Cryin’ Church… professional baseball player extraordinaire! Master of the basepaths! Amazin’ Time is Guaranteed For All! 5/18/09

Feo juego! Feo juego! άσχημος παιχνίδι! άσχημος παιχνίδι! Ugly Game! Ugly Game!

After that nasty affair, there’s nothing to do but put a bag over your TV and go to bed. I want to thank Ryan Church for putting on an incompetence show in the middle of the night. You can see why Jerry was brushing him off all spring training.

Some notes from the ugly gift wrapped loss to Fred Wilpon’s favorite team:

• Pagan looks like he’s ready to go on a roll, which also means he’s ready to run into a moving train/ acquire the world worst paper cut/ give birth
• Castillo, my friend … why are you bunting in the 8th with Pagan on 2nd? That was a nice little rally killer.
• Back to Pagan, he sped around 3rd on Sheffield’s pool cue shot to tie the game and WENT THROUGH THE CATCHER. Not around the catcher, or prancing over the catcher, but THROUGH him. He gets the real man award of the day. I hope Wright, Beltran, Delgado (from his TV at home) & the rest of camp Barbie took notice
• Wade was spooked by Sheffield nibbler and he walked Wright, but Tatis couldn’t finish the job
• Speaking of Wade, I hate looping curve balls… I can never get 06 out of my head
• Razor Shines is a funny guy
• Ramon Martinez is as defenseless as Brian Schneider at the plate. Why do our backups always get hurt right after the starter does?
• Angle Pagan spits on his batting gloves… what’s the point? More important, is THAT what makes players run through catchers?? Did I mention I saw a Met run into a catcher yesterday. I really did!
• 

  Something on his mind?

  Ryan Church, Ryan Church, Ryan Church. In the 9th, the Dodgers throw at Pagans head (they do this sometimes in baseball in case you don’t watch other teams) and Ryan gets picked off first. Luckily the umpire didn’t see that and called him safe. If he would have gotten picked off, his uniform would have remained clean, so at least they could have saved money on Liquid Tide. Ok, so he was scared to slide… no big deal there right? Then as the go ahead run, he can’t even do the sanding up thing right as he MISSES THIRD BASE as the lead run and costs us the game.

• The bottom of the 11th was hysterical. It looked like I personally stepped into a cloning machine and took every position. The ball looked like it was on fire and nobody wanted to hold on to it.
• Check out the “Silent Assassin” throwing Pagan (the only man who did anything last night) under the bus “”
  

  God wanted me to call him out!

  I called for the ball like six times,” Beltran said. “But Pagan stood in the middle and I couldn’t put my glove on the ball. On a ball like that, I have priority. If Pagan would have called for that ball, my job is to get out of the way. He’s been in center field before, so he knows that when the center fielder calls for the ball, everyone has to get out of the way.”"

• Yeah…uhhhh… shut up and don’t call out your teammate to excuse your own ass.
• Manuel was maaaaaad. Did you see him glare at Church right after it happened and then look away from him as he walked by? I think Church should get one of those ass cushions they use for hernia patients because he’ll be sitting for awhile
• Also, I liked how Ryan made a big deal about it to at least pretend he touched the base and get the umps talking. He didn’t? Oh yeah that’s right… he didn’t.

• 

  Arrrgghhh!! Buy my crappy plastic product!

  SNY “Slap Chop” guy looks like he’s hyped up on speed. Watching him drool and flip his head around with the sound off as I’m writing this post is very disturbing.

Now they want me to say up and watch again tonight? Sheesh….

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, New York Mets 2009-2010, Nik Kolidas

The Quiet Assassin Strikes Again. 5/12/09

Just like that it was taken away from them. Having eked out a 2-0 lead on a stable Mike Pelfrey; they took to the late innings to finish the job as they had season after season in Flushing.

Jair Jair Jurrjens Lotion had nailed down the Mets for seven tense innings and as they entered the 8th it was clear the game was his to lose. The Braves capped it off with one more run off the slightly tainted JJ Putz and the solid 3-0 lead win theirs. He was always lurking though wasn’t he?

The quiet assassin lay dormant in centerfield. Waiting. Waiting to allow the Braves to get inches from their victory.. to smell it, to taste it. It was just then that it was all going to be ripped away from them.

