Archie Bunker's Army

You have to admit it. The Mets had you fooled for five wonderous innings, coasting along on a 4-0 lead looking every bit the part of the new NL East favourites whilst a guy they hadn't even imagined would make the Opening Day roster was tossing a no-hitter through 5 1/3 innings. In the back of your mind you weren't even entertaining it's too good to be true kind of thoughts. (Mets apologist Cliff Floyd, shown here not making a terrific catch to rob Guillen of a homer, was philosophical "A guy can throw 150 mph, and if he catches up to it, it can go a long way," Floyd said. "Billy didn't come here to be a savior. He came here to do a good job. He didn't lose none of my confidence." ) Well, he didn't lose mine, yet but hey, let's not push your luck. Even a shakey 6th inning and Nick Johnson's 3-run homer failed to shake that confidence much. Sure, Bannister was tiring quickly - it was his first start of the season and after all, h...

With an off day to recover from the hoopla of an exciting Opening Day victory, however tainted, attention turned to the Mets new number two starter, rookie Brian Bannister. Hard to believe that with this gajillion dollar payroll and Pedro Martinez on the roster, the Mets open the season with a (now redeemed) 40 year old starter and will have a rookie starting Game Two. Guess that's what happens when you trade two decent starters in return for two bullpen setup guys who don't even appear in the Opening Game of the season . Hard to imagine a quicker rise than Bannister's, from Spring Training hopeful to Game Two starter, all on the heels of an 0.95 ERA over 19 Spring Training innings, but in a hopeful season, Bannister is perhaps symbolic. You Decide : Does Bannister look like a young Morrissey? ***** Anyway, we'll get to see/listen/read about how he does tonight/2 am UK time as he faces Nats star starter in the making, John Patterson , who went 2-1 with a 2.01 ERA in fi...

"I'd rather be lucky than good." - Billy Wagner, following yesterday's Home Opener Victory to start the Mets a perfect 1-0. Is it lucky when an umpire, rotating from first to cover home plate blows a call that may have swung the balance of the game? Tim Tschida blew a potential game-turning call at home plate in the top of the 8th inning with the score still 3-2, when a Ryan Zimmerman lined shot to Cliff Floyd was relayed by Floyd to Jose Reyes who spun and threw to home to try and peg out the steaming Alfonso Soriano, who had come all the way from first, heading home with Paul Lo Duca blocking the plate: This shows Soriano saying he's safe at the plate but Tim Tschida, who could not see Lo Duca briefly lose the ball, trickling down his arm before he was able to hold it up for view, did not, calling Soriano out to preserve the Mets fragile 3-2 lead. Nice slight of hand. Luck? Lo Duca briefly dropping the ball, then smothered it and showing it to Tschida with hi...

So, after all these months of waiting the Mets will finally take the field this afternoon when it counts, Game One of the 2006 season against the Washington Nationals. The batting order, a source of debate for much of the off season and Spring Training, has been announced. Shortstop José Reyes will lead off, followed by catcher Paul Lo Duca, center fielder Carlos Beltran, first baseman Carlos Delgado, third baseman David Wright, left fielder Cliff Floyd, right fielder Xavier Nady, second baseman Anderson Hernandez and pitcher Tom Glavine. And it looks like Brian Bannister, who won the 5th spot in the rotation over bullpen delegate Aaron Heilman, will be starting faster than anyone imagined and will take the mound for the Mets in their second game of the season. Livian Hernandez, the Nats starting pitcher, is 10-10 with a 4.52 ERA against the Mets whilst Glavine's record and ERA in six Opening Day starts are 3-3 and 4.42. Glavine has beaten the Expos-Nationals more often than he has...

With Opening Day just a few ticks away in the auld Daylight Savings scheme, (noting that we in the UK have already set our clocks ahead last weekend and remain at the moment, six full hours ahead of EST,) we thought it might be useful to have a brief overview of how others are assessing the Mets chances this season... El Hombre, CBS Sportsline's baseball version of Andy Milonakis , is out with his preseason predictions with a special rant against the Mets : "It's bad enough that Yankees fans have been riding high for more than a decade. But what's worse than a stadium full of Dese and Dose types trying to have their insipid chants of "Let's Go Mets!" heard over the din of the 7:45 to Chicago gunning it out of LaGuardia? Only a 21st century Ben Affleck film festival, that's what." Ohhhh, you funny, Joe. But that's one vote for the Mets as NL wildcard. Baseball Perspectus has the Mets winning the NL East . "New York's winning percen...

