Squawker Jon and I recently got involved with the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, a group of fellow baseball bloggers. BBA organizer C70 at the Bat is a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. And, as part of his Playing Pepper series, he interviewed several bloggers for each playoff team about their hopes for the postseason.
For the Yankees, he talked with LenNy's Yankees and myself about what we thought about the Bombers. Check out the interview. And check out C70's and LenNy's blogs as well. Thanks, C70, for giving me the opportunity to squawk about the Yanks!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Who I'm rooting for in the Twins-Tigers game
I'm settling in to watch today's one-game playoff between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins. So who am I rooting for? Neither - I have no preference as to which team I want the Yankees to see in the playoffs. Ever since 2006, when I wanted to see the Yankees face the Tigers after the team staggered into the postseason, and Detroit killed the Yanks, I have been reluctant to say which team I want to see in October, for fear it will blow up in my face, and end up killing the Yankees.
What I will say is this - I am completely unsurprised that Minnesota is playing today.I wrote an article on them this Friday for The Faster Times, saying:
So much for Peter Gammons' wanting another playoff round because there was no drama this October.
No matter what happens today, Joe Mauer deserves the AL MVP, as I lobbied for last month. The only real argument - that his Twins weren't in the playoff hunt - has been decimated by the way they stepped up this October.
While I'm not rooting for the Twins (or the Tigers), my guess is that Minnesota will be the team headed to New York after the game. And the Tigers will make history by being the first team to cough up a lead they held since early May.
What do you think? Leave us a comment!
What I will say is this - I am completely unsurprised that Minnesota is playing today.I wrote an article on them this Friday for The Faster Times, saying:
...the two teams tying - and playing a one-game playoff for the title - is a real possibility, especially given the buzz that will already be in the air at the Metrodome this weekend as the park hosts its last ever - for now, at least, Twins series.There isn't much buzz for Detroit, unless it's Miguel Cabrera's incredible .26 blood alcohol level. Good grief.
So much for Peter Gammons' wanting another playoff round because there was no drama this October.
No matter what happens today, Joe Mauer deserves the AL MVP, as I lobbied for last month. The only real argument - that his Twins weren't in the playoff hunt - has been decimated by the way they stepped up this October.
While I'm not rooting for the Twins (or the Tigers), my guess is that Minnesota will be the team headed to New York after the game. And the Tigers will make history by being the first team to cough up a lead they held since early May.
What do you think? Leave us a comment!
From The Fens: Sox-Yanks Not a Slam-Dunk
Red Sox Nation member Bob Ekstrom has written us his thoughts about this year's playoffs. Ekstrom, a good friend of the Squawkers, takes a look at what's happening in the web each week on the Boston Sports Media site. He is also a contributor at Boston Dirt Dogs. Here are Bob's surprising thoughts on this year's postseason:
Thankfully, baseball’s lame ducks have gone home, and all the stat-piling in Boston and New York has ended. For the next week, we can devote our attention to divisional playoff series, or – as they’re thought of in both the Nation and Empire – the prelims before an imminent Sox–Yankees headliner.
It’s a fait accompli, right? After all, Boston is 4-0 in playoff series against the various incarnations of the Los Angeles Angels, winning 13 of 17 postseason games, including 12 of the last 13 going back to 2004. And for the Yankees, the fairytale season where everything has dropped into place continues. They’ve won 12 of 13 against the opponents in tonight’s A.L. Central play-in, and the only ALDS threat they face has been mitigated by the Twins, who have taken out Justin Verlander’s chances of starting two games by forcing him to pitch on Sunday. Of course, the Twins may wind up taking out the Tigers altogether, and what can brighten the Bronx outlook more than thoughts of Joe Nathan trying to hold a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth at Yankee Stadium?
So, clear the calendar in the third week of October for baseball’s greatest rivalry to play out. Or not.
Either a Boston or New York no-show would create an abyss on America’s stage more profound than Jon’s split from Kate Plus Eight, so I have to proceed cautiously in suggesting such blasphemy. Who, exactly, will Kanye up our big moment?
Quite possibly, the Los Angeles Angels.
Truth be told, that sounds like nonsense to most of Red Sox Nation who argue that Boston is better this October – their lineup includes a healthy Lowell and a catcher who can hit, and Josh Beckett’s even-year/odd-year issues align in his favor - while the Angels haven’t improved much autumn-over-autumn. This is no slam on Kendry Morales, but he can’t fill Mark Teixeira’s void. Sox-killing Scott Kazmir may be a slight plus over Jon Garland, but Bobby Abreu is a break-even for Garret Anderson and Brian Fuentes is no K-Rod. The Angels’ lineup has aged while their bullpen is unseasoned.