The assassin’s buddies chipped away in the bottom of the 8th as Lotion loses it and Jackie Robinson’s Reyes doubles to the gap to score two, but then shows his lack of judgment and gets nailed at third. Inning over. Still the assassin lay dormant. It wasn’t time yet.

Frankie Ghostbusters comes in and somehow keeps the Braves quite in the 9th… a feat no Mets relief pitcher in the last 20 years would have been able to do. The Benitez Meter begins to start it’s motor….

*cue music*

Finally the 9th inning comes and the quiet assassin comes to the plate. Before the Braves “closer” Mike Gonzalez could take a breath, the assassin was standing on 2nd. He never saw it coming. Recomposing himself, he focuses in and predictably nails David Wright, but wait… the assassin is on 3rd. How did he get there? The ump didn’t see and for that I am thankful. Finally, a lazy fly ball and calmly and quietly… the game is tied and the assassin is off the field.

If you blinked, you missed the top of the 10th as Frankie Rodriguez continued to bury old ghosts and took out the Braves once again. Finally, the 10th ended as the NLCS did a few years ago, but this time with a happier ending. Tony Bennett ate a bucket of Kenny Rogers and the game was done. The last man standing, was the quiet assassin who put down his bat, took of his cap and walked away.

Notes from today

• Carlos Beltran is an animal
• Wright should have gone in feet first in the 7th, but I like the hustle
• Jose give it and Jose take it away. Is anything more emblematic of Reyes than what happened in the 8th inning where he scores two runs on a gapper and get nailed as the tying run at third?
• Luis Castillo is doing his job
• Tatis being picked off in the 9th was really sloppy. This team still needs to be more careful, but again  I like the aggressiveness.
• I kind of respect Chipper now that the Braves stink, but it’s like getting teased by an old past his prime bully. The Mets need to make the last years of his baseball career a plentiful bounty of losses and October vacations.
• 10th inning gets blown by Wagner last year if Heilman makes it through the 9th (which he wouldn’t have)
• Clutch SB by Jackie Robinson Reyes in the 10th
• Nice walk by Shrek to bring the assassin to the plate
• Reverse Rogers! I love it!
• Chipper was really mad at the umps after the game… was he also mad when Maddux & Glavine were stealing as many calls as Michael Jordan in the 90′s?

All in all, the Braves can suck it. I hope they lose every game they ever play always forever. The Benitez Meter is now at 9!

Chipper Cry. Is nice. Like my sister.

 

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Benitez Meter Games, Game recaps 2009, New York Mets 2009-2010, Nik Kolidas

5/8/09 Mets don’t let down after a big series. Yeah, I’m shocked too.

It's all Bud's fault. Everything is always Bud's fault.

Ok, so I turn on the game and see my team in their softball uniforms and I wonder how I forgot they were playing in Pittsburgh tonight. Then, upon further review, I realize it’s Citi Field, home of the Shake Shake & Dodger Dogs. Please Charlie Samuels, for the love of all things right in the world, dig a deep hole and bury those jerseys. I get joy watching the Mets play in their REAL uniforms. If it doesn’t look like a Met or play in Shea… is it really a Met? Anyhow the game…

Jimmy's all ready for his big day

 

News Flash *POP* *FLASH* Read all about it!!! Mets finally beat up on crap team!! Let me be the first to say, Thank you Phillies. Thank you for waking up my dead ball club with your stupid shenanigans, terrible rotation and Mets obsession. Also, special thanks to Chipper & The Braves for the fantastic vacation in Atlanta. Well boys and girls, somehow, someway, we have ourselves a team here.

 

 

Some notes from today’s game:

• Delgado is hitting some well placed ropes with good bat control for a old man with hip issues.. That was a really nice shot to end the game in the 8th
• Niese is looking pretty good and composed on the mound… no walks! (hear that Ollie??)
• The Pirates suck.
• Bobby Parnell is a nasty nasty beast of a man who should be caged and only let out in the late innings
• Nice clutch hit for Beltran off… whooooo was that again?
• Ah yes, our former 5th starter Tyler Yates. Good to see he’s still pitching really well
• JJ didn’t seem to want to go home. Friday IS garbage night in NYC and maybe he was hoping his wife would take it out before he got home.