"I'm certainly disappointed," Mets starter reliever Aaron Heilman, upon learning he'd been demoted moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen. (And the winner is...) The Mets made the rumour official yesterday, awarding the fifth starter in the rotation to Brian Bannister whilst Aaron Heilman was moved back to the bullpen despite his wishes, in order to strengthen what is bound to be an overworked bullpen. This again underscores the poor offseason decisions with regard to pitching, made by Omar. By all rights, Bannister should be seasoned at least half a season at Norfolk and Heilman should be starting rather than shoring up a questionable bullpen. The offseason moves clearly have not strengthened the bullpen sufficiently to avoid having to shuffle a legitimate starter into purgatory and having a glance at the starting rotation, one isn't necessarily overcome with goosebumps of excitement. But even though it looks bleak at the moment, I have confidence t...

"Anytime he pitches, it's St. Pedro's Day. It's a celebration." Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson showing a little too much leg. I wouldn't exhale just yet, but perhaps the heart palpitations will ease after months of wearying, anxious speculation now that Pedro's back in town, mowing 'em down with typical Pedro verve. Yeah, it's only March and yeah, it was only the Orioles, but in a first spring outing, retiring 8 of 10 batters in 3 shutout, shout-about innings during which he gave up only one hit. And of course, a few questions about the once-indominable toe answered in succinct fashion. Discomfort but not the pain of the second half of last season. Diligence pays off, foam gel pads and all. But what, that's not even the shocking part. The shocking part was the infamously inconsistent Victor Zambrano finishing the game for Pedro with six shutout innings, four hits, four strikeouts, two walks, no wild pitches and no hit batsmen. Or maybe ...

In the midst of waiting for the WFAN broadcast of the Mets-Astros game this morning, just before the game broadcast went on air there was a small snippet of the hazardously caustic talk show chimp, Russo Maddog in mid-rant, foaming at the mouth about Carlos Beltran bunting whilst batting third. I have a feeling this is some of the Spring Training warm ups for the Carlos Beltran Hate Club licking their lips with anticipation over the possible disappointment of Beltran, whose salary is usually highlighted in any criticism of Beltran unleashed in these sorts of backseat driver tirades. Is it true that Beltran has an incentive clause in his contract, an extra $50,000 if he reaches the 25 bunt benchmark in a season or is this merely emblematic of the situationalist, one-run-at-a-time hitting philosophy? "It's about winning," Beltran cautioned to his critics. "If I do that and we win, then I will continue to do that. If I do that and we don't win, then I'll chan...

Excellent reflections on the man, Davey Johnson . How's Seo doing since we traded him? Well, other than the WBC, he's having mixed outings with the Dodgers. "I didn't make enough of an adjustment facing big league hitters after facing the Asian hitters [in the WBC]," Seo noted about his WBC success on first pitch fastballs. "The Asian hitters are more patient. It takes away from their power, but they are better at making contact. The major league hitters are more aggressive." At least he isn't blaming the ball. ***** How's Mike looking in a Padres kit? You decide. Batting Tip 101 from Rickey Henderson: "Open your eyes when you swing, Mike." In Piazza says "At this stage of my career, coming back to Southern California should be beneficial for me in that I won't have to deal as much with the cold weather at the early and late parts of the season. Colder weather can make it difficult trying to keep loose and healthy over the ...

"Mercifully, whatever faint Opening Day optimism might have been allowed to germinate was quickly killed when Glavine gave up enough runs to lose within the first ten minutes of the game. Some people say he didn't sound, after the game, like a man making excuses so much as a man who knew exactly why and how he failed. So cheer up fans. Glavine isn't washed up. The reason he just looks like he is was because yesterday was cold and windy. He couldn't feel his fingers to feel his change up he says. So let's remember that when it's sunny and 90 degrees outside and Glavine is throwing no-hitters every afternoon." Ah yes, the self-referential quotes and memories of Tom Glavine's inaugural Opening Day start for the Mets in 2003. Actually, there shouldn't be much to fear this time around. Ideally of course, Pedro is 100% fit and starts Opening Day with a bang and this time around the closer doesn't blow it. But Tom Glavine isn't necessarily the ...

