I took to the keyboard late today because after the morning chores, I sat down to watch Rangers in 60 on MSG. Yes that’s right I watched the Ranger-Bruins exhibition game from last night and after months of hardship watching the Mets it was good to watch young strong hockey players bust their ass to make a team where the coach is on the lunatic fringe and will only play the guys who give a shit and perform no matter their salary or experience. The exact opposite of how the Mets are managed you might say.

I would have ventured over to 33 st and 8 Ave last night to view the Blueshirts in person but I chose to go to Amazin Tuesday at Two Boots last night and I’m so happy I did. Our Master of Ceremonies Greg Prince did a fine job as usual as did the guest speakers, John Coppinger, Jon Springer , and Jeff Pearlman who told some terrific stories especially on his writing The Bad Guys Won and more tales from the John Rocker Files.

As each of the speakers got up to give their dissertation the TV screens around Two Boots were showing the Mets-Braves game from The Ted. For all our screaming and yelling about the suckyness of our Mets each person in the good size crowd had an eye and two ears on the speakers and one eye on the game, We can say we don’t care but we’re full of shit. We care, oh boy do we care!!!!!!

By the way someday I want Daniel Murphy to meet me and thank me for having his back.

Pedro Feliciano wants a multi-year deal from the Mets. This is the equivalent of your house burning down to the ground and when trying to figure out how to rebuild it your main concern is what type of door knobs to buy. Pedro, on the list of things to do your contract is not any where near the discussion phase.

Although his walk rate and his all round zaniness would concern me, if the Cubs were to take Oliver Perez and say Eddie Kunz for Carlos Zambrano, the Mets would have to make that deal. Zambrano may be nuts but he is effective when he healthy and motivated and coming to NY and tag teamed with fellow Venezuelan Johan Santana might just bring out the best in El Loco.

After giving up a double and a walk, Parnell found himself in a world of trouble. Sam Fuld fouled off two bunt attempts trying to move the runners over. With a two strike count, Fuld then hit away and got a ground ball past the range challenged Luis Castillo to load the bases.

Here Lou Pinella blundered by taking Carlos Zambrano out of the game. Not only was Z pitching a fine game, from hearing the list of proposed pinch hitters on the Cubs bench by Gary Cohen, Zambrano is arguably a better choice with the stick. But Sweet Lou, who looks like he can’t wait to go home to Tampa and the racetrack, chose Mike Fontenot to pinch hit.  Parnell got behind 2-1 on Fontenot and here to me was the most impressive part of Parnell’ start last night, it was the seventh inning and he was still throwing gas, hard enough gas that hitter were not getting around on his fastball. After fouling off a pitch to even the count at 2-2, Parnell threw a beautiful slider that Fontenot chased and swung and missed for strike three and a huge first out K.

Up stepped Fukudome, who would end a tough night going 0 for 5. Now Fukudome had seen Parnell three times prior to this at bat and Parnell had gotten him out on a K, bunt 1-3, and a line out so again the advantage here was to Fukudome with the bags juiced, 1 out and having seen the whole Parnell repertoire of pitches. Again, to Jerry Manuel’ credit, he did not budge from the dugout as he left his young righty who has struggled as a starter try to find a way to get out of this jam.

Fukudome took no time it showing his hand in this at bat as he was aggressive from the first pitch, swinging his home run swing on a fastball but he missed for strike one, which as we all know the most important pitch of an at bat. Parnell then missed with a couple of breaking balls down and in for balls to fall behind 2-1, by the way an outstanding job by Omir Santos after getting crossed up setting up outside and Parnell delivering inside making a backhand block of a pitch that would have scored a run. The 2-1 pitch was Parnell doing what all great pitchers do, he challenged the hitter with his best pitch, the fastball at 97 mph and Fukudome could not catch up with it, and fouled it off to even the count 2-2. Parnell then came back with a pitch down and in again and Fukudome who was looking fastball got all messed up, swung and missed for strike three.

Parnell was one out away from getting out a big league jam. The next batter Ryan Theriot hit a liner right back to Parnell that hit his glove and fell to his feet. Parnell picked it coolly and calmly and threw to first base for the third out leaving to a huge ovation from the $iti Field fans.

In a September of playing out the string this is why we watch Mets baseball. So during the cold winter we can ponder if the Bobby Parnell of the top of the seventh inning on September 4^th can be that Bobby Parnell all season in 2010. As much as we bitch and moan Mets fans about our team, our management, our ownership one thing never waivers, our belief that one day it will all change and turnaround and we will celebrate a championship team. You Gotta Believe? As bad as things are WE ALWAYS BELIEVE!!!!