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

All the criticism and adversity seems to have tweaked some egos in Metsland and all of the sudden we’re seeing some pride leak out from the former walking dead. Maybe watching Johan and Frankie Rodriguez star as fearless “Ghostbusters” (Slaying Ghosts of season’s past) embarrassed those that refused to push the envelope. No matter how it happened, I’m glad it did. As critical as I can be, I really want this team to win badly. I want this core to prove Francesca wrong over and over again this year…

So far, they’ve done it five times in a row.

 Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, New York Mets 2009-2010, Nik Kolidas

4/27/09 Mets make effort! Really.. I’m not kidding…

Fate seems to have stepped in and given the Mets a set of training wheels. In the form of glorious injuries, the Met are forced to replace players that don’t care enough (Delgado), aren’t impactful enough (Castillo), don’t hit enough (Schneider) and getting mindfucked in the outfield (Murphy) with players that are ready to show this team the effort they need to bring to be a champion. Sometimes, it’s not about the most talent, but rather the most heart.

Santos Claus is good for this team

First, back pain from heaven erased the world worst hitting professional baseball player and gave us Santos Claus. While maybe not the most talented guy in the world, the man is making an effort. Sadly, when your team’s stars sleepwalk, someone fighting for a job is a breath of fresh air. I swear that blast had reindeer attached to it. With one swing, I felt a huge exhale from the team. He also has the pitchers’ attention and isn’t a log jam on the bases. When Charlie O’Brien comes back, I’d just release him (or try to trade him for more Pee Wee Reese jerseys to sell in the Mets store).

 

Delgado will get up in a moment…

Second, our “Chatty Cathy” first baseman hurt his hip humping & trading “Hello Kitty” stickers with Albert Pujols and in comes an actual baseball player fighting for a job. I almost forgot Tatis is actually good. I love the “baby Manny” swing and the hustling. Honestly, I know Delgado has some nice power, but I don’t feel any difference with Tatis at the plate as far as overall production. I hope that hip doesn’t destroy Delgado’s swing, but does turn him into a platoon player with Tatis. Again, sometimes wanting to keep your job is better than talented and lazy (I can’t wait until Sleepy Carlos is off this team. I don’t even care if he hits, he doesn’t take things seriously enough for my taste).

 

Winning is everything

Third, Sheffield is still dangerous and Murphy isn’t ready for full time duty. Yes, I said it. Murphy has a nice bat to watch, but he’s way too green and while he might be turning into a great major leaguer… his psyche will be destroyed if he’s allowed to lose game after game in left. I know Sheff dropped a ball (it’ll happen), but he’s a professional hitter who scares pitchers and is no worse with the stick than Delgado. Between resting Castillo, Delgado & Murphy…. Tatis & Sheffield should be in the lineup together almost every day for awhile

 

Some other thoughts:

• Welcome back John Maine. I know you’re not totally there yet, but it’s nice to have one less pitcher to worry about.
• Maybe not using Krod much this early helps reduce the damage done by the exasperating WBC
• I’m sad that it looks like Tim Redding will be our 5th starter before long.
• The no finger lady is really rivaling the hole in throat guy for most disgusting ad ever on SNY. I haven’t the slightest idea who has all this money to run these ads all the time. Where are they getting this money from? How about letting smokers smoke and just sending me a check?
• Swine flu isn’t fatal, so I’m not grasping what all the terror is about.  We eat pigs right?

We need to attract more fans like this…

Hey, did you know the Jets are on SNY? Really… they are! I’m, not sure you know … the Jets Jets Jets! There’re on SNY!! Thanks for wasting my sacred Mets time forcing me to listen to some kid who doesn’t know who Tom Seaver is and admittedly isn’t a baseball fan talk about stuff I don’t care about. I’m tried of MLB moving aside for football at all times. Hey Bud… FU and have some balls. Fine teams for imposing competing sports onto team broadcasts. You can say it’s a special case because it’s a local story, but it bothered the hell out of me.  Being a Mets fan (not a Joe Beningo passing the time until football season fan, but an actual one), there isn’t enough time in the day to worry about another sport.   Being a Mets fan is a full time job.

