Thursday, October 30, 2008
Phillies Win World Series
Philadelphia Phillies' Brad Lidge, left, and Carlos Ruiz react after their victory in Game 5 of the baseball World Series in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 to win the series.
Cheesesteaks, on the house.
"Who's the world champion?" manager Charlie Manuel asked the gleeful crowd during a 90-minute postgame ceremony that lasted longer than Wednesday night's action.
Bundled in parkas and blankets, fans returned in force to Citizens Bank Park and saw the city claim its first major sports championship in 25 years. No more references needed to those sad-sack Phillies teams in the past and their 10,000-plus losses.
"They could taste it just as much as we could," World Series MVP Cole Hamels said.
It was among the wackiest endings in baseball history, a best-of-7 series turned into a best-of-3½ showdown when play resumed in the bottom of the sixth inning tied at 2.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Delgado will return to the Mets in 2009
Carlos DelgadoGeneral manager Omar Minaya already has acknowledged that the Mets plan to exercise their team option for $12 million for Delgado for next season. The decision will essentially cost the organization $8 million, as the Mets otherwise were on the hook for a $4 million buyout.
Delgado’s return to the Mets in ‘09 wasn’t always assured. Entering July, Delgado was hitting .228. And at 36 years old, there were questions about whether his career was in irreversible decline, especially since he began his professional career as a catcher and spent the majority of his time on artificial turf in Toronto.
Delgado, however, responded by hitting .313 with 24 homers, 70 RBIs and 41 walks in 351 plate appearances over the regular season’s final three months. He was actually the Mets’ best contender for National League MVP, although the team’s second consecutive September swoon means no Met should finish atop the ballot.
Despite being pursued by the Mets as a free agent during the 2004-05 offseason, Delgado signed with the Marlins that winter for four years at $48 million. But the Marlins had a fire sale after one season, and Delgado was acquired by the Mets for first baseman Mike Jacobs, right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and infielder Grant Psomas.
There had been speculation that the Mets could look to trade Delgado after picking up his option, but team officials have strongly refuted those suggestions and insist he’ll man first base next season. After the ‘09 season, it’s conceivable that Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans could play first base for the Mets.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Niemann and Shines hired as coaches by Mets
Randy Niemann is becoming the New York Mets’ bullpen coach for the third time, and Razor Shines was hired as third-base coach under manager Jerry Manuel.
Guy Conti is shown the door.The Mets said Thursday they are reassigning bullpen coach Guy Conti, third-base coach Luis Aguayo and first-base coach Ken Oberkfell. Conti had been bullpen coach for four seasons.
Niemann is entering his 22nd year with the Mets and was bullpen coach from 1997 to mid-1999 and 2000-02. He spent the past two years as minor league rehabilitation coordinator.
Shines had been manager of the Philadelphia Phillies’ Clearwater farm team, leading it to a 64-76 record in the Class-A Florida State League. He was third-base coach of the Chicago White Sox in 2007.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thanks again Aaron Heilman
Aaron Heilman ranked 87th among NL relievers with a 5.21 ERA and posted a 3-8 record while walking 46 batters in 76 innings - the highest walk total of his career and tops among NL relievers. The 29-year-old also yielded 10 homers.
Was Aaron Heilman the most abused pitcher in baseball in 2008? His 1486 pitches thrown were tied for the second-most in MLB among “pure” relievers — pitchers who did not make any starts.
Bottom line, he sucked. So did Scott Schoeneweis, Pedro Feliciano, Duaner Sanchez, Jorge Sosa, Luis Ayala, Nelson Figueroa and Billy Wagner.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Mets remain on the FAN
The Mets have extended their 22-year relationship with WFAN by agreeing on a new multiyear deal.
The new contract, which begins next season, also includes WFAN producing new Mets pre and postgame programming and daily highlights packages.
Yes, that means we have to listen to all that whining from the FAN lack of personalties like Joe Benigno, Evan Roberts and horseshit from the Fat Man in the Afternoon.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Kazmir shines as Rays fold in late innings like Mets
Scott Kazmir held Boston to two hits over six innings, never allowing a runner past second base.