Then, too, there’s that 12-of-the-last-13 thing. Hey, if the Angels managed only one win last postseason after beating the Sox eight times during the regular season, what shot do they have this year?
But here’s the thing: when you punch an opponent in the mouth enough times, he’s eventually going to punch you back.
Boston may have punched the Angels in the mouth one time too many after that mid-September series at Fenway Park in which they took two of three. The crowning moment was their grand theft of the middle game when, trailing 8-7 with two outs in the ninth, pinch-hitter Nick Green drew a bases-loaded walk on strike three and Juan Rivera lost all heart on Alex Gonzalez’s short fly to left that dropped in for the game-winner.
Something slapped the Angels in the face that night, the kind of slap your wife gives you when you’re sleeping off a hangover after making a fool of yourself the night before and she has to get you up because it’s a work day and – well – you’re down to your last strike with the boss as it is . . . I’m just saying.
Anyway, there’s something else bothersome about this Angels series. The Red Sox haven’t acted like they believe they can beat the Yankees. The fans see it, but it’s the elephant in every living room across New England. We have a pact to never mention the late September sweep in Yankee Stadium without an obligatory reference to it being meaningless.
Granted, salvaging a series split after getting off to an eight-game head-start has proven meaningless, seeing that a divisional tie-breaker wound up as useful as a team of canvassers in an Iranian presidential election. However, this series originally represented the difference between a two-game deficit and mathematical elimination, one in which Boston manager Tito Francona slotted 22 regulars into his three starting lineup cards (the Yankees used 24). The Sox went into Yankee Stadium winners of 12 of their last 15, yet the Yankees determined to dial up a sweep and clinch the division at their expense, and Boston obliged.
For now, the Red Sox must keep New York out of mind and stay focused on an Angels squad hell-bent on retaliation. That job will fall on Francona, and it may be the most important he’ll shoulder this autumn. It’s also the one he does best. If Boston can make it that far, another classic showdown for the much-coveted American League pennant could loom. My only advice would be to avoid spotting the Yankees the first three games this year.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Thankfully, baseball’s lame ducks have gone home, and all the stat-piling in Boston and New York has ended. For the next week, we can devote our attention to divisional playoff series, or – as they’re thought of in both the Nation and Empire – the prelims before an imminent Sox–Yankees headliner.
It’s a fait accompli, right? After all, Boston is 4-0 in playoff series against the various incarnations of the Los Angeles Angels, winning 13 of 17 postseason games, including 12 of the last 13 going back to 2004. And for the Yankees, the fairytale season where everything has dropped into place continues. They’ve won 12 of 13 against the opponents in tonight’s A.L. Central play-in, and the only ALDS threat they face has been mitigated by the Twins, who have taken out Justin Verlander’s chances of starting two games by forcing him to pitch on Sunday. Of course, the Twins may wind up taking out the Tigers altogether, and what can brighten the Bronx outlook more than thoughts of Joe Nathan trying to hold a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth at Yankee Stadium?
So, clear the calendar in the third week of October for baseball’s greatest rivalry to play out. Or not.
Either a Boston or New York no-show would create an abyss on America’s stage more profound than Jon’s split from Kate Plus Eight, so I have to proceed cautiously in suggesting such blasphemy. Who, exactly, will Kanye up our big moment?
Quite possibly, the Los Angeles Angels.
Truth be told, that sounds like nonsense to most of Red Sox Nation who argue that Boston is better this October – their lineup includes a healthy Lowell and a catcher who can hit, and Josh Beckett’s even-year/odd-year issues align in his favor - while the Angels haven’t improved much autumn-over-autumn. This is no slam on Kendry Morales, but he can’t fill Mark Teixeira’s void. Sox-killing Scott Kazmir may be a slight plus over Jon Garland, but Bobby Abreu is a break-even for Garret Anderson and Brian Fuentes is no K-Rod. The Angels’ lineup has aged while their bullpen is unseasoned.
Then, too, there’s that 12-of-the-last-13 thing. Hey, if the Angels managed only one win last postseason after beating the Sox eight times during the regular season, what shot do they have this year?
But here’s the thing: when you punch an opponent in the mouth enough times, he’s eventually going to punch you back.
