Last night’s hour long PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL show, went by in a flash thanks our own Yankee-Doodle, Michael calling in and Matt Silverman coming on to talk about the ’69 Mets. Some of the topics I wanted to get to in the opening of the show got pushed back as I went on a bit of a Fernando Martinez rant, so I guess I’ll touch on those here.

By the way I got to see F-Mart’s AB last night with the bases loaded and two out in the Dominican Republic v. Venezuela Caribbean World Series game. Martinez did not get a hit in the AB but it was an impressive turn at the plate that lasted 10 pitches until he hit a foul pop that was caught by the Venezuelan right fielder.

I’m not anti-Fernando in any way; I just want the kid to stop acing like he’s a 27 year old journeyman who has never gotten a chance and be the 20 year old who plays so well this spring that he beats out Angel Pagan to be Carlos Beltran’s understudy.

Looks like me and Orlando Hudson have something in common; we both will never play second base for the Mets. So after all the debate about second base for the Mets what’s done is done, Luis Castillo is the Mets second baseman for better or worse till death due us part (or until Reese Havens can prove he can play at the big league level) for 2010.

What is the under/over on how many times Gary Cohen or Howie Rose say “Just out of the reach of Castillo, for a base hit” this season? Let’s set the number at 75.

The last place in the world I thought I’d ever see the name Municipal Credit Union would be on a ball park marquee.  I wonder if those of us with accounts at MCU will get a discount on Cyclones tickets.

I’m very happy for Nelly Figs and his great performance the other day for DR in the Caribbean Series but it wasn’t like he was pitching against the Phillies or Highlanders, it was against Mexico and 45 year old  270 lb Vinny Castila, The Big Fajita!

Maybe things are not as bleak for the Mets as we think. FOX has the Amazin’s scheduled for broadcast 8 times this coming season and one of the games is a prime timer versus the Bronx Bastards.

Maple Street Press is coming out with it’s Mets Annual in a few weeks and there will be a section on the Mets Blogosphere, that will include yours truly.

Matt Silverman is putting out a revised paperback version of his book “100 Things Mets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die” 

Ok, now that Christmas and New Years are over, time to get back to work. That means you Omar Minaya. It’s nice that Jason Bay is going to turn his head and cough for the Mets quacks and the cold cut platter from King Kullen will be laid out at the Shotgun Shuba Room at $iti Field by tomorrow but until Omar and Co. sign or trade for at least two legitimate starting pitchers, well just call me under whelmed.

The Sports God’s must really hate me my guts. First, they torture me all summer with the Mets and then they tease me with the New York Football Giants going 5-0 and then amp me up with a game against the undefeated Nawlin’s Saints only to get the ass handed to them. From that game, the season went down the shitter. Now the Boston Celtics, the one team I root for that shows any heart and fight, are now bitten by the injury bug. Down goes Paul Pierce, KG, Marquis Daniels, and my man Rondo. The NY Rangers either win or lose games 2-1 depending on whether Marion Gaborik scores 1 or 2 goals. My only hope for a good run through the playoffs are the C’s as long as the PP, KG, and Rondo can stay on the court.

Let me add my voice to the “Bring David Cone to SNY” campaign. Talk about your no-brainers. Coney in studio and as a back up to Mex and Ron Darling is a perfect fit. In fact how about letting Gary Cohen get a day off or two and put Mex, Darling and Coney to do the play by play.  Com’on SNY this one is on a platter for you guys.

A must see today is this post from The Mets Police, with a exquisite collection of Mets Pennants. It makes me think back to when the vendors would be outside Shea with  souvenir boards filled with pennants, buttons with action shots of Mets players, and key chains with Mr. Met on them.

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!!!!

I was 11 years old (same as Gary Cohen) when the Mets became World Champions. You see all the negativism and anger from this current Mets fans base? Well now picture the complete opposite of that and you have the feel for what it was like around here in 1969.

Think of this for the first time in the history of newspapers the NY Daily News ran a COLOR front page just for the Mets. The news also sold buttons with GO METS on them and every Sunday had portraits of Mets players as inserts in the paper. Channel 9 the TV home of the Mets showed just about every game and all the games were on radio (WJRZ 970 AM) and Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner were the guys we brought into our homes for every game.

