I guess I should be gracious and congratulated the Highlanders on not only winning the World Series but finally putting an end to this miserable baseball season, and thankful they ended before the season’s first snowfall.

For all of my fellow Mets fans who wanted Pedro Martinez on the team to fill a starters spot, and second thoughts? Even though Hideki Matsui has not had much success against Petey over the years, the way the at bat was going in the second inning you just knew Matsui was going to tag him. Matsui was like a boxer sizing up his opponent, jabbing, jabbing with foul balls, then just missing with a left but the jabbing again then going for the knockout with the home run.

The best line I read all morning came from Mike Vaccaro when talking about whether Charlie Manuel should have pulled Petey in third before Matsui plated two more runs with a single:

     Everyone inside the ballpark knew that Martinez had no shot against Matsui, who’d gotten so many great swings in that first at-bat, Then he pulverized a Pedro pitch that barely fell foul down the right-field line, missing a bases-clearing double by inches.

It was here, if Pedro’s name was Pete Martin and he wasn’t a proud future Hall of Famer, Charlie Manuel might have said “Enough!” and gone with a left-hander like the warming J.A. Happ to try to finish the at-bat and keep the Phillies close. But this isn’t Pete Martin. It’s Pedro Martinez. And he tried to sneak a fastball past Matsui that wouldn’t stay snuck. A two-run single followed. And the first bursts of bedlam fell from the stands.

Remember the praise I gave McCarver after Game 1? Well I would like to retract the compliment as Mac-C transformed back into Tim McFullofshit the rest of the way.

Remember back, oh about nine years ago when Matt Franco was a Met? Wasn’t it known that his uncle was none other than actor Kurt Russell? And didn’t Russell parade around in a Mets cap during the 2000 World Series? But now that his “step-daughter” Kate Hudson is shacking up with Alex Centaur-riguez he’s cheering for the Highlanders like he grew up on the Grand Concourse. And what’s up with Rudy Giulliani and his wax figure wife (and that hair Geez Louise Judy G find a stylist will ya!) looking like a couple waiting for the early bird special. And why does Rudy squint like that all time making that rat face?

Now that the 2009 baseball season is over, let’s role up our sleeves and get to work we got a lot to do. Grab a shovel!!!!

Intimidation is a major component in a sporting endeavor. The ability to get into your opponents head will make the difference between winning and losing when the physical aspect is so close, like it is in this World Series. The Highlanders have always liked to use this physiological warfare when dealing with an opponent. Whether it is the constant in stadium bombardment of how many championships they have won or trotting out old time players or prominent political hacks or just flaunting their monetary wealth, the Highlander are masters of head games. Sometimes is works, but sometimes it doesn’t and it looks likes this World Series is one of those times it doesn’t.

You think Cliff Lee is intimidated buy the Bronx Bastards or their palatial surroundings? Not in the least. When asked twice last night after his Game 1 gem first by Fox garden gnome, Ken Rosenthal, if he was nervous and then by Baseball Network’s Trenni Kusnierek, Lee just shrugged and said “What do I have to be nervous about” Lee went on to say that he prepared and did all his side work so he was ready to go and when you do your proper prep work what’s there to worry about? This was the same attitude that Josh Beckett had when his Marlins and Red Sox beat the Highlanders as well. Mystique and Aura, HA! My ass.

CC Sabathia did a good job last night but this biggest fault was falling behind in counts and the inability to throw strike one on a first pitch. Against Chase Utley he fell behind on his first pitch to the Philly second baseman 1-0 but came back to gain a 1-2 advantage as Utley just missed on two fastballs fouling them off. Utley then made Sabathia work by after getting the count even, Utley fouls off two more pitches and then CC misses for ball three and a full count to Utley. So now Utley has seen eight pitches in this at bat and the whole CC portfolio, now with two outs the last thing Sabathia wants is to walk Utley and bring up Ryan Howard with a man on. So CC tries to bust on inside on Utley but the pitches gets a little too much plate and Utley sends just barely over the right field wall for a 1-0 Philly lead. Sabathia pitched a terrific game but some times when you hook up against a guy who is tossing a classic, who have to be better than terrific.

If I’m Joe Girardi, I’d be very concerned about Phil Hughes. Hughes has been awful this October and the grumbling is he’s scared shit. Not a good rep to have and barking at home plate ump Gerry Davis doesn’t help his bad reputation either.

Speaking of Joey G, I’m done trying to figure out his bullpen moves. After the Phil Hughes melt down of walking Victorrino and Rollins, JG brought in Damaso Marte to go lefty-lefty with Utley and Howard. Now with Werth up JG goes with David Robinson who had nothing as he gave up a four pitch walk to Werth. Now you have the lefty Ibanez with in a bases loaded situation and the Highlanders down 2-0. The situation was calling for Phil Coke. But JG leaves in Robertson who gives up a two run single to Ibanez and 2-0 lead is now a 4-0 lead for Philly. That Ibanez AB was the turning point in the game as far as I’m concerned, the game was over at that point.

I’m fascinated by tonight’s match up of Petey and Pie Man. Petey is a Hall of Fame pitcher who like Cliff Lee will not be intimidated by the surroundings of this game. On the other hand, Pie Man has not shown the ability to step up his game in a big spot. You could say when it’s time to put up AJ Burnett is more cream puff than lemon meringue.