Boston may have punched the Angels in the mouth one time too many after that mid-September series at Fenway Park in which they took two of three. The crowning moment was their grand theft of the middle game when, trailing 8-7 with two outs in the ninth, pinch-hitter Nick Green drew a bases-loaded walk on strike three and Juan Rivera lost all heart on Alex Gonzalez’s short fly to left that dropped in for the game-winner.
Something slapped the Angels in the face that night, the kind of slap your wife gives you when you’re sleeping off a hangover after making a fool of yourself the night before and she has to get you up because it’s a work day and – well – you’re down to your last strike with the boss as it is . . . I’m just saying.
Anyway, there’s something else bothersome about this Angels series. The Red Sox haven’t acted like they believe they can beat the Yankees. The fans see it, but it’s the elephant in every living room across New England. We have a pact to never mention the late September sweep in Yankee Stadium without an obligatory reference to it being meaningless.
Granted, salvaging a series split after getting off to an eight-game head-start has proven meaningless, seeing that a divisional tie-breaker wound up as useful as a team of canvassers in an Iranian presidential election. However, this series originally represented the difference between a two-game deficit and mathematical elimination, one in which Boston manager Tito Francona slotted 22 regulars into his three starting lineup cards (the Yankees used 24). The Sox went into Yankee Stadium winners of 12 of their last 15, yet the Yankees determined to dial up a sweep and clinch the division at their expense, and Boston obliged.
For now, the Red Sox must keep New York out of mind and stay focused on an Angels squad hell-bent on retaliation. That job will fall on Francona, and it may be the most important he’ll shoulder this autumn. It’s also the one he does best. If Boston can make it that far, another classic showdown for the much-coveted American League pennant could loom. My only advice would be to avoid spotting the Yankees the first three games this year.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Why Jose Molina catching for A.J. Burnett in the playoffs is a good idea
Oooh, controversy! There's a whole to-do in Yankeeland today over the news that Jose Molina, not Jorge Posada, will catch A.J. Burnett's start in the ALDS. And Posada is not pleased. According to Sam Borden of LoHud.com, Posada said this when he heard the news:
Meow!
He also told reporters:
Aha! So we finally have acknowledgement that there is trouble in paradise between Posada and Burnett. And a little cattiness, as well. Good times!
You know the old adage about how if you have a dispute with someone, you ought to look at yourself first, to see if you're contributing to the problem? Well, Posada could use a little self-reflection. Because this seems to be a persistent problem with him. He hasn't gotten along with Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson, El Duque, and Roger Clemens, to name a few. And a number of times this year, CC Sabathia has appeared to prefer someone other than Posada to catch him, although it hasn't been the bad blood the way it is with Burnett.
Could Burnett be difficult to deal with? Of course. But at some point, maybe Posada ought to look in the mirror as to why so many pitchers don't want to throw to him. Because Burnett is just one of a long line.
Obviously, I think Girardi made the right move, for this and other reasons:
* A.J. Burnett has never pitched in a post-season game. If having Molina behind the mound will help his comfort level, I say the Yanks need to do it. Because the last thing the Yanks need is those two arguing in the middle of the game, and blowing the Yankees' chances. Is it divaism to cater to Burnett's wishes? I guess. But that's the breaks. They're paying him $82 million to win playoff games. If having Molina as his catcher will make him do well, that's a price worth paying.
* For whatever reason, Burnett's numbers are much better with Molina over Posada. This, from Newsday's Erik Boland: "Batters hit .221 against Burnett in 11 starts caught by Molina compared with .270 in 16 starts caught by Posada, according to baseball-reference.com. Opponents' slugging percentage was .352 with Molina compared with .421 with Posada. And on and on." Whether it's superstition or what, is it any wonder Burnett wants Molina?
* Let's get over this myth that there are no Yankee personal catchers in the postseason. And Girardi should know better than anybody about that. How many postseason games did No. 1 catcher Girardi miss in the dynasty era because Andy Pettitte had Jim Leyritz as his own personal catcher? Did Girardi whine to the media, "I just hope we win that game," when he missed starting Game 1 of the 1996 World Series, his first WS game (and the first WS game in Yankee Stadium in 15 years)? I don't think so.