Now Scott will now know what if feels like if he pitched for the Mets in 2008.
Down seven runs and running out of time, the Boston Red Sox weren’t quite ready to go away.
The defending World Series champions pulled off the biggest postseason comeback since 1929, beating the Rays 8-7 Thursday night on J.D. Drew’s two-out single in the ninth to stave off elimination in the best-of-seven AL championship series.
The seven-run deficit was the largest overcome in a postseason game since Game 4 of 1929 World Series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. In that one, the Philadelphia Athletics trailed by eight before a 10-run seventh inning powered them past the Chicago Cubs 10-8.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Nationals interested in Randolph
Will Willie Randolph be booed in Citi Field?Newsday reported that the Nationals would like Randolph to serve as either bench coach or third base coach under manager Manny Acta. The Nationals refused to comment on the report.
Acta served as Randolph’s bench coach with the Mets in 2005 and 2006. Washington has plenty of holes to fill after firing five coaches following its disastrous 59-102 season.
Randolph was fired as Mets manager in the early morning hours of June 17 while the team was on the West Coast. New York played well after Randolph’s ouster, but endured its second straight September collapse en route to missing the playoffs.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Rollins, Hamels lead Phillies into World Series
Jimmy Rollins got them rollin’ with a leadoff home run, Cole Hamels pitched his third gem of the playoffs and Philadelphia beat the bumbling Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 to win the NL championship series 4-1 for its first pennant since 1993.
“After hearing about the ‘93 team over and over and over again, we finally have a chance to make our mark,” Rollins said. “This was an organization that I felt when I got here I wanted to try to change. And I had my opportunity to. You know, we had been used to losing.”
Now, the Phillies will go for their second World Series title beginning next Wednesday night at Tampa Bay or Boston. The Rays lead the Red Sox 3-1 in the ALCS, which resumes Thursday night at Fenway Park.
Last year, the Phillies became the first professional team to lose 10,000 games. This season, the ball is bouncing their way.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Mets RHP Burgos jailed while awaiting trial
Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos, left, is escorted by a police officer after a late-night court hearing, in Burgo's hometown of Nagua, northeastern Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008.
According to the newspaper, the judge ruled that Burgos violated the transit law while driving a Hummer that collided with a motorcycle on September 30, causing the deaths of Josefina Minaya and Anyely Fana.
Burgos, who missed the entire 2008 season recovering from elbow ligament replacement surgery, was arrested early in September for assaulting his girlfriend.
The 24-year-old Burgos is 8-10 with 20 saves and a 4.60 over 114 career appearances with the Mets and Kansas City Royals.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Mets, Manuel agree to two-year deal
Jerry Manuel gets reward after another choke.The Mets officially removed the interim tag from Manuel’s name on Friday, agreeing to terms with their former bench coach on a two-year contract.
The deal, which includes a club option for 2011, comes just one day after general manager Omar Minaya received a three-year extension.
Manuel and the Mets have some serious demons to exorcise as they head into Citi Field in 2009. New York (89-73), which relinquished a seven-game lead in the National League East with 17 to play last season, missed the postseason this year after holding a 3 1/2-game lead in the division on September 10.
Despite the disappointing finish, the Mets’ brass was pleased with the job the 54-year-old Manuel did.
New York started 34-35 under Willie Randolph, who was unceremoniously fired on June 17. Manuel took over the reigns and went 55-38, helping turn around the season.
“Jerry did a very good job taking over the club midseason, and we believe that he is the right person to manage our team and lead us to the postseason,” Minaya said.
“I am thrilled and appreciative for the opportunity that ownership and Omar have given me to continue to manage the Mets,” Manuel said.
The 2000 American League Manager of the Year, Manuel went 500-471 in six seasons with the Chicago White Sox before being fired in 2003. He had served as Randolph’s bench coach since 2006.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Mets GM Omar Minaya given new deal through 2012
Omar Minaya is staying as general manager of the New York Mets. Jerry Manuel is likely to remain as manager. Players, however, could be on the move.
