Yes, most every Mets game gets blacked out except the ones on CW11 and some on FOX (SNY is not carried on COX cable). However, I’m used to the radio, having had the transistor under my pillow tuned to the ballgames since I was eleven, recovering from eye surgery.

WFAN 660AM will be on 21 years this July – Suzyn Waldman was the first voice heard on the station and I remember it as though it were yesterday.

Eldest child of sports crazy father, I started playing golf at age 5. He was a volunteer for the Yale athletic dept. and Mom always sent me with him to the Bowl, the baseball field, the rink (Yale Whale) and the Payne Whitney basketball courts. Later in life, I went to work for Yale and one of my benefits was membership at the Yale Golf Course. Was at Yankee Stadium the day before my first son was born.

All time baseball hero: Sandy Koufax.

If a Met was crowding the plate hoping to get hit, not moving out of the way of inside pitches or eliminating the strike zone I would be pissed. That is no way to play the game.

Rollins got what he deserved with his injury… That’s what you get when you play around like an antagonistic fool.

Botton Line: Mets beat the Phils with a Fifth Starter named Mike Pelfrey who was criticized as not having what it takes to play with the big boys. Tonight He leade the team that beat them.

Roger: Thanks for the Binghamton recap. It’s nice to know Carp seems to be back on track. The Mets may need to patch together a first base solution in ‘09 after Delgado is gone and he could be part of the solution. Good news about Niese too.

Man, if he clicks this year and looks like a legit option for next year, it would really take a load off. Assuming they don’t sign a good FA (meaning Teix), you don’t want to gut the farm more trading for a mediocre option.

Maybe a RH 1B/OF type to go along with him so they can platoon? But, no need to get ahead of 2008. Although Neise could be a big addition later in the year.

For the big club, I like the line up much better. Willie should have the stones to put Luis in the 8 hole, at least until he proves he can still hit. Pagan can frankly do everything he does, runs faster, and actually can drive the ball.

No way for me to prove it, but I would bet that they would score more runs with Pagan 2 and Luis 8, than with Luis in the 2 hole.

Braves losing in Denver 9-5 to the Rockies.

Annie Do Met games get blacked out on ESPN in your area? Howie is OK… He was at Dream Week with me many many years ago. They set him up with the worst team on purpose and he broadcast at night. I think it was still WNBC but I’m not sure, maybe they had become the FAN by then.

Willie mentioned how Billie doesnt like coming in on blowouts. Remember how Willie would bring him in to give him work and he would give up 5 runs cause he didnt care? Glad Willie is doing what is necessary for his closer.

On Big Pelf – I thought his pitches were up the last 2 innings. Not good for a sinkerball pitcher.

The patience at the plate (walks) will pay off in the long run. Just seems that that extra day off and running into Hudson and Smoltz has most of the guys timing off. But walks are good. Most walks score (except tonite). And the more guys that are on base, the more likely the hitter will see fastballs. Mets are a fastball hitting team. Maybe that partially explains there troubles against Phils BP. Godon and Lidge are the only guys who throw hard. Mets have more trouble gets the soft tossers.

Pelfrey came out of the game either b/c the Phils started to time him (Utley 2b, Howard hard shot to 1b) or he was a little stiff (twisting his back off mound). Either way he was at 100 pitches in a rainy, cold nite. He looked alot more calm out there. I’d guess he knows that eldu is gonna be out for some time (if he ever comes back) and he does not have to look over his shoulder.

Glad to see some recognize that Phils have warts too. They have bad pitching despite how Mets hitters seem to be mezmorized by their BP.

I’ll feel uneasy about this team until more than one guy in the lineup has a multi-hit game.

Roger –
Thanks for the news about the B-Mets – particularly John Niese and Fernando Martinez. They looked good in Spring Training.

The Binghamton Mets beat Akron tonight by a final score of 6-to-3. BIG night for 1B prospect Mike Carp, who continued his torrid start with a two run homerun (OFF A LEFTY), an RBI double, and a single, as he finished the night 3-5. Carp is now batting .409 in 7 games with 3 homeruns and 8 RBI.

~Here’s the thing with Carp. Everyone (including myself) has been extremely hard on him. This was a guy who lit up St. Lucie in 2006, but really struggled in Binghamton in 2006. Some (like myself) forget that Carp is only 22 years old, and though he’s repeating AA, he’s still at the appropriate age for the level. I know he has problems hitting lefties, but he’s healthy, and that’s the most important thing.

Also having a big night, prized OF prospect Fernando Martinez, who also added a homerun and double of his own, as he attempts to get out of an early season slump.

~If you don’t know, Fernando Martinez has been batting lead-off for the B-Mets in an attempt to get him more AB’s. Up until tonight, Martinez had been struggling mightily, and even with his two hits tonight he’s still hitting under .200. But he’s a beast, he’ll get through it.

Closing the games for the B-Mets, none other then 2007 top draft pick Eddie Kunz, who threw 1.1 innings to record the save. The save was Kunz’s 3rd, and he’s yet to give up a run on the early season.

~I’m not sure he’ll be in AA for much longer.. He’s good, real good..

Not forgotten, left handed pitcher Jon Niese threw 6 innings of one run ball last night, as he allowed just 2 hits and struck out 5.

~That’s two great starts in a row to start the season for the BEST pitching prospect in the system. I’ve jumped aboard the Jon Niese bandwagon, and I’m not getting off. The kid has some nasty stuff, and it’s possible we’ll be seeing him in the majors later this season.