The Mets were not just the talk of NY but of the whole country they were truly America’s team. This was an organization that was looked at as loveable losers until the Quiet Man took over and put an end to that kind of thinking. It was Gil Hodges who set the tone for the club. As Mets fans we all know of the love and devotion that Tom Seaver had for Hodges, not an appearance goes by when The Franchise doesn’t invoke the name of Hodges his stories. But the most told story about Hodges and his team always is about him taking out Cleon Jones during a game against the Astros on July 30 1969 for lack of hustle.

During his time on the SNY broadcast, Jones told that the only Hodges and he knew what really happened that day. Jones went on to say how Hodges didn’t yell or scream or get in his face he just told Jones that we can’t play like this if were going to win  and Jones realized right there that is wasn’t business as usual for the Mets. Hodges meant what he said in spring training that the loser mentality stops here and now and Jones knew after getting lifted from that game that the team was destined to win.

Some observation from last night’s ceremony:

I love how Eddie Yost came out and was still giving signs, and leave it to Howie Rose to remember that Lindsey Nelson would always say “and Eddie Yost, the sign man is coaching at third base…….”

Wayne Garret and Gary Gentry must have found the fountain of youth, both guys look like they could still play.

You know you’re an old time Mets fan, when you not only can recognize Duffy Dyer but your happy as hell to see him.

Here is the legacy of Yogi Berra, he is the only man other than the Pope who could get a standing ovation in both Highlander Stadium and $iti Field.

I loved how the music of 1969 was intertwined with the introduction of the players but I wish SNY would have left the cameras on the players instead of showing videos of them in their playing day. It’s called capture the moment fellas’

The biggest ovations of the night were for Bob Murphy’s widow and for Ralph Kiner and rightfully so.

I don’t I have ever seen Jerry Grote look so happy as he did last night. I wish he was with the Mets in some capacity as that is what the organization misses an Grote like mentality. I still can see him throwing back a ball to the pitcher at about 95 mph when he was pissed off at him for either crossing him up or not hitting his spot and non of the pitchers ever challenging him.

I’m glad Gary Cohen mentioned Ken Boswell not being there and not being acknowledged on the field. It seems Boswell had a falling out with the organization an declined the invitation to come. This is where the Skill Sets are absolutely clue less. With their track history, the Skill Sets are probably at fault here and should have made amends with Boswell to get him last nights ceremony. Boswell too should not be so cranky as to snub this reunion as I’m sure he feels hurt that the Mets treated him wrong (join the club Kenny) but he may regret it for a long time not being at $iti Field last night.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, Tom Seaver is THE FRANCHISE!!!!

There may be no more underrated sports performer in this town than Jerry Koosman. The chant back then was “We can’t loose with Seaver and Kooz”

After watching Big Pelf suffer through another bad outing and a partial melt down on the mound where I think it’s now at least three straight stats that D-Wright had to go to the mound early to have a heart to heart with Pelf.  Add the struggle back from injury to John Maine,  Bobby Parnell’ difficulty making pitching adjustments the second time around,  Ollie P being Ollie P, Tim Redding not rehabbing correctly from off season surgery, not dealing with J J Putz injured elbow and back to the reporting to pitchers and catchers in late February when Johan Santana seemed to be on a training schedule that did more harm than good and the whispers that maybe it was a mistake caning The Jacket, Old School Dan Werthen should be squarely in the cross hairs of management to be the first coach relived of duties by the end of the weekend.

As much as Rick Peterson is one of the great pitching minds around it wasn’t a mistake to fire him during the season and when Old School Werthen came on board he made a difference but it seems to me that Werthen is either fed up or just out of ideas on how to get the best out of the Mets pitching staff. The most telling non-move from last night that brings me to this conclusion was the fact that Werthen never left the dugout in the first inning when Pelfrey was struggling with his command especially his fastball that was up, up and away, even Gary Cohen couldn’t believe that Werthen never came out after first Wright then Santos went out to check on the young righty as the situation was crying for an old head intervention. Maybe Werthen has given up, maybe he’s tired of going out there and spewing the same old advice, maybe he’d love to put his foot up Pelfrey’s ass but management is holding him back. Whatever it is, it’s a problem and one that needs to be addressed not for this season as this season is over but for 2010 and beyond.

