Run Run Run

"Teenage Mary said to Uncle Dave
I sold my soul, must be saved
Gonna take a walk down to Union Square
You never know who you're gonna find there
You gotta run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run..."

--Velvet Underground: Run Run Run


Sure, you expect it of a healthy top three in Reyes, Kaz Man and Beltran, but now Wandering Willie has the Mets more aggressive on the basepaths.

It rings rather ominous at times.

"We're going to run ourselves out of a lot of innings, but we're going to create a lot of innings because of what we do. There are going to be a lot of fans complaining about how we run the bases, but that same person who says we shouldn't have done that the next day will be saying, 'That's a hell of a play.'"

If you're planning on running yourself OUT of alot of innings before you even get started, you've got to wonder about careless aggression. Maybe once in awhile would be acceptable, but if all balances out between running yourself out of ALOT of innings and creating ALOT of innings because of the running, where is the pay off unless you are creating ALOT more than you are running yourself out of innings?

You might also question the logic of aggresive basepath running the team out of alot of innings when the Mets have built a roster that by definition, might be better served relying on Earl Weaver's old standby, the three-run home run. The Mets have a a batting order that has players from one to eight with the potential to hit at least 15 home runs this season and a heart of the order that features four players who have hit at least 30 in a season.

So why is Willie willing to run himself out of alot of innings when everywhere you look there is a bat that can transform a game?

*****

Wondering whether or not it's time to start the countdown in the Officially Worried About Zambrano calendar yet.

The Man Who Could Have Been Scott Kazmir WALKED five batters and allowed five hits in a mere 2 2/3 innings of work, surrendering five earned runs, including a two-run home run by J.D. Drew and making us all a little prematurely concerned about the fifth spot in the rotation. But not Victor. "I'm very confident and very strong," Zambrano said. "I'll be right there. I can guarantee that."

I realise that after ending last season too injured to pitch Victor's primary concern is his health, but if he's strong as a horse yet carries out this refusal to acknowledge the strikezone, a problem that kept him down in Tampa Bay as well, we aren't going to be forgetting about Scott Kazmir anytime soon.

Yes, early early, I remember. In two appearances, Zambrano is 1-1 with a 12.60 ERA. SEVEN WALKS and two strikeouts in five innings of work.

Kazmir has also pitched twice and hasn't allowed a run. On the other hand, he's walked four and struck out one in four and two thirds innings. Zambranoesque control.

So, no worries. Neither is an early darkhorse for the Cy Young Award.

*****

Joey Hamilton's career revival didn't last long. Four days after he was signed, Hamilton was released by the Mets for DWI.

Not only busted for drunk driving, but also for breaking curfew.

I suppose there should be a Darryl Strawberry punchline in here somewhere and I don't want to be a backseat drunk driver, but I can't help wonder what sort of motivational problems Hamilton has if uses his chance to pitch in the majors again to go out, get wasted, drive drunk and break the team's curfew only a few days after he gets there.

It wasn't that long ago Hamilton had three consecutive of double digit victory seasons with the Padres and had pitched in the World Series before shoulder injuries took him down.

From 1996-98, he went 40-29 albeit with an ERA that constantly hovered over 4.00. He pitched a scoreless inning in the 1998 World Series against the Yankees which the Padres were swept in.

In 1999 he underwent right shoulder surgery but by 2001, he was making over $7 million a year with Toronto.

How far the mighty have fallen.

Lance Davis, riding shotgun in Hamilton's car, was also cut.

*****

Happier news, if you consider this sort of thing either news or happy, is that the Mets will have bobblehead doll giveaways for Pedro, Carlos Beltran and Randolph this season.

The first 25,000 fans to enter Shea for the July 2 game against the Marlins will receive a Beltran bobblehead, courtesy of Nathan's. The Martinez doll, courtesy of Gold's Horseradish, is to be given away Aug. 7 against the Cubs. Randolph's likeness, provided by nycommute.org, will be the giveaway on Sept. 18 when the Mets played the Braves.

Ah yes, the new faces. What about the familiar faces? How about a Mike Cameron bobblehead that says one thing and means another then takes it all back after pouting for several weeks? Or a Mike Piazza bobblehead that won't bobble unless it gets to let every baserunner on first steal second? Or how about an Art Howe bobblehead that only bobbles after you throw it with great force against a brick wall?

Is the Pedro bobblehead going to come with that greasy Jeri-Curl head?

Will there be a Jose Reyes Hamstring Doll?

I hate bobblehead dolls. Especially when their eyes follow you around the room...

*****

Listen to these Mets promotions: Greek Night, Korean Night, Merengue Night, Italian Night, Pakistani Night, Irish Night, Hispanic Heritage Night, Jewish Heritage Day, Oktoberfest, and Polish Heritage Day.

I couldn't help but pause over Pakistani Night.

Are there more Pakistani Mets fans than Indian Mets fans, or Sri Lankan Mets fans?

According to one internet source, roughly a quarter of all South Asians (Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, etc.) livin in the tri-state area live in Queens.

So why not South Asian American Night rather than singling out the Pakistanis?

How can any of us sleep at night knowing there still isn't a Nepalese Night, an Afghani Night nor a Sir Lankan Night planned for Shea?

Effin ponderous, baby. Sure beats buying squares on the Jose Reyes Injury Pool.