The Daily Papers 8/15/07

[LoveEmHateEm]

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= The Daily Papers =
A Five-Star Mets Almanac * * * * * At Your PC's 'Front Door'
=== Let's go Mets! ===
2006 National League East Division Champions
#345 -- Wednesday, August 15, 2007

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Click here to view Mets Photo Album -- updated daily!
(Courtesy: Sports.Yahoo.com)

Ya gotta love them late inning
comeback wins ... sometimes

As El Duque continued the trend of Mets starters that appeared to lack that special something, the Mets late inning come-from-behind hit parade trend continued. That type of trend is always welcome when there's a W attached to it, even tho the Mets spoiled their fans last year with first inning treats (in '06, the first inning was the one most frequently scored in). The only downside of a comeback win is when your division rivals also do it. Three late-inning come-from-behind wins (count 'em, THREE!) in one night!--holy cow!--The Mets, Phils and Braves all came from behind to win their respective games on Tuesday nite! But that's two too many as far as I'm concerned. Final: Mets 5, Bucs 4.
--LoveEmHateEm, 8/14

- Mets victorious in opener - Mets.com
- Mets rally past pesky Pirates - DailyNews.com
- Thank you Mets! - BrooklynMetFan.com

Wednesday's game: Mets at Pittsburgh 7:05pm ET, Maine vs Morris

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IN MEMORY OF PHIL RIZZUTO - 1917-2007

Before we went nuts over the Mets in our neighborhood in 1962, in the late 50's and early 60's there were the Yankees. And we all would imitate Maris's tough guy stance by rolling up our T-shirt sleeves "tree quarters of the way up" and shove about 1/2 lb. of Bazooka bubble gum into one cheek. But we also imitated the TV and radio voices of the Yankees: Mel Allen, Red Barber and Phil Rizzuto. I remember that to do a good "Rizzuto" impersonation, ya had to hold your nose. When my hero Roger Maris hit his 61st homer, my Dad and I were watching WPIX Channel 11 and as the 'dynamic and exciting' Red Barber was doing the play by play, he only uttered two or three words as number 61 cleared the right field fence...something like: "Well, you saw it" ... and that was it! That was ALL that Red said (old miserable bastad was probably all pissed off because my man Roger buried that pal of his Babe Ruth's record once and for all). After his lackadaisical call, My Dad turned and looked over at me and said, "Now what the hell was that supposed to be? Damnit, I wish Rizzuto was doin' the announcin'!" He was right. Red did suck. But more than that: Rizzuto was great. And the only soundbyte of Maris's record-breaking 61st homer that you will hear to this day is from Rizzuto's radio call, his best ever by the way: "Fast ball hit DEEP TO RIGHT THIS COULD BE IT! WAY BACK THERE...HOLY COW HE DID IT!!! 61 FOR MARIS!!!" Rizzuto was splendid at the mic. He was also an AL MVP and a championship Yankee shortstop; he was on seven World Championship teams! Click here for more on Phil "The Scooter" Rizzuto including loads of soundbytes and video clips from his career. Click here for more about Phil from JamesCampion.com.
God Bless ya, Phil. Rest in Peace, guy.
Hall of Famer Phil Rizzuto was 89.
--LeHe, 8/14/2007

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NO GAME PLAYED AUGUST 13, 2007

Bucs at home should be
a breeze for Mets

Are your fingers crossed like mine in the hopes that Milledge is inserted into the lineup? It makes sense, right? Anyway, back to the reason for the presumptive winning mindset I have as the Mets visit the Pirates for three night games starting tonite. Having read Marty Noble's article about the Bucs series, It seems to me that this is THE perfect storm as the Bucs have the lousiest record at home while the Mets flourish on the road with an NL best 33-25.

And who could ask for a better starting pitcher than El Duque who currently is the Mets hottest arm. Let not his 7 wins fool ya, this guy has lately been delivering the pies and leaving 'em out to cool on the window sill (I don't know exactly what that means but it sure sounds good). The Mets won eight of the last nine games El Duque has started. Add to that the fact that Scott Schoeneweis is lights out on the road -- for some reason (as opposed to his million and one ERA at Shea) -- and the Mets just might be at the start of something really good.

