One Giant Ego

For a couple days I have been sitting idle on the whole "Barry Bonds Circus." As hard as it is to avoid, I try to steer clear of too much coverage of his chase to break the HR record. Without a doubt it is the most prestigious of records, yet I cannot embrace Barry Bonds as a modern day baseball hero.

I am a firm believer in innocent until proven guilty. At the same time, I also believe in using common sense. My common sense, along with the rest of humanity, believes Barry Bonds was juicing at some point in his pursuit of this record. Now I do not believe Barry Bonds should take all the heat for an entire era of baseball that is tainted with steroid use. But as someone who is about to take a historic stride in this sport, besides Giambi's moronic statements, he is the man in the spotlight.

He is a man who tries to schedule his spotlight moments by having press conferences every first day of a road series to minimize media glare. In doing so, he only creates more of an obnoxious spotlight on himself. Mr. Bonds craves the attention and takes pride in skirting around every question shot his way. No Barry, I don't think it's funny. As a baseball fan for years, you are wearing on my nerves.

I love baseball. I love everything about it. I respect the great players who have graced a baseball diamond in previous generations and I look on in admiration at the amazing feats so many of them have accomplished. Because of that passion, I look on as Barry chases this record and cringe at the thought of it. He is smug, full of himself, and convinced we are all out to get him. He's even convinced Barry Zito of the me against the world theory. (Check out the latest issue of ESPN Mag. for proof.) Barry Bonds cannot even run out a ground ball to first base. He cannot hit a lick off a left-handed pitcher. Yet he holds on to break Hank Aaron's record; a record that when broken should be embraced and celebrated. This is a record that fans should applaud and admire, while creating an outpouring of love for a new home run king. Sadly, this feat will be tainted by the man who breaks it and the boos from those who witness it. But Barry probably won't notice. He'll have his headphones on.

Papa Pedro

Last night started out as an amazing comeback performance for El Duque, only to be matched by Sergio Mitre's pitching performance. It was the starting pitchers though who were the only one who could be pleased with their performances. The Mets actually made me a little upset last night, which would have magnified had they not pulled the game out in the 9th. Last night was one of those games where I had to watch with one eye open and the other closed. Both teams at times, particularly the Mets, just looked out to lunch. Willie Randolph will do all he can to redirect any questions regarding lack of effort from last night's performance, but I want my guys to run out every play, whether you're a veteran or a young star. I want my guy to throw a bullet in from the outfield when we're up on in the bottom of the 8th. I don't want my closer throwing 30 pitches with a 6-1 lead. Willie is a fantastic leader of this time, but there are times when his responses are more than frustrating, especially when just 24 hours before he stated "the Braves just looked like they wanted this one more." Fortunately we won this game, or it would have looked even uglier.

One thing I did watch with eyes wide open was Pedro Martinez. Every time I've seen him this season, I think back to that awful image of him when he was visibly upset in the dugout last September. It's like looking at a new person. He's in great shape, confident in himself and his health, and eager to get back out on the field. Seeing Pedro in the dugout makes me excited. He brings that x-factor to your team with his endless energy and obvious talent and he offers endless insight to the young members of this team. His return after the all-star break will be a shot in the arm for this team, one that no other team can acquire through a trade.

Pedro stated last night when speaking with SNY that he had nothing to prove in his return and he's right. Pedro's numbers speak for themselves. He will make an immediate impact and give the Mets the ammunition to head straight to the promised land. Can't wait til you're back Papa Pedro.

Chop Suey

Mets vs. Braves: Round 6-9. We are only a quarter of the way through a very long season, but the Mets cannot shake the Braves. Yes, I believe in the long run we will come out on top as the best team in the N.L. East, but I'll have to wait patiently for August to see the Mets dominate the Braves. I don't know if the Braves will always haunt the minds of the Mets and their fans, but over the last few days I have come to terms with a few things.

1. I hate playing in Turner Field.
2. I wish Oliver Perez could pitch 3 straight days.
3. I'm over Glavine vs. Smoltz.
4. I still loathe the Tomahawk Chop.
5. The Atlanta Braves still have the most pitiful fan base.
6. The Subway Series is fun, but losing to the Braves hurt more than the Yanks.
7. It's hard to root against guys like John Smoltz; a total gamer & an outstanding guy.
8. I need Jose Reyes to grow his hair back and get on base.

For now, we rest our confidence in the rest of the National League to beat up on Atlanta. It's time for the Mets to start chopping again in Miami.

Declaration of Endy-pendence

It started Friday evening around 7:12pm, Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY. Johnny Damon hit a ball to left and Endy Chavez came up with it. Damon tried to stretch his hit into a double and Endy threw a bullet to 2nd to get the first out of the game; and set the tone for the 3 game set between the Mets and Yankees.

Even the Empire State Building got caught up in the excitement this season. With both teams represented throughout the weekend atop the ESB, the winner of the series had exclusive lighting rights Monday night. The battle for bragging right was officially underway.

Is the Subway Series the most important series of the season? No. But ask anyone in the stands this weekend at Shea Stadium if they wanted to