* If past numbers are any indication, Posada's bat isn't worth that much in the postseason anyway. For all the scrutiny A-Rod's playoff numbers have gotten, Jorge's numbers are just as awful. Posada's career postseason batting average? .236. He only hit .133 in the 2007 ALDS. And out of the 23 series he's played in, Posada was good in just four of them - the 1998 World Series, the 2001 ALDS, the 2003 ALCS, and the 2006 ALDS. In fifteen series where he was a regular, he hit below .250, and batted below .200 in seven of those series. Not exactly the second coming of Mr. October. Hideki Matsui has had his struggles in the postseason as well, but at .292, his overall postseason batting average is much higher than Posada. Besides, even if you think you'd rather have Posada and Matsui both in the lineup, we're only talking probably two at-bats Posada will miss.
At any rate, Posada needs to get over it. The important thing is the team winning. If that means Molina catching Burnett, so be it.
What do you think? Leave us a comment!
"I just hope we win that game," Posada said. "That’s all I’ve got to say."
Meow!
He also told reporters:
"It’s not like I didn’t see it coming."
When asked if he might be the DH when Molina catches, Posada said he wasn’t sure but that, “Matsui is our DH.”
Aha! So we finally have acknowledgement that there is trouble in paradise between Posada and Burnett. And a little cattiness, as well. Good times!
You know the old adage about how if you have a dispute with someone, you ought to look at yourself first, to see if you're contributing to the problem? Well, Posada could use a little self-reflection. Because this seems to be a persistent problem with him. He hasn't gotten along with Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson, El Duque, and Roger Clemens, to name a few. And a number of times this year, CC Sabathia has appeared to prefer someone other than Posada to catch him, although it hasn't been the bad blood the way it is with Burnett.
Could Burnett be difficult to deal with? Of course. But at some point, maybe Posada ought to look in the mirror as to why so many pitchers don't want to throw to him. Because Burnett is just one of a long line.
Obviously, I think Girardi made the right move, for this and other reasons:
* A.J. Burnett has never pitched in a post-season game. If having Molina behind the mound will help his comfort level, I say the Yanks need to do it. Because the last thing the Yanks need is those two arguing in the middle of the game, and blowing the Yankees' chances. Is it divaism to cater to Burnett's wishes? I guess. But that's the breaks. They're paying him $82 million to win playoff games. If having Molina as his catcher will make him do well, that's a price worth paying.
* For whatever reason, Burnett's numbers are much better with Molina over Posada. This, from Newsday's Erik Boland: "Batters hit .221 against Burnett in 11 starts caught by Molina compared with .270 in 16 starts caught by Posada, according to baseball-reference.com. Opponents' slugging percentage was .352 with Molina compared with .421 with Posada. And on and on." Whether it's superstition or what, is it any wonder Burnett wants Molina?
* Let's get over this myth that there are no Yankee personal catchers in the postseason. And Girardi should know better than anybody about that. How many postseason games did No. 1 catcher Girardi miss in the dynasty era because Andy Pettitte had Jim Leyritz as his own personal catcher? Did Girardi whine to the media, "I just hope we win that game," when he missed starting Game 1 of the 1996 World Series, his first WS game (and the first WS game in Yankee Stadium in 15 years)? I don't think so.
* If past numbers are any indication, Posada's bat isn't worth that much in the postseason anyway. For all the scrutiny A-Rod's playoff numbers have gotten, Jorge's numbers are just as awful. Posada's career postseason batting average? .236. He only hit .133 in the 2007 ALDS. And out of the 23 series he's played in, Posada was good in just four of them - the 1998 World Series, the 2001 ALDS, the 2003 ALCS, and the 2006 ALDS. In fifteen series where he was a regular, he hit below .250, and batted below .200 in seven of those series. Not exactly the second coming of Mr. October. Hideki Matsui has had his struggles in the postseason as well, but at .292, his overall postseason batting average is much higher than Posada. Besides, even if you think you'd rather have Posada and Matsui both in the lineup, we're only talking probably two at-bats Posada will miss.
At any rate, Posada needs to get over it. The important thing is the team winning. If that means Molina catching Burnett, so be it.
What do you think? Leave us a comment!
Miguel Cabrera's wild night out, and A-Rod's big afternoon
Quick note: I wrote two pieces for The Faster Times you should check out. One is on Detroit Tigers player Miguel Cabrera's wild night out. The other is about Alex Rodriguez's record-breaking day Sunday.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Mets need a lot more than 'tweaking'
After the last game on Sunday, Jerry Manuel said the Mets need to do some "tweaking" for next year. The Mets need a lot more than tweaking, but you wouldn't know it from Monday's news about the coaching staff.
