Our thanks to BATS, the NEW YORK TIMES baseball blog, for their serendipitous timing with a brief piece on the muted trumpet that now is Rick Peterson. Peterson, the New York Mets’ pitching coach non pareil, could be found in previous seasons pontificating on any subject. Now all media requests to speak to Peterson must go through Mets PR. No other Mets coach has that restriction.
(’Wait… don’t cry! I’ve got four more minutes left!’)
Maybe they’re tired of cutesy sayings and limelight theft from their players, the true marketing potential of the Mets. Or, more likely, the reason for screening Peterson’s media calls involves another event Sunday: Scott Kazmir pitched for the first time since coming off the disabled list. Hint: it wasn’t for the Mets.
Just when we thought that that whole “Cubs are cursed” thing was a growing a little shopworn, Joe Smith, relief pitcher for the New York Mets, picks us up. “mycubseason2008″ recently posted a video (via HOME RUN DERBY) of Smith cursing Cubs fans in the Wrigley Field bleachers before the Cubs-Mets game on April 22. Good times!
A lot of the audio isn’t intelligible, but here’s what we could make out Smith saying. Read more…
We stole away Tuesday from our responsibilities as working adults to take in a game at Wrigley Field for the first time this season. As proof that we were away from our desk for a few hours, we have submitted receipts for sunscreen purchases and this photo of the celebration after Ronny Cedeño’s grand slam:
(Aww, grumpy Mets fans who spent too much for their home plate seats)
The Cubs’ 8-1 victory seemed pre-determined when Nelson Figueroa simply did not possess ‘it’ early on. However, after a long weekend of bullpen abuse and a similar beatdown by the Cubs Monday, Willie Randolph could only hold his hands over his eyes until Figueroa could get at least five innings of work complete before running out four more relievers.
While our main focus for the day was to ascertain the state of various stories covered recently in this space, we do have a couple quick notes: Read more…
New York’s Major League Baseball clubs are trying to adhere to a healthier lifestyle. The Yankees have junked the junk food from the clubhouse. And the Mets want to make Shea Stadium’s final season a smoke-free one.
(“PUT OUT THAT LIGHT!”)
Such news is a surprise to Atlanta manager Bobby Cox, as his Braves will be visiting the Mets this weekend. And the new stadium rules could affect one of Bobby’s favorite post-game rituals.
Enh. It’s close, but still way off. The Yankee/Red Sox brouhaha had a railing kill, making it closer to Space Mutiny than the Mets/Phillies fight. Although the Mets fan lying tummy first in a cocktail of blood and beer (Known In Philadelphia: The “Urbina Colada”) definitely gives this story traction if video ever surfaces. Read more…
There’s going to be naughty words and bad blood in this game because Philly’s feeling beaten down by injuries, haven’t been able to win in this series thus far, and still feel aggrieved by a bit of questionable officiating on April 11th:
(New York even has to get in on the safe-or-out craze)
So we’ll save the vitriol for game time and open with something far more festive: crazy obsessed people we now like.
This fellow, brought to us by BUGS AND CRANKS, has mastered all of the batting stances of the heroes of his youth, mostly Cardinals in our minds. Remember when you did that as a kid? Mimicked your heroes’ swing down to the smallest twitch? This guy never stopped. 35 years old, married with children: still breaking out the old impressions.
