Archive for April, 2010
Backman Blow-up with the Posse
It’s time for another installment of “Playing for Peanuts,” starring current Brooklyn Cyclones manager Wally Backman. Of course, “Playing for Peanuts” is a TV show about Wally’s team in 2007 – the South Georgia Peanuts. It’s a quirky, crazy story about Wally’s attempted comeback as a professional manager. In retrospect, it was a pretty good [...]
Mets Game 15: Loss to Cubs
Cubs 9 Mets 3 Oliver Perez was so-so, the bullpen was awful, the offense was languid. Put it all together and you end the evening with an “L”. Game Notes Ollie was unlike himself — he was neither spectacular nor awful, but rather, ordinary. Perez allowed 8 hits and walked 3 in 5 innings, throwing [...]
Mets Game 14: Win Over Cubs
Mets 4 Cubs 0 Things are starting to look up for the Mets. Mike Pelfrey pitched 7 strong innings, the offense provided four runs, and the bullpen held up their end of the bargain to give the Mets their sixth win of the season. Game Notes Big Pelf allowed no runs on 3 hits and [...]
Mets Game 13: Win Over Cubs
Mets 6 Cubs 1 Lucky 13 for the Metsies. Jon Niese had a so-so outing, keeping the Mets in the game through almost 6 innings but not hanging around long enough to see the win through. In other words, a spectacular start compared to what we’ve seen from most Mets starters thus far this year. [...]
Inside Look: Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are starting out rough this season, and we are lucky to have fellow ESPN SweetSpot blogger Joe Aiello of “View from the Bleachers” to give us the lowdown. On paper, the Cubs offense looks pretty good. How is it looking on the field thus far? The main issue so far seems to [...]
Bark at the Park Next Saturday
For those who fondly remember “Dog Day at Shea” (Oliver Perez should), there will be a “Bark at the Park” at Citi Field next Saturday, April 24th. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, you can bring your dog to Citi Field to watch the game with you. You will even have the [...]
Mets Game 12: Loss to Cardinals
Cardinals 5 Mets 3 It was only a matter of time. The Mets gave John Maine an early 3-0 lead, but even the most optimistic fan was simply waiting for that advantage to disappear. And disappear it did in the fifth, when Colby Rasmus tattooed a BP fastball over the middle of the plate, sending [...]
Mets Game 11: Win Over Cardinals
Mets 2 Cardinals 1 A marathon, to say the least. Fittingly, I’m currently in Boston, where a marathon is taking place on Monday. No, I’m not running, and not even sticking around to watch it. I’m here for business, working a different kind of marathon: a wine tasting event that went from noon to 11 [...]
Inside Look: Cardinals
Fellow ESPN SweetSpot blogger Matthew Philip agreed to do a Q&A regarding the St. Louis Cardinals. I meant to get this up prior to the series, but it’s still relevant and insightful. Matthew is the lead blogger for “Fungoes“, which is a saber-slanted site. Oh, and it just so happens there is a similar Q&A [...]
Mets Game 10: Loss to Cardinals
Cardinals 4 Mets 3 If I told you Oliver Perez pitched into the seventh inning, allowing only one run on four hits, you’d probably think that either I had the wrong information or that the Mets won the game. Yet, Perez DID put up that performance, and the Mets lost. Wasting a rare occasion of [...]
Mets Game 9: Win Over Rockies
Mets 5 Rockies 0 Mike Pelfrey stepped up to be the stopper, taking the bull by the horns in the Rocky Mountains to shut out Colorado through seven strong innings. Game Notes Pelfrey allowed only 5 hits and walked none in 7 innings, striking out 6. He was the first Met in 2010 to pitch [...]
Maine Will Revert to Old Ways
Believe it or not, the Mets had a communications breakdown prior to last night’s ballgame. To get the full story, listen to Rich Coutinho’s report on 1050ESPNRadio’s “Baseball Tonight” (Coutinho comes on at the tail end, during the last 10 minutes or so). The gist of it was this: When asked if Maine would remain [...]
David Wright Sugercoats No More
After last night’s loss, Mets manager Jerry Manuel offered up this quote (courtesy of Adam Rubin): “We have to keep positive,” Manuel said. “I think there were a lot of good things that happened tonight for an early-in-the-season ballgame. We fought back. We had a few chances, too. We have yet to solve the issue [...]
Mets Game 8: Loss to Rockies
Rockies 6 Mets 5 The Mets showed signs of life by fighting back, but it was too little, too late. Potential stopper Jon Niese was disappointing and ineffective, giving away an early 1-0 lead and then a 3-1 lead, leaving the game after five innings in which he allowed 5 runs on 9 hits and [...]
Wally is Back, Man … Sort Of
You may have noticed a new ad for “Playing for Peanuts” over on the right side of the blog. As some of you may remember, “Playing for Peanuts” was a reality/documentary show about minor league baseball that aired on SNY. The show followed the South Georgia Peanuts and their manager – former Mets 2B and [...]