So Razor Shines and Luis Alicea need to go because of all the baserunning miscues. It took Manuel all year to figure out that something was wrong with the coaching on the bases?
Then Manuel says that Shines is under consideration for bench coach. So his incompetence at third could get him promoted?
Or would Shines be an insurance policy for Manuel against getting fired. When Willie Randolph got fired in June 2008, the Mets promoted bench coach Manuel. If Jerry gets a midseason ax, would the Mets dare put the Third Base Coach of Life in the top spot?
One might have thought that Dan Warthen would be axed as pitching coach. Met pitchers had the second-highest number of walks in MLB, only ahead of the Nationals. It is not clear what blame, if any, Warthen deserves for all the injuries, but they did happen on his watch. Warthen's predecessor, Rick Peterson, was known for scientific training methods meant to minimize injuries, and pitchers were much healthier when Peterson was around.
Manuel defended Warthen by saying that Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez and John Maine had their best results when Warthen was around. Maybe that is true of Pelfrey, though his good stretch in the middle of 2008 began when Peterson was still with the team.
But Warthen was nowhere in sight when Maine went 10-4 with a 2.71 ERA and nearly made the All-Star team in the first half of 2007, which was also when Ollie had a 3.14 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Under Warthen, Perez did have a 1.38 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in July 2008, but his overall second half under Warthen ended with a 3.97 ERA and 1.38 WHIP.
Jeff Wilpon said a lot of things that were good to hear - expressing a willingness to have a high payroll and admitting that the team did a poor job in communicating information on injuries.
But when Wilpon said that both Omar Minaya and Manuel must "step up" in 2010, it sounded a lot like the Willie Randolph situation two offseasons ago. Would anyone be surprised if Manuel loses his job in midseason next year? Only by then, Bobby Valentine will be unavailable - perhaps even managing within the division.
Even at this news conference, Manuel was still laughing and joking at inappropriate times. He even suggested that some would consider winning 70 games with this team worthy of being named Manager of the Year. Manuel very quickly said he was joking. But even as a joke, that is a disturbing thing to hear.
Does Manuel understand how disastrous this year was? Perhaps not, since he said the first choice for new coaches would be to promote within the organization. The same organization that has failed to teach the players fundamentals in the first place.
Even the trainers are coming back. Will anyone be held accountable for this miserable season?
So Razor Shines and Luis Alicea need to go because of all the baserunning miscues. It took Manuel all year to figure out that something was wrong with the coaching on the bases?
Then Manuel says that Shines is under consideration for bench coach. So his incompetence at third could get him promoted?
Or would Shines be an insurance policy for Manuel against getting fired. When Willie Randolph got fired in June 2008, the Mets promoted bench coach Manuel. If Jerry gets a midseason ax, would the Mets dare put the Third Base Coach of Life in the top spot?
One might have thought that Dan Warthen would be axed as pitching coach. Met pitchers had the second-highest number of walks in MLB, only ahead of the Nationals. It is not clear what blame, if any, Warthen deserves for all the injuries, but they did happen on his watch. Warthen's predecessor, Rick Peterson, was known for scientific training methods meant to minimize injuries, and pitchers were much healthier when Peterson was around.
Manuel defended Warthen by saying that Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez and John Maine had their best results when Warthen was around. Maybe that is true of Pelfrey, though his good stretch in the middle of 2008 began when Peterson was still with the team.
But Warthen was nowhere in sight when Maine went 10-4 with a 2.71 ERA and nearly made the All-Star team in the first half of 2007, which was also when Ollie had a 3.14 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Under Warthen, Perez did have a 1.38 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in July 2008, but his overall second half under Warthen ended with a 3.97 ERA and 1.38 WHIP.
Jeff Wilpon said a lot of things that were good to hear - expressing a willingness to have a high payroll and admitting that the team did a poor job in communicating information on injuries.
But when Wilpon said that both Omar Minaya and Manuel must "step up" in 2010, it sounded a lot like the Willie Randolph situation two offseasons ago. Would anyone be surprised if Manuel loses his job in midseason next year? Only by then, Bobby Valentine will be unavailable - perhaps even managing within the division.
Even at this news conference, Manuel was still laughing and joking at inappropriate times. He even suggested that some would consider winning 70 games with this team worthy of being named Manager of the Year. Manuel very quickly said he was joking. But even as a joke, that is a disturbing thing to hear.