Following the Mets’ second straight September collapse, fans are angry with the team, the front office and the players.
The Mets made it to Game 7 of the NL championship series in 2006. The next two years they missed out on the playoffs on the last day of the regular season.
New York failed to make the playoffs after leading the NL East by seven games with 17 games left in 2007 and by 3 1/2 games with 17 to go this year.
Credited with adding Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana, Minaya also has been criticized for bringing in old and injury-prone players such as Moises Alou, Orlando Hernandez and Luis Castillo.
Minaya said the Mets intend to exercise Carlos Delgado’s $12 million option for 2009 before their deadline, which is the later of five days after the World Series or Nov. 5. Following a slow first half, Delgado hit .308 with 27 homers and 80 RBIs in 84 games from June 27 on. Overall, he batted .271 with 38 homers and 115 RBIs.
Jeff Wilpon said demolition of Shea Stadium is to start Oct. 13, but that major structural pieces won’t be removed until bear the end of the year.
Some loser named his kid after that dump in Queens.
Minaya said the Mets are awaiting results of a police investigation of pitcher Ambiorix Burgos. Police in the Dominican Republic said Burgos was driving an SUV when it hit two women who later died of their injuries.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
DR police seek Mets pitcher after fatal crash
Ambiorix BurgosPolice Col. Eulogio Taveras said Josefina Minaya Martinez, 38, and Angely Fana, 29, were struck Tuesday evening by a new Hummer registered to the 24-year-old reliever in his Caribbean homeland. The women died at a hospital in Nagua, a town 112 miles north of the capital, Santo Domingo.
"The investigation indicates that Burgos was the driver of the (vehicle) that hit the women," Taveras said in a statement, adding several witnesses identified Burgos as the driver.
Although a relative of the right-hander, Edwin Silvestre Sanchez, told police investigators he was the driver at fault, Taveras indicated Sanchez likely will be considered an accomplice.
"We are extremely disturbed by the reports regarding the player's potential involvement in the hit-and-run accident that unfortunately killed two women in the Dominican Republic," the Mets said in a statement. "We take this matter very seriously and have begun an internal investigation to ascertain the facts. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the victims."
The crash is the latest trouble for Burgos, who spent the entire season on the disabled list while recovering from elbow ligament replacement surgery.
He was arrested last month in New York on assault and harassment charges after being accused of throwing his girlfriend to the ground. Police said the injured girlfriend was treated at a hospital and released.
Prosecutors said Burgos appeared in court on those charges but did not enter a plea. He's due in U.S. court again Oct. 23. He faces up to a year in jail if convicted of the more serious misdemeanor assault charge.
Burgos hasn't pitched in the major leagues since last year. He appeared in the minors in August while on a rehabilitation assignment.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Guilty plea from fan who manhandled mascot Mr. Met
Mr. Met was attacked by a fan by a drunken asshole during the 7th inning stretch.
Authorities said Christien Hansen harassed the mascot at a game in May, refused to leave Shea Stadium and took a swing at a security guard.
They say the 32-year-old spit in the guard's face and pushed kids out of his way.
Hansen had no comment after he was ordered to pay a $500 fine and released.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Mets’ Santana undergoes successful knee surgery
Johan SantanaNews of the injury came as a surprise. Santana pitched a three-hit shutout on short rest Saturday against Florida to pull the Mets into a tie for the NL wild card. They were eliminated from playoff contention the following day.
“Johan’s exit physical, standard for all players, took place yesterday,” general manager Omar Minaya said in a statement Wednesday. “An MRI revealed a torn meniscus in his left knee, which necessitated surgery. Johan had mentioned some mild discomfort after his start in Washington, which did not preclude him from facing the Cubs or Marlins last week. Most important is that the operation was successful and he’ll be ready to go before spring training.”
Santana was brilliant in his first season with the Mets, going 16-7 with a major league-best 2.53 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 234 1-3 innings after coming over from Minnesota in a blockbuster trade in February. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner just completed the first season of a $137.5 million, six-year contract.