My ambition meter is on empty today so I’m just warning you.

Weather wise it is one miserable day in NYC, rain and cold and just the kind of day to stay home and do nothing, which is what I plan to do. The forecast calls for the rain to stop or just go to drizzle and from the sound of things Game 1 of the Satan Series should go off on time. Whoop-Dee-Fucking-Do.

Don’t if you seen this video of the Phuck Phace fan and the on-air, reporter but all I can say is stay classy scrapple eaters.

Remember back in the summer when Brian Brunney was talking shit about Frankie Rodriguez and Rodriguez sort him out “meet you in the school yard” style?  Funny, but Brunney’ season went to shit after that didn’t it?

Do you miss Willie Randolph? “We’re  battling, We’re fighting…….I’ll be out of a job soon”

Ok, stop crying check this one out and wipe your tears.

WE GOT THE TEAMWORK, TO MAKE THE DREAM WORK…LETS GO METS.   

Keep the faith fellow Mets fans, KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Pro Baseball Central tonight at 9PM EDST on Blog Talk Radio we will discuss the surging Mets and Johan Santana’s performance in Game 1 of the day/nighter plus we’ll keep an eye on Jon Niese in Game 2. We will tie up the loose ends on the Omar/Tony B fiasco and we will have as our guest Shannon Shark from The Mets Police. We’ ll cover those topics plus Mets uniforms, Old Timers Day and a day at $iti Field and you can join in the conversation as well at (646) 595-4462  

If you can’t join us live you can listen to the podcast at our Pro Central Baseball site or right here at TEKS.

What’s the big deal about Johan Santana pitching in the All Star Game? I know he threw 114 pitches on Saturday but com’on if he gets in the game he’ll only toss one inning anyway which is maybe 17-20 pitches tops. Nolan Ryan shakes his head in disgust.

I’m piss at Petey for the fact that he is signing with the Phillies. If he signed any place else even the South Bronx I would be as pissed. I defend Petey here as I’ve been a fan since his Expo days and looked at his signing as a big jump in creditability. Petey for the most part never lived up to his contract with the Mets but was always received like a King by the fans. But the Phillies?  Petey you disgust me!!!!!

So the question is, have we seen the best of A-Rod? Welcome to the post PED Baseball Era. This is why sure I’d love Roy Halliday on my team but I’m not giving him a new contract and Halliday is last player the Mets need. Your seeing the shift already with younger, faster players taking center stage in baseball hopefully Omar takes notice.

“Who lives in a pineapple under the sea”……….. Maybe Spongebob Square Pants could buy the Mets?

The Mets Police has a clip from NEWSDAY on the Mets making adjustment to $iti Field like a video board in RF, more Mets-centric memorabilia throughout the park and getting the thumbs up from MLB to show the game live on the video scream to help those with obstructed views. Now if they can find a way to mange the line at the Shake Shack where you don’t have to get into a fist fight when some asshole tries to cut the line I’ll be happy.

I watched the Home Run Derby last night and here are some thoughts that ran through my head:

• It’s too bad Michael Jackson is dead as he could have put the Home Run Derby on a continuous loop to help him with his sleeping problems. In fact next year I’m going to take drugs before watching the HRD again

• Can someone get Erin Andrews a meal? Christ, she is so gaunt she could star in her own After School Special. I don’t get the fascination with Andrews, I can walk out right now on West Broadway and find 20 women way hotter than her, guys who need to put on pants and get out of Moms basement.
• I had this awful nightmare, Steve Phillips, Joe Morgan, and Chris Berman were announcing the Home Run Derby, then Doofus Joe Buck showed up and all the did was talk about Doofus Joe’s dead father. Then Berman kept using these tired old nicknames and calls and he was sitting in this huge container that was collecting the cascade of sweat that was pouring off him that was used like generated the electricity back to Bristol. Then Joe Morgan started speaking in tongues and all kinds of snakes and serpents were flying out of his ears, and Steve Phillips was having sex with a midget who was toweling off Albert Pujols. WHOA that was scary…….what that wasn’t a dream? It was real? AGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Looks like Good Ollie has made his 2009 debut tonight so far it’s 2-1 Mets after 5 hopefully Good Ollie can last until the 7th so the firm of Putz & Rodriguez can close this one out.

Long day today as my kids are still home on Easter break so we had to hit the city for the day of theatre lunch and shopping so I’m beat and broke ( a bad combination ) so after reading my e-mails I’m ready for baseball and hockey for the evening.

Back in the A.M

Well, first you try and bribe the fan base by offering a ticket to game 1 of the $iti Field era for the purchase of 5 more games. This is head spinning because the Mets wanted to be rid of us Seven-Pack ticket buyers as we were a nussience as it wasn’t worth the time and trouble to keep us on because the ticket demand at $iti would be off the charts. Well for the cheaper seats they were but the high rollers who wouldn’t know a curve ball from a High Ball are now hurtin’ for certain in this weak economy.

So becasue of that the Mets are now auctioning off opening day tickets in the exclusive Stuff Shirt section of the ball park so if you have an extra $525 laying around the couch cushions log on and put your bid in or better yet keep that cushion cash, order a pizza and watch the game on TV.