Does Manuel understand how disastrous this year was? Perhaps not, since he said the first choice for new coaches would be to promote within the organization. The same organization that has failed to teach the players fundamentals in the first place.
Even the trainers are coming back. Will anyone be held accountable for this miserable season?
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Quick thoughts on the Yankees, and Joe Torre
Seeing Mark Teixeira getting plunked was a very scary moment last night. And seeing CC Sabathia not get his 20th win was depressing.
But I have to say I'm all pleased to see Joe Torre's Dodgers tanking so hard this week. Here's my Faster Times piece on it.
What do you think? Leave us a comment!
But I have to say I'm all pleased to see Joe Torre's Dodgers tanking so hard this week. Here's my Faster Times piece on it.
What do you think? Leave us a comment!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Why Jerry Manuel needs to go, and the Twins are must-see TV
I wrote a few pieces for the Faster Times today on non-Yankee stuff. First up - why I think Jerry Manuel needs to get the old heave-ho from the Mets. I also slam a certain untouchable Met third baseman in the article.
Second thing I wrote is about how the small-market Twins have had some big-time drama as of late. I also slam a certain oft-injured Yankee pitcher in the article.
What do you think? Leave us a comment!
Second thing I wrote is about how the small-market Twins have had some big-time drama as of late. I also slam a certain oft-injured Yankee pitcher in the article.
What do you think? Leave us a comment!
Mets need an early Valentine's Day
For several years, the Mets were a team that appeared to be a piece or two away. In 2006, they needed a closer and cleanup hitter, so they signed Billy Wagner and traded for Carlos Delgado. In 2008, they needed a staff ace, so they traded for Johan Santana. In 2009, they needed a closer and a setup man, so they signed Francisco Rodriguez and traded for J.J. Putz.
Each of these moves worked out for the most part, with the exception of Putz. But going into next year, the Mets are not just a piece or two away. Even if the Mets somehow signed both Matt Holliday and John Lackey, they are not going to the playoffs with a team that is lacking in fundamentals and does not have a winning attitude.
As Newsday's Ken Davidoff points out, the Mets have lost 41 of their last 59 games. Injuries are an excuse for not making the playoffs, but not giving up on the season. Getting swept by the Nationals is merely the latest embarrassment.
Davidoff suggests it is time for Manuel to go, and Metsblog's Matthew Cerrone has endorsed bringing Bobby Valentine back to manage the Mets. Everything that Davidoff and Cerrone say makes a lot of sense to me.
Squawker Lisa wants Manuel gone without hesitation, but I do feel that he has been dealt a bad hand with all the injuries. The biggest problem the Mets have is that, when people got hurt, there was no one to replace them, and that has to fall on Omar Minaya. Maybe I would feel better about getting rid of the likable Manuel if Omar went as well.
But it comes back to losing 41 of 59 in such a listless fashion. The manager may have been dealt a bad hand, but he has played it badly.
For much of the year, the mantra has been, wait till everyone is healthy. But David Wright, Carlos Beltran and John Maine all made it back, and the team lost even more.
By spring training, everyone could be back, but the swagger (whether earned or not) of the last few years is gone). This team no longer looks like a surefire playoff contender, and that starts at the top.
Should Manuel be fired? Should the Mets bring back Valentine? Tell us what you think.
Update: Squawker Lisa has weighed in on Manuel at The Faster Times. Check out her piece "Throw Out the Manuel: Why the Mets Need a New Manager" here.
Photo by jpellgen.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Bring On Your Wrecking Ball: New Bruce Springsteen song suits the Mets
Last night, Squawker Lisa and I went to see Springsteen begin the last set of concerts ever at Giants Stadium before it is torn down. To commemorate the event, Springsteen debuted a new song written specifically for the occasion:
Bring on your wrecking ball
Take your best shot
Lemme see what you've got
Bring on your wrecking ball
Getting swept by the Nationals. Frankie gives up a walkoff grand slam for the second time. And to top it all off, Jose Reyes likely needs surgery. Looks like we've found our new eighth-inning singalong.
Bring on your wrecking ball.
Bring on your wrecking ball
Take your best shot
Lemme see what you've got
Bring on your wrecking ball
Getting swept by the Nationals. Frankie gives up a walkoff grand slam for the second time. And to top it all off, Jose Reyes likely needs surgery. Looks like we've found our new eighth-inning singalong.
Bring on your wrecking ball.
| Video: Bruce Springsteen performs his new song Wrecking Ball at Giants Stadium |
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