a post counting down every thing ever suggested that is wrong with Wright so far this year that has been said on a blog.
Stop The Insanity!!!
stickguy
5/20/2010-4:00pm at 4:00 pm (UTC -4)
well, we gotta talk about something! ESPN has cornered the market on Lebron and Tiger’s hoochie mamas.
That leaves us with Fire jerry (done to death), FIRE HOJO (copywrighted by MF4D now), and what’s wrong with DW?
unless you want to go back to phantom trades, pick your favorite lineup, or “is Omar still alive?”
Actually, I will be perfectly happy to run up 200 posts on “exactly how putrid are Frenchy and SLappy right now”!
GravediggerHebner
5/20/2010-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
DirecTV finally put WGN on in HD, hooray! Cubs-Phillies 4-4 in the 8th, 2 outs, Utley on 2nd, Rollins on 1st.
prismo
5/20/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
After studying tonight’s lineup further, I realized that Jerry has rested Pagan, then Bay, then Wright, then Castillo in four consecutive games.
Does this guy LIKE playing without a full deck?
stickguy
5/20/2010-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
what a straight line. I don’t think he ever play’s with a full deck!
I also don’t consider sitting Castillo to be really downgrading.
prismo
5/20/2010-3:43pm at 3:43 pm (UTC -4)
Actually…you’re right.
Alex Cora’s OPS is .639
Luis Castillo’s is… .640!
Castillo by a hair.
ceetar
5/20/2010-3:45pm at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
small sample size, Castillo’s OPS isn’t necessarily the best stat to eval. But he’s not having a great year so far, but it’s still a downgrade.
prismo
5/20/2010-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
Funny how Castillo’s gotten a complete pass so far this year.
Even I didn’t realize how poorly he was hitting. I mean, with his low low low slugging, you know his OPS isn’t going to be great, but usually it’s still up over .700. With Wright striking out, Jose having issues, Frenchy and Bay being terrible and the pitching staff…you barely hear a word about Castillo.
stickguy
5/20/2010-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
I am still carrying the banner.
With Stickguy alive, you will never forge tthat Slappy = suckitude.
That is why I keep saying they should try, if possible, to upgrade in RF and 2B too (besides just pitching). very weak positions for the Mets.
stickguy
5/20/2010-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
and I think they both might be ahead of Frenchy too, but not sure if he has gotten quite that bad. Even with his OPS in May someplace in the .300s
ceetar
5/20/2010-4:00pm at 4:00 pm (UTC -4)
Castillo really does need to draw a couple more walks. I wonder if he feels like he needs to become and RBI guy since no one else is bothering? I’m not really worried about him though, figure he’ll step it up.
stickguy
5/20/2010-4:04pm at 4:04 pm (UTC -4)
this is what I was afraid would happen. He would lose that little bit extra, and become a 0 trick pony.
One his OBP trends down into the .340-.350 range, given his alarming sub-.300ish slugging, he has to be way into the -war territory.
ceetar
5/20/2010-4:08pm at 4:08 pm (UTC -4)
Actually, His advanced numbers are pretty okay. His babip is way down, which supposedly suggests luck. He’s had less doubles than usual (but a couple more triples) so he’s not far off in XBH. His walks are at least at career levels and his Ks are down. on pace for the same amount of sacrifices and SB.
So it’s either luck, or he’s not quite getting good swings on the balls. But he’s actually putting the ball in play a lot more often than usual, since he’s not King as much. I suspect sooner or later he’ll revert to career numbers and raise the AVG a bit as more hits drop in and find holes.
stickguy
5/20/2010-4:13pm at 4:13 pm (UTC -4)
I have no idea how it impacts him, but I have to think that Luis is an outlier on BABIP, given all the weak infield GBs he hits, and how shallow the OF plays. Just can’t see it working the same as a “normal” hitter.
Maybe someone like adam Dunn is an outlier too, at the opposite extreme!
ceetar
5/20/2010-4:19pm at 4:19 pm (UTC -4)
Castillo is a career .331 BABIP guy. (beats out a lot of infield hits I guess). so he’s actually .60 points below his average. His LD% is down a bit, which does suggest he’s just not getting good swings on the ball. But he’s still walking a bunch, and the hitting is probably just a slump, much like everything else. As I said before, he’s actually seeing the ball better, but swinging more, as he’s on-pace for a high amount of walks, but low Ks, so it seems like he’s taking hacks when maybe he shouldn’t, not risking the 3-2 K like he normally would. Looks like he’s on pace for a bunch less pitches seen too. So pressing a bit maybe.
But hey, I’m sure you could read those numbers a different way if you like, Sabermetrics pretty much gives you teh ability to say anything and justify it.
stickguy
5/20/2010-4:10pm at 4:10 pm (UTC -4)
and he better start stepping up soon.
For as awful as his 2008 season was?
Right now, he is doing worse. his OBP and SLG are both below those terrible numbers.
And I really don’t see signs tht he is about to start noticably pick it up.
I am not a stat head, but even I know that an OPS+ of 74 is really, really bad.
I actually checked, and Frenchy is still slightly in the lead with a .669 OPS and 77 OPS+. But barely ahead, but even more horrinle, sonsidering th epositins they play
ceetar
5/20/2010-4:21pm at 4:21 pm (UTC -4)
Dunn’s career BABIP is .291 btw. Suggests he doesn’t get a lot of ‘lucky’ hits. which actually makes sense, especially with the shift. When he puts it in play and it’s not out, chances are it’s in the shift, or he’s thrown out because he’s slow.
stickguy
5/20/2010-4:02pm at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
I thought wright was supposed to be going back to the 3 hole, with Bay in the 5 hole?
Frankly, it makes a ton more sense.
Not that either guy is “right” at the momnet, but normally, wright is much more of a 3 hole guy and bay profiles much better in the 5 hole.
That, and the 2B hitting 2, still seems to allude Jerry.
How hard is it really to come up with this lineup and stick with it?
reyes/pagan/wright/davis/bay/barajas-carter/frenchy-barajas/2B
ceetar
5/20/2010-4:09pm at 4:09 pm (UTC -4)
Today I’d do Pagan, Reyes, Wright, Davis, Bay, Frenchy, Cora, Barajas
koose
5/20/2010-4:12pm at 4:12 pm (UTC -4)
Off topic braves down 9 – 3 in the 9th come back and win 10 – 9 now that’s fighting back
stickguy
5/20/2010-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
I hate the braves too. But not as much as the Phils.
At least the Nats are good!
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/20/2010-5:29pm at 5:29 pm (UTC -4)
Damn… that sucks for the Reds. Wow 7 runs in the bottom 9th. Just saw the replay on mlb.com and Brandon Phillips looked like “how the f— do you blow a 6 run lead on the bottom 9th?”
crazy…
tkfj2
5/20/2010-4:38pm at 4:38 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry lies. Wright isnt hitting 3rd tonight, no surprise though.
Oh well.
Mr North Jersey
5/20/2010-5:20pm at 5:20 pm (UTC -4)
OFF TOPIC: I am listening to Francesa and he is talking about hitting coaches and people blaming hitting coaches and I swear it is just scary. I think he is in my head.
stickguy
5/20/2010-5:28pm at 5:28 pm (UTC -4)
seek immediate medical attention if it lasts more than 4 hours.
Mr North Jersey
5/20/2010-5:29pm at 5:29 pm (UTC -4)
lmao