I want to see this team go out the next two games and destroy the Marlins. They need to start behaving like a top team and with all the dead weight hurting on the bench… this is the time.

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, Nik Kolidas

4-16 09 Mets lose to crap Padres again

I'll score later Peg...

So here I am, disgusted with the flaccid di-ck of a baseball team I watch when I see yet another hospital swarm like advertising buzzards over a corpse on SNY followed by a McDonalds commercial aimed at giving them more clients.  Why am I so upset about the ads on SNY?  Because my team can’t finish the job and everything I see is ugly right now.

Peaking early is the key to happiness

This team is Al Bundy falling asleep with his hands down his pants.  This team peeks early, has random adventures and ends up losing.  Forget Castro’s homer, there was no rally and no fight left for this bunch.  They seem to try really hard, but are mentally, emotionally or physically unable to act as a team.  Everyone is trying to hit a 3 run homer on every swing except Murphy and Gimp and Jose sometimes.

Some notes from this give back game to the lowly Padres.

• Peavy was rattled by Reyes in the first, threw over 1000 times, Dan Murphy tortured him at the plate and with 2 men on he balks and before you know it one of the 3 run homers this team is always swinging for leaves the park.
• Maine threw hard and refused to see he wasn’t facing the Phillies and decided to go at the Padres pace.   Mex called it once Maine let the bottom of the order get away. 
• Jake Peavy licks his lips like they’re covered in chocolate crack. 
• I’ve watched Wright strand runners on third too much the last two years.  I remember when he was more like Murphy.  I miss the old David Wright.
• Brilliant move by Church bunting for a hit and great shot by Fats Castro who should be starting ahead of the Worst Hitter in the World.
• I can’t believe they let Heath Bell complete his wet dream

 

Four games out… nice  shootin’ guys.

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, Nik Kolidas

Mets balk away Citi’s 3rd opening day this year 4/13/09

Omar doesn't understand Shrinkage!

Banner night for NY Baseball yesterday wasn’t it? I’d snicker at Ching Ming’s problems if we didn’t have a little something stinking in Queens yesterday too. A few guys on this team have been shrinking like Constaza’s penis in water under pressure. The fundamental issue the last two years were players getting tight when the heat was on.  After watching it two seasons in a row, Omar did the right thing and simply cut away any dead weight. You can look at Scott Schoeneweis in Arizona to see that ruined pitchers don’t get fixed that easily.  Clearly, there is some cancer left in the body and Omar needs to cut it out before it infects the healthy players.

Hey ladies, Darryl Strawberry gave me an idea...

Off the bat, Pedro Feliciano (on of my favorite pitchers in 06) needs a change of scenery badly. All the screaming and excitement of him possibly getting out of that inning (man on third… no outs…. he gets the two outs he needs and proceeds to balk him in) was too much for him and he lost focus. That’s a really old story around here. A rookie mistake costing you a game is one thing, but a veteran getting rattled for the millionth time is not acceptable. The pen then responded like they should by shutting the door, but it was too late. How long until it starts rubbing off on the unaffected pitchers? While you’re flushing the bowl, toss Brian Stokes in there for me too as long as he won’t clog the pluming.

Random notes from the game:

• Thank god Seaver was able to hit Piazza this time. Nothing is more depressing than seeing Seaver bounce a pitch with fat melting over his pants
• I like Mike Piazza like the next Mets fan, but they’re making him out to be the 2nd most important player in Mets history. They need to ease up just a bit until he actually gets inducted somewhere for something as a Met.  So far, his latest accomplishment is having a pimply back.
• I respect the risks that the armed forces take to make a living, but it seemed like GWB orchestrated that opening ceremony. SNY came up with more former mets than the Mets did. It looked more like a battle ground in Iraq than the opening of a Mets season. Was Jerry Koosman washing the few hairs he has left? Maybe Dwight was  on line at the Shake Shack and Darryl was getting a BJ in the clubhouse?
• I can’t imagine how long the wait at the Shake Shack was yesterday. There are probably some people still there right now.
• Nice to see Wright come through in the clutch like that… first great moment at Citi
• Brian Schneider is the worst hitter ever anywhere at any time
• I’m not worried about Mike Pelfrey. Let’s say that a few dozen times and see if we can make ourselves believe it. I hope this is a dead arm period because Maine & Junior Duque being #2 and #3 make me gassy.
• I’m starting to wonder if Stokes & O’Day were a better choice the Dirty Duaner. Actually, I’m not wondering.
• Thankfully for the sake of order in the clubhouse… it seems Krod is in fact slightly better than Putz on first look.
  

