let's go mets.

theo

"Well, as mysteriously as it happened, the problem has seemingly been solved. I uninstalled NexDef, then clicked on some link on mlb.com regarding NexDef, and saw a link to the Autobahn service that runs it. Decided to click on it, and downloaded it manually, even though it said it was already installed. Clicked back on the 1.2M link, and got a pop-up blocker-type warning that said "intranet settings are now off…" so I clicked on it, and said "turn on intranet settings". This gave me a warning saying that these settings are less secure than internet settings. Clicked it anyway, and got the video to seemingly play on 1.2M. Crazy. I guess it was just a security issue (of course), but it was like an act of God that caused that task bar to popup, for whatever reason, and told me to turn on intranet settings."

Baseball would be in a much better place today if Bart had lived. He and Fay Vincent executed the Pete Rose deal, and were always very quick to deal with baseball related problems.

Bart was an interesting man, he loved literature as much as baseball – and I have lots of his quotes. I especially like this one – most real fans can relate to it.

I was at his funeral – I was working at Yale when he died, and he is buried in the Grove Street Cemetery in the midst of the campus.

He was truly beloved there.

I also wanted to see Manny Acta – I think he has real potential as a manager, and Nick Johnson in his first appearance since his leg had healed – he had the first hit and scored the first run in the new stadium.

About the President – I leave politics in the parking lot when it comes to sports. This President is a baseball man who really knows the game and it all started with his Grandfather who took him to the Polo Grounds to see the Giants when he was nine.

After last night's 'first pitch', he actually spent three innings in the booth talking to the guys about baseball, steroids, kids, etc. Did you know that he has T-ball games for area kids on the White House lawn during the summer?

My brother lives in the DC area and has been keeping me up-to-date on the building, so I was glad to get a look at it.

Anyone else watch the game—any comments?

Annie—that's a great quote. Don't you wonder where baseball would be right now if Giamatti hadn't died?

Let's Go Mets, even if I miss the game today.

the Phils by the way are keeping Meyers in the rotation despite his proterstations. He's a Heilmann in reverse. Flash Gordon will close while Lidge is out. So does that make you happy. Opposition talk. Not me. I'd rather have someone say they saw signs that Church is the great player you all told me he was gonna be. But you have to admit he hasn't showed signs of being even adequate as an everyday player yet, has he? Now, I'll hear its was spring training it doesn't matter, at the same time you al will be saying Maine is great because he had a great spring. I hope he does, but we'll see…..

I don't think Mets were ever that interested in bringing him back especially after his lasse fare comments after that last game.

Scoop – Is that true about Glavine's velocity at the end last year? If so you gotta wonder why the Met's would have wanted him back (I actually never felt comfortable with him from the first day as a Met) 'cause they would have signed him again. And you gotta wonder why the Braves signed him?

83 miles an hour?

Omar P, just trying to put a little perspective here in the conversation. It seems that some who post here don't have or at least don't post w/much perspective. They either say the sky is falling all the time or the sun always shines. I can see bad things happening or good.

I also don't see much perspective on Mets competition. There is hardly ever a post about how the other teams have got even bigger problems than the Mets especially from those who see the sky falling all the time about the Mets.

I don't think the Phils don't want pitching. They just don't have any outside of Hamels and Meyers. I agree that it is tough for anyone to picth in that dopey stadium, but you have to have some semblace of pitching and their 3-4-5 could be awful which in turn will wear out their BP.

It is true they beat the Mets last yr; partly caused by the injuries Mets had; the BP being worn out b/c Mota and Sele stunk; and partly b/c there was passion lacking while the Phils had it.

But even the greatest passion can't overcome talent most of the time. And the Phils pitching is lacking alot of talent. Let's hope Mets have passion of 06 in 08.

And Omar P, a couple of notes on Maine. I assume you did not see a couple of articles on his hip issues last yr. In one of the last spring games last yr, he hurt his hip. They could not figure out the issue and it resolved itself before the season began. Then in his last start before the AS break it started to bother him again and it bothered him for the rest of the season. This and the fact that he never threw so many inn would explain alot about his 2nd half. They thought at the end of the yr he might have a hernia or that he might have had some slight ligament damage, but nothing could be seen by MRI.

He claims that the hip does not bother him at all now. He worked to build up his body alot in the off season. Hoepfully 1 full yr of nearly 200 inn has built up his arm. Plus, his slider and changeup look much better this ST than last season.

As for OP, I did not see him pitch much this ST. It would not surprise me that it just takes him longer to get ready since his mechanics are always on the border of breaking down. I believe fell down on the mound in his last ST start-mechanics related? I'm sure his poor 2nd half showing last yr was also contributed to a lack of inn in 05 and 06. Just hope his unresolved contract does not distract him since he can be easily distracted.

Eithre one of these guys could go out and win 17-18. either one could win 12. If they do as last yr, 15 ea, then mets are in good shape.

"The Green Fields of the Mind "

It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.

Of course, there are those who learn after the first few times. They grow out of sports. And there are others who were born with the wisdom to know that nothing lasts. These are the truly tough among us, the ones who can live without illusion, or without even the hope of illusion. I am not that grown-up or up-to-date. I am a simpler creature, tied to more primitive patterns and cycles. I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.

From A Great and Glorious Game: Baseball Writings of A. Bartlett
Giamatti, © 1998 by A. Bartlett Giamatti.

Was listening to the radio and LoDuca made Minaya look smart. With Nick Johnson getting a rbi hit, no doubt the OBA loving Mets and Yankee fans will be drooling to get him back. If only he was a guy who could stay healthy.
Not sure why it's a one off with Washington but I shudder the day my mind starts working like Bud Selig.
Let's Go Mets!

And yes, they can lose a ton of games 10-8, 12-10, etc. The pen is no great shakes either.

The Braves rotation is overall much older than the Met's is. If Hudson is older than Santana, then the Braves have 4 guys older than anyone in the Mets rotation (until Duque comes back).

Actually, right now, the Mets are the only one of the "big 3" NL east teams without any 40 YO pitchers. And when Duques comes back, they still have less! Braves and Phils each have at least 2 pitchers over 40.

Mets might have the only position guy though (Alou) over the big 4-0.

Frankly, I would be more worried about the braves old pitching than the Mets old position guys (really just ALou, and Delgado). It is a lot easier to give a position guy some rest!