I say the Mets sweep the Pirates into the gutter and then dismantle the Nationals who are on deck. Our Mets may be behind last year's pace by a few games, but there's no sense in chasing a dead ghost that didn't make it past the 2nd round, right? I picture the 2007 Mets rising to the occasion and finishing up at LEAST 8 games better than their nearest division title wannabe (take your pick which of the two I speak). Either way, they both deserve eating Met dust.
--LoveEmHateEm, 8/14

- Mets travel to Keystone State - Mets.com
- Pudge and Posada on Mets radar for 2008? - DailyNews.com
- Mets continue search for relief help - NorthJersey,com
- Pirates welcome Mets to PNC Park - MLB.com
- Trade Grades - FoxSports.com
- Bad karma at Shea - NYPost.com
- Feds suing Straw for back taxes - DailyNews.com
- Weather forecast for tonite's game - Wunderground.com
- Wake up Willie! - BMF.com

Tonite's game: Mets at Pittsburgh, 7:05pm ET, El Duque vs Snell

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 12, 2007:

Mets win 10-4; deny Fish sweep
Now how about gettin' off their backs!

Of all the ways to end a mini-slump, this was it. Of all the innings in this game to enjoy the most, the bottom of the 8th was it. The Mets sent 9 men to the plate and it was this 5-run 8th-inning cavalcade that made my day, weekend, and week. And by the way, the bullpen was stellar. A game like this can also unfortunately serve those uber-impatient Met fans who seem to find fault in every move the Mets make whether it be via a loss OR a win. Met fans shouldn't treat their team like it's some sort of fast-food genie who's only purpose it is is to please them and shower them with wins, as some display a 'win or else' attitude almost daily toward the Mets.

It's okay to pitch and moan here and there, but I bet there are those who will even find several things to holler about after today's win. These are the fans that should lighten up a tad. I'm not saying to be a hopeless 'homer' or a 'yes man' with all of Willie's decisions, but to paraphrase Barbara Billingsley from the movie Airplane: 'Cut dem some slack, Jack!' The Mets have ups and downs just like all other ball clubs. But I digress as it is time to defer to our pal and fellow poster Kneega who I think said it best before Sunday's game:

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Whether you team is underachieving or is barely hanging on after being decimated with injuries and being tested by adversity. They are still 2 1/2 games better/have won more games than the rest of the division. For those that refuse to give that [effort] any acknowledgement-I ask-would you rather them be 2 1/2 games behind? Or how about 5.5 games behind like the Yanks?

If the Phillies or Braves were that much of a threat than they would have taken the lead within the last 3.5 months! Even through our 500 ball run we are still leading and that makes us a better team. Now lets support our guys, believe in our guys, and watch them get hot and take off and win another division title! --Kneega (originally posted in 8/12 edition of TDP)
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--LoveEmHateEm, 8/12

- Play-by-play and Box - Mets.com
- Mets flex their muscles to dispose of Fish - Mets.com
- Castro removed with back discomfort - Mets.com
- Mets celebrate Glavine's 300th before game - Mets.com
- Lo Duca unhappy with DL move - Mets.com
- Mets squeak by in 10-4 win - BMF.com

Next game: Tuesday 7:05pm ET, Mets at Bucs (El Duque vs Snell)

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 11, 2007:

Last losing streak of '07?
...one can only hope

Will the real New York Mets please stand up. This is your cue. The Braves are now 2 1/2 games out and the Phils are right behind them -- this is the signal, Jerry. PS Nice job by Schoeneweis in relief. The other relievers? Not so nice a job. But I got a feeling it will all come together real soon and I have to believe that this is the closest that the Mets will come to losing 1st place. Why? Because I'm a hopeless dope of a Met fan, that's why. And by the way, how the hell are our beloved Mets still able to hold on to 1st place ... especially after they've barely been playing over .500 ball since the All-Star break? It's an amazin' miracle, I tell ya! Final: Marlins 7, Mets 5.
--LoveEmHateEm, 8/12

- Wright contributes 2 HRs, Lo D put on 15 day DL - Mets.com
- Mota, exhibit "A" - BMF.com

Next game: Fish at Shea, 1:10pm ET, Perez vs VandenHurk

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 10, 2007:

Met offense sqanders more opportunities while
Wagner's 9th inning luck runs out
Second BS of 2007 for Wags as Fish win opener, 4-3

Whether they like it or not, the Mets are the Mets. When other teams come to play them, it's a bigger thrill for them to beat a high profile team like the New York Mets than to beat a second city team -- or second division team for that matter. So not only are the Mets a big target, they have a double-whammy working against them -- they're a first place team and a big city team. (Refer to Ramirez's comments in the Miami Herald link below).