  Those were the days my friend. I thought they'd never end...

What can I say… the pressure is lessened tomorrow and they’ll probably play well. I just hope Omar puts a few things in the memory and cherry picks the little girls off this team as time goes on.

For your pleausure…lets forget about the loss and focus on this nice moment in the Mets history. Perhaps their FINEST moment ever. This is the greatest piece of audio ever recorded by anyone, anywhere and yes… I own this on vinyl. Anyone too young to have enjoyed these guys… listen to this and you’ll totally get it. I really freaking miss the 80′s…

I love the “yeah” right after Kevin Mitchell’s rant…

Lastly, Wayne “Larry” Hagin needs to know we don’t like homers in Metsland. The Daily News needs to know Larry isn’t his name.

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, Nik Kolidas

“No Margin For Error” Marlins 5-Mets 4 4/10/09

It’s hard to lose a game like this because you really believed they always had this game within their reach. Here are some random notes from today

• Castillo & Schneider are terrible& useless bats. When they hit, it’s like the pitcher is batting
• Castillo is a sloppy 2nd baseman. In the 8th his reflexes weren’t fast enough to grab a ball he got to and then he botches a double play because of sloppy footwork
• Maine is fine thank god and you can see he’ll be totally back. That’s the best news of the week.
• Excellent fight back from this team and a promising bench
• Parnell pitched well at first, but couldn’t deal with bloops and started over-throwing
• Nice hit by Wright getting Murphy in from 2nd after the gift double
• Putz doesn’t crumble when errors are made behind him… good sign
• Jeremy Reed is the MAN… really nice swing after being cold on the bench. Put that in the memory bank…
• Cantu’s defense is the only reason the Mets weren’t up by 2 in the 9th… nice reflexes
• O’Day was chicken shit against Ramirez and Cantu (who you knew was getting a hit) did what he does. It’s hard to lose with Krod sitting in the pen

I hate these type of losses

 

Tell me Krod can’t pitch to one batter in the 9th and then come back for the 10th if needed. It’s demonizing to lose a game where you’re coming back. You need to limit these, so I’m not in love with Manuel’s choices here.

By the way… I’ll post those 2009 predictions at some point this weekend…

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, Nik Kolidas

Ollie, I Mean the Mets, Fall to Reds 8-6 4/9/09

First, understand that it is very tough to sweep a MLB team (just ask the Braves). While that is not a rationalization for today, it sure makes things a bit easier. The positive – the offense looks very relaxed and confident. Over the last couple of years, it seemed like a four run deficit was unmanageable. While the Mets did not complete their comeback today, you have to like the “chipping away” that was done. It reminded me of the 2006 squad that always seemed to keep the pressure on the opposing team. BTW, Delgado looks like he is picking up where he left off last year – nice AB against his nemesis Rhodes. Feliciano looked sharp as well, and D-Murph knows how to play this game. He has the baseball smarts of a young Alfonso – beautiful read on the “duck fart” by Wright, making it to third with ease. Oh, and Church does not seem to want to hand over right field to no one – keep hitting Ryan.

 

The real glaring negative, DUH, was Ollie. I usually feel bad when a reliever lets inherited runners score, but felt that Mr. Perez deserved that today. The team gives you a 3-run lead and you lose focus and hand it back in the next half inning?. From now on, when I space out or drift off at work, as you should do, I am going to call it “An Ollie”. It’s only one game, but based on his spring (and last season); I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go down in AAA for a few starts to work on things like Trachsel a few years ago. Niese could replace him, and it just might wake him the F up!

 

Tomorrow is another day, and baseball is a big part of our lives, but losses happen! I want to send out a special thanks to a young man from New Jersey, Eddie, that has made a special choice to serve our country in the U.S. Military. He left today, and all of us at Kiner’s Korner wish him well – be safe kid!