Oh, ironic twists. The two pitchers the Mets traded for at the 2004 deadline, Victor Zambrano and Kris Benson were facing each other yesterday when the Mets took on the Orioles in an exhibition game fraught with quasi-celebrities. First of all, it was the return of Rickey "Deal Me In" Henderson , acting this time, in the capacity as a "guest coach" for the Mets for the last 11 days of Spring Training, ostensibly, to turn Jose Reyes into a better version of the aulder man. Dr Goofy Shows His Poker Hand Apparently, Henderson will also have little pearls of wisdom to impart upon Mets main cog, Carlos Beltran as well. Beltran said of Henderson: "I'm waiting for the opportunity to work with him, both as a base stealer and as a center fielder. He probably has something unique about him that we don't have, and I want to see what it is." Something unique indeed. Poison to team character? Self-involved attitude? Teaching Mets how to refer to themselves ...

It isn't the regular season yet and already Larry has tears in his eyes. Omen of a season to come? ***** At least we know our new closer isn't afraid of the Braves. Billy Wagner earned the victory for the Mets last night in their 6-5 victory over the Braves. Jose Lima, yet again, shows he's one of the best three inning pitchers of the Spring. Now if only he could make it into that pesky fourth inning he might be useful for something other than Pedro's comic relief. The delicious battle continued for right field. Xavier Nady had two hits and Victor Diaz drove in the game-tying run in a two-run ninth inning with a sacrifice fly. And of course, if you thought that news was a relief, just think about how the Kaz Man Hate Club are feeling this morning knowing that Matsui can't even get the bit right about staying healthy so he can be traded... In the never ending soap opera that has been the battle for second base, Matsui will have an MRI exam on his knee today after ...

Now that the Puerto Ricans have lost to Cuba in the WBC and are hereinafter officially eliminated, we can finally look forward to having several Mets back in uniform, trying to look familiar, still sweaty with excitement and perhaps grey with disappointment over their WBC experience. Carlos Beltran hit a predictable .286 in the WBC and last night included an amazing 12 pitch duel with Cuban pitcher Yunieski Maya which ended in an RBI single. Carlos Delgado, making his appearance despite a cranky elbow, had a single in his lone at-bat keeping him perfect for the spring. Also making their returns will be Jose Valentin, who hit .238 in 5 games and Pedro Feliciano and Ivan Moldanado (who gave up two runs in an inning's work). As we know, Juan Padilla was tragically felled by a right elbow injury that will sideline him for the season. So, we've almost got a team... Endy Chavez, who hit only .167 but blasted a pair of homers for Venezuela, will also be back in an outfield contest t...

Looks like Uncle Dwight is back in the news again, arrested this time for allegedly failing his drug test. One of the conditions of his probation was regular drug tests and he was sent to the Hillsborough County Jail after he tested positive for cocaine. On Tuesday, he went to a regular meeting with a probation officer where he admitted to using cocaine,she did a drug screen, and he tested positive for cocaine. On Wednesday he was ordered held without bond and faces up to five years in prison for violating the terms of his probation. Baddabing, baddabang. Meanwhile, something Dwight and Darryl Strawberry might have in common other than using their nostrils as hoovers, is that Strawberry said he never used steroids during his playing career. "I've done a lot of things I shouldn't have, but I didn't do steroids," said Strawberry in this interview. "That's one thing I can't be accused of." Way to "draw the line", Darryl. ***** ...

Due to incessant coverage blogging over at Sports Amnesia , the Army has taken a knee with the Mets these last few days. But it does seem difficult to get excited about watching this season's Norfolk team parade around in Mets uniforms whilst the real Mets are mostly off injured, recovering, resting or playing in the WBC... (Happy times for Carlos Beltran in a Team Puerto Rico uniform...wonder if he'll be sliding head-first into first base for the Mets any time soon...) You've got to admit, the WBC, despite everyone's initial skepticism, is a wee bit more interesting at the moment than watching split squad games in Spring Training. Some developments on the homefront however: Despite three errors in seven games and a batting average hovering in the neighborhood of Mediocre and Embarassing, manager Willie has conceded that Kaz Matsui has the "upper hand" in the competition for the second baseman's job. The only hand? The hands of stone? C'mon. This ...