And who can blame Hanley Ramirez for feeling the way he does? It's the classic David and Goliath story, played over and over whenever a team faces the Mets. And because of this, the Mets have to take it up one notch higher than the others. Or else they'll lose every time. If the Mets had the combined anger and burning desire of a "tween the numbers" Clemens and a motivated Ramirez, that might be the spark that carries them to a World Series ring in 2007. It will take a lot of balls and desire for that to happen. But it's still within reach.
--LoveEmHateEm, 8/11

- Beltran's return spoiled - Mets.com
- Play-by-play - MLB.com
- You gotta be kiddin me! - BMF.com
- Wags blows save, Mets fall to Marlins - TheJournalNews.com
- Ramirez shines in comeback - MiamiHerald.com

Next game at Shea Saturday night 7:10pm ET, Glavine vs Olsen

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 9, 2007:

Close, but no cigar.

An eye for an eye, a whisker for a whisker. The score was 7-6 Atlanta, bottom 9, as Wright's 2-run knock had just brought the Metropolitans to within one. Carlos Delgado's turn, right? Almost. With one out, Willie Harris made a stupendous leaping catch from above and beyond the fence in left field off the bat of Delgado. Alou followed with a groundout to end the game. That was as close a comeback as you'll ever see. And that was the 4th series win for the Braves off the Mets this year.

Starting tonight, the Mets play nine straight games with sub .500 teams. After that and for the remainder of August, it's eleven straight with teams over .500 so suffice it to say that the odds are better for the Mets to take advantage here and now.
--LoveEmHateEm, 8/10

- Late heroics not enough - Mets.com
- Maine rocked, Delgado robbed, Braves win - BMF.com

Tonight's game at Shea 7:10pm ET, Lawrence vs Barone

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 8, 2007:

...and it's the Mets by a whisker!
(NOTE: REMEMBER, IT'S A NOON START TODAY)

First of all I had visions of an El Duque 'Mets first no-hitter' on my mind the way he was mowin' 'em down in the early goings. Then the fit hit the shan in the 6th and suddenly it was 3-1 Braves. Enter Maalox Moment #1 (moments normally reserved for Wagner). Anyway in the 7th, The 'New Guy' Castillo, (he of the clay-armed relay who's throw home allowed the Braves 2nd run in the 6th) atoned by hitting a 2-run RBI single to tie it at 3. Enter Moises "P. P." Alou in the bot 8th. After hitting the ball on the button a couple of times last night for outs to deep left, he finally clears the fence to make it 4-3. METS UP as we go to the top 9th with Wagner coming in to shut the door. (Get ready for Maalox Moment #2).

The 9th inning short verson goes like this: Wags gives up 2 singles, walks the third batter to load 'em up, and induces a ground ball force play at home for the first out. Now it's 1 out, bases juiced with Andruw at the plate (chug, chug, chug...man, this stuff is chalky). But, this Jones kid isn't dialed in as well as the other one is at Shea, and he grounds into a game-ending DP. This leaves one unanswered question: Where do I send the doctor bill to, Shea Stadium or directly to Wagner? Final: Mets 4, Braves 3.
--LoveEmHateEm, 8/9

- Mets get a reprieve - Mets.com
- Mets beat Braves - BMF.com

Noon today at Shea: Maine vs Hudson

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 7, 2007:

Braves solve Perez riddle
Move over Green for new 'Mets' rightfielder

Oliver Perez missed (by a country mile) in becoming the first Met pitcher since Tom Seaver to go 4-0 against the Braves in a single season as the Braves solved the Perez riddle in grand fashion last night at Shea. He had handled them stealthfully this year racking up a 3-0 record up until the Braves extra-base-hit buzz saw dismantled his game plan as they beat the Mets 7-3. The Mets fell behind in the first inning with a first-pitch HR by Diaz and never recovered.

A small measure of satisfaction was had by the Mets at one point thanks to a combined relief effort late in the game. After Sosa loaded the bases in the 9th, woth none out, both he and Feliciano got out of the inning without allowing a run. But it would be the Braves who would get the last laugh by not only pitching well and shutting the door on the Mets by not allowing a hit after the 5th inning, they also hit a ton of extra-base-hits. Nine of their 15 hits were other-than-singles. That'll do it every time.