Are you getting the vibe that J-Man may not want to be fired as Mets manager? Last night during his post game presser Manuel made a joke at the expense of the Mets medical staff, that validated those of us that have questioned the front office, the training staff and the doctors.  When asked about Gary Sheffield leaving in the 5^th with a leg problem, Manuel said “They’re calling it cramps,…. surgery is Thursday” and then he let out a laugh which translates to me Manuel saying to the fans “you guys are right this organization is a joke” After realizing that his boss will not be happy with his comment (J-Man has been called on the carpet about talking about making trades to bring in reinforcements) he tired to get SNY to not air the footage, fat chance Jerry besides you said nothing that we weren’t thinking ourselves.

Last night looks to be Tim Redding’ last appearance as a Met word in the NYDN is Redding will be released and another move in the minus column for Omar. I said back in spring that Redding looked fat and out of shape but just his track record alone should have been a red flag for the Mets to sign him. But don’t worry Julio Lugo is working out at the Mets academy in the D.R. and will be here once he passes waviers. The longggggggggggggggggggggg summer continues.

The headline on Adam Rubin’ story says” Mets Deny Claims That Jose Reyes Suffered A Set Back in Port St. Luice” The Mets are also denying that today is Saturday, water is wet and the organization is in FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond All  Recogntion) mode.

Dave Singer does it again with a great clip of Jonathan Papelpon going ape shit over D-Wright’ throw from closer to left field than third base to Luis Castillo with the big ssstttrrreeeccchhhh for a force of Youkilis.

O-MIR SAN-TOS,…. O-MIR SAN-TOS,…. O-MIR SAN-TOS….Good luck getting your job back Brian Schneider. This will be on to watch as no way J-Man wants Santos going to Buffalo and with all the injuries the team has suffered look for three catchers on the 25 man roster. If I’m Jeremy Reed I’m a little nervous right now.

Another strong start by Big Pelf as that ERA drops again after every start. Good job by the sports shrink he visited as well as he was yip free last night.

Man I thought I was a Highlander Hater but Gary Cohen has us all beat

My Babe Ruth League team won for just the second time this season as my top pitcher K’d 10 and we played flawless defense. Maybe the message will finally get through to them throw strikes, limit walks and play solid D wins games. Right Jerry?

I’m off to Englishtown Flea Market today with my radio and headphones to listen to the game. We need this trip because you can almost see there is this spot in my garage that is vacant so I need some crap to fill it. Never have enough crap. Plus I’m looking for another catchers mask and a first baseman’s glove.

Kevin Youkils is lucky he didn‘t get more than hit in the elbow last night. Remember last season before Manny Ramirez was shipped out of Boston he kicked Youks ass as he got tired of him throwing his helmet after making an out in the Red Sox dugout.

Next on the walking wounded list is Ryan Church you claims to have teak a hammy so now the Mets will play two position players down.

Bravo Gary Cohen and I think I speak for the vast majority of Mets fans who HATE hearing Sweet Caroline at $iti Field. Please Gary you are the one with the ear of the nit wits in management. Your our only hope.

A must read is Matt Cerrone’s piece on his tour of $iti Field and it looks as if after all the bitching and moaning over the name and price of tickets and all the other minutia that myself and others have spewed all winter we can enjoy the fact that we have a first class ballpark to call our own that will be very different for our Shea experience.

I’m curious to know where you guys stand on the new studio team of Chris Carlin and Bobby Ojeda?. For me I’d say it’s a huge upgrade over Snoozeoff and Boardwalk Lee. I like Carlin. I always thought he was a good listen on WFAN and he did a good job covering the New York Football Giants as he has a jolly good personality. As for Bobby-O , he has star potential. I met Ojeda a few years ago when he was the pitching coach in Brooklyn and he knows baseball, is very opinionated and is funny as hell. The post game banter between Ojeda and Mex will be Must See TV mark my words.

Speaking of Keith Hernandez, he and Ron Darling will be handling the play by play for tonight’s Mets-Nats game on SNY. No Gary and no Burkhardt. I hope someone has their finger on the dump button.

And speaking of Gary Cohen, he has advanced to the Mets Greatest Announcers Championship Round at Amazin’ Avenue’ against Bob Murphy. Talk about your tough decisions. I had to put a lot of thought into whom I was voting for. So I went and did what I always do when I have a big decision to make, I went for a slice of pizza and a Manhattan Special. When I got back to my office, I went to my keyboard and made my choice. I am proud to announce that The Eddie Kranepool Society has backed Gary Cohen and will vote for him as the greatest announcer in Mets history. I think what swayed me was the fact I’m wearing my “It’s Outta Here” t-shirt today.