Well, we were looking more at possible knee, shoulder or hamstring malfunctions, not kidneys, but here we are, Cliffy's Kidneys on the Blink ? Yes, first Pedro's toe and now Cliff Floyd's Kidney to distract us. New York Mets left fielder Cliff Floyd is awaiting results of kidney tests after abnormalities were found in his urine. Floyd has a family history of kidney problems, which triggered concern among Mets doctors. Floyd’s father had kidney failure and needed a transplant. Hopefully, for his sake if not the Mets, tests will come through brilliantly but beware. ***** Meanwhile, Aaron Heilman started yesterday against the Astros, giving up one run on two hits in three innings of work.

Any truth to the rumours that the Mets are going to replace Shea pitching mound clay with 100 dollar bills and the flesh of virgins in an ongoing effort to appease Pedro's insatiably cranky big toe? I'm finding it somewhat implausible that with all the miracles of modern science and with all the efforts the Mets have gone to already to placate this toe which is threatening to undermine their entire season that they couldn't have come up with an easier solution during the off season or just chopped off Pedro's toe after they were mathematically eliminated from the NL East last season and replaced it with an artificial one that doesn't require more nurturing and attention than Mariah Carey. Or a bionic toe, or let Jose Lima donate his. I mean was this toe issue really so unsolvable over the offseason or did Pedro and the Mets all just rely on God's will and a special rubber foam to miraculously heal what is obviously a massive problem? Is this poor planning, stu...

Perhaps difficult to focus on the Mets 7-1 win over what in essence amounted to the Astros B Team yesterday with all the hoopla of the WBC raging it's every hormone around us. I suppose the biggest news was the Kaz Man's first two hits of the Spring to raise his average all the way up to a remarkable .143. Either that or Trachsel allowing four hits over three scoreless innings against what seemed a batting order less imposing than that of Team Australia. I mean, Brian Gordon, Hector Jimenez, Eric Bruntlett, Chris Burke, Mike Lamb, etc.? This was less than an intrasquad workout for Trachsel. Trachsel, proving he can throw out Little League batters...but what about the rest? I know that rightfully, Victor Diaz and X Nady are getting all the outfield battle press but Tike Redman is very quietly putting up numbers. Yesterday he drove in his 6th RBI of the Spring. Certainly food for thought. Not as a starter but as a backup outfielder once Cornelius Floyd goes down with a bum ...

With split squads, Puerto Rican Mets against Non-Puerto Rican Mets, and Mets playing three games in two days, the Mets finally won a game, this time led in part by the 40 year old man who will likely be their Opening Day starter, Tom Glavine , whilst they beat the Indians 6-3 after scoring three times in the sixth off reliever Kazuhito Tadano. Glavine gave up a run in three innings in his debut and Cliff Floyd slammed a homer. The tempo on my changeup is a little off right now because I was gung-ho being out there and trying to make pitches. I needed to relax a little bit," Glavine said. "When you're facing a team other than your own for the first time, your competitiveness gets going a little bit." Wonder how many NY tabloids will be writing Ground Control To Major Tom if Glavine ends up starting the season opener in place of Pedro... In another tantalising slice of news, Paul Lo Duca made his Spring Training debut for the Mets he was hitless but hit the ball h...

"He's ready when he's ready. I don't want to kill a braincell thinking about it " - Rick Peterson on pondering Pedro's Opening Day status...not unless you're smoking bong hits whilst you think about it Rick, you won't kill braincells thinking about it. So think away, without fear. Think having the 40 year old Tom Glavine as your likely Opening Day starter. Let Pedro come back as slow as his delicate little toe needs him to. Pedro's "Pitching Face" Is Enough to Scare Any Batter... ***** Had a chance to listen to Friday's game at Tradition Field against the St Louis Cardinals. Yusaku Iriki , another Japanese reclamation project and standing only 5'9, going against NL Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter. Iriki is battling for a spot in the rotation and impressed against a watered down Cardinal lineup with two shutout innings, six consecutive outs after a leadoff hit, two strikeouts. Carpenter was in midseason form, pitching three...