Later in the evening in San Franciso, the Mets may have spotted a sure-handed right fielder in Matt Murphy who is a native New Yorker from Queens. Murphy was proudly wearing his Mets jersey as he made a catch in right center that was so spectacular and seen by millions, the police were forced to escort him away from the crowd for his own protection. Actually, he was the lucky guy who came up with Barry Bonds' 756th home run ball. Good for him--and congratulations to Barry Bonds, the new All-Time Home Run Champion! (Step off Henry, you had enough...and take Selig with ya).
--LoveEmHateEm, 8/8

- Mets fall behind early - Mets.com
- Perez loses but Met fan lands #756 - BMF.com

Tonight Braves at Shea 7:10pm ET, El Duque vs Smoltz

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NO GAME PLAYED AUGUST 6, 2007

It's time to pull away
from the pack

The resurgent Mets play the next 9 of 12 games against sub-500 teams. But first they must fend off the Braves tonight, tomorrow night, and Thursday afternoon at Shea. Then the Fish come in to town for the weekend followed by a 6-game road trip to Pittsburgh and DC. Seems like a perfect time for a long overdue Mets winning streak. Later in the month they face the Maxi's, the Dodgers and the Phils. But first thing's first: Hold a funeral for the Braves.

--LoveEmHateEm, 8/7


- Mets host Braves for important 3-game set - Newsweek.com
- Mets look to end bad run vs Braves - NorthJersey.com
- Trade Beltran??? - BMF.com

Tonite Braves at Shea 7:10pm ET, Perez vs Carlyle

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 5, 2007:

The Glavinator gets his 300th
Caps trifecta weekend of record-breaking baseball history

Saturday's milestones reached in MLB were followed by a third milestone Sunday night as Tom Glavine won his 300th game at Wrigley field. On Saturday, Alex Rodriguez homered to become the youngest player to reach the 500 HR plateau and later that same day in San Diego, Barry Bonds slapped #755 tying him wth the ignorant Hank Aaron for career home runs while the equally ignorant Selig had to be coaxed to stand for #755 (and when he did stand he slipped his hads into the pockets of his $75 Robert Hall suit--way to go Commish with that 'guilty until proven innocent' attitude). Remarkably, the crowd at San Diego's PetCo Park was mostly cheering Bonds on.

But the most important of the 3 milestones for Mets fans was the mark that Glavine set. He is the first pitcher to reach 300 wins as a Met. He is the 23rd pitcher to reach 300 wins and only the 5th lefty to do so. And his next win will put him in sole possession of 4th place among leftes passing Lefty Grove who has 300. Oh and by the way, lately the Mets bats are singing my song. Let's Go, Mets! Sweep the Braves! Final: Mets 8, Cubs 3.

--LoveEmHateEm, 8/6


- Glavine earns historic win - Mets.com
- Tommy G wins the Big 3 - BMF.com
- Glavine 23rd to reach 300 wins - Bloomberg.com

Next game, Tuesday, Braves at Mets 7:10pm ET, Perez vs Carlyle

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Maine power outage
Falters in 3rd after bad ump call

Even if they had 'instant replay', the "upon further review" of the play at first base which showed that 1B ump Marty Foster incorrectly called Theriot safe on a close play at 1st in the bottom of the 3rd wouldn't have mattered anyway. After the 2nd inning, John Maine just wasn't on his game. Add to that a stellar perfromance on the mound by Cubs starter Lilly (as he confounded the Met bats all day long) and it spelled 'Met Loss'. Good points: Met relievers, Alou's bat, Sunday's another day (and Glav goes for #300). Final: Cubs 6, Mets 2.

-- LoveEmHateEm, 8/5

- Maine messy in loss - Mets.com
- Maine falls off Cliff - BMF.com
- Cubs top Mets - ESPN.com

Mets at Wrigley tonite on ESPN at 8:05pm ET, Glavine vs Marquis

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 3, 2007:

Mets outlast Zambrano
Beat Cubs (again) on 9th inning rally

- Confident Mets stage late rally for win - Mets.com
- Ryan Dempster hates the Mets - BMF.com

Saturday's game from Wrigley: Maine vs Lilly, 3:55pm ET

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 2, 2007:

Mets bomb Brewers, 12-4
Now, them's the Mets I remember

- Easley's wheels lead Lawrence to win - Mets.com
- Willie's got all the right moves - BMF,com

Today's game: Mets @ Cubs, 2:20pm ET, El Duque vs Zambrano

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GAME PLAYED AUGUST 1, 2007:

Mets win, 8-5 -- Zip-a-dee-friggin'-doo-dah!
(Pardon the apathy today)

- Mets blast 3 HR's - Mets.com
- Ollie + Marlon = Win - BMF.com

TODAY'S game at Milwaukee at 2:05pm ET, Brewers vs Mets, Capuano vs Lawrence

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LET'S GO METS IN 2007!