 

 

Posted by Gene Anthony

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, Gene Anthony

Lights Out By Way of Slow Dimmer – Mets 9 Reds 7 4/8/09

Nice Job Pedro!

They were all holding these bats and it was real scary

Ok, I know the collective diarrhea we all felt yesterday was far too familiar, but realize this…. the game didn’t end 10-9 Reds did it? It’s amazing what a drop of last years pen into the mix of Green/ Putz/Krod can do. The Reds were dead and silent when Pedro comes in and starts giving them a fastball style pep talk and next thing you know they start thinking they can get to our pen.

William “Chatty Cathy” Wagner has this to say yesterday (before the game) about the impact a set up crew has on the effectiveness of a closer. “It’s not easy, I’m not saying that,” Wagner said, “but when you get that kind of pitching (good pitching) before the closer comes in, his job is different. It’s only one run, but they’ve got no momentum. They’ve already been deterred.”

Miss me?

“I’d face a team that just scored two or three the previous inning,” Wagner said. “They were hot. That’s why when Aaron [Heilman] and Duaner [Sanchez] were so good in 2006, my job was so much easier. [The opposing hitters] would come up in the ninth all aggressive, trying to make something happen. That’s an advantage for the pitcher.” By the way, Tex is chomping at the bit to get back into a game and give up some long balls

...and the damn thing's over!

Anyhow, my point is I blame the late inning suspense on Pedro Feliciano pulling a 2008 and the rest of the relievers needing to stop a raging fire. I like how Pelfrey rebounded after a shaky first and the bats did what they needed to do. The 2009 pen was able to take a pile of shit handed down from the 2008 pen and get enough of it off the plate to still win. Krod did a nice impression of Jessy Orosco, but in the end he was able to settle down when he needed to. Last year, we’re 0-2 with the old bullpen.

Are you gonna eat that?

 

As we’ve been doing, when the new pen holds a game last year’s would have destroyed…they get a Benitiez number. The more Benitiez numbers they get, the happier we are. Benitiez is more a concept as there are many relievers who make up a Benitiez and you’ll see many friendly & familiar faces on our “Benitiez number” count. Collect them all!

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, Nik Kolidas

K-tastic – Mets 2 Reds 1 4/6/09

Thanks Omar!

Yesterday was a wet dream of an opening day for our favorite distraction. How weird was that feeling of calm after you watched the first batters Green, Putz and KRod faced and realized one by one that this year will be different. Obviously, I’m glossing over the fact that the offense did the usual late game disappearing act (maybe Sheffield wasn’t such a terrible idea), but today it’s all about our shiny new bullpen. Man, I hate watching Brian Schneider hit…. no wait wait wait….. the pen baby. It’s all about the pen….

Looper doesn't live here anymore

This spring all I kept hearing about was how great Putz is and how we’ll want to switch him with Krod by July. Putz was nasty yesterday and every bit the closer we’ve always wanted. That fastball actually reminded me of Randy Myers….good stuff.

That being said, this was the first time I watched Krod closely since he’s been here and well, damn that’s fine cookin’! After the first batter in the 9th, I knew there would be no rocket shot to tie the game, no heartbreak to ruin my day, no loss today.

Suddenly, the fear is gone.

After a good Mets win, one thing I love doing is going on other team’s message boards and watching the game unravel for them post by post. I’ll post the best comment after a really fun win and give you a link to enjoy. Today’s best quote from the Reds Forum “The Mets will probably win the NL Pennant, and maybe even the World Series, so I see no shame in a 2-1 loss” I remember Met teams that made me think like that too.

Let the B-Numbers begin! Today is #1, as in an old heartbreaking loss that is now a win.

Later today, the fine feathered team that is Kiner’s Korner will be posting predictions on the divisions and all sorts of fun stuff. Another feature we’ll have here over the season is a great idea by Gene Anthony where we’ll be charting games the Mets would have lost last year with the old bullpen. Today falls right in that category. Let’s call it the Benitez Meter… So far the number is 1.

 

Posted By Nik Kolidas

Filed under: Game recaps 2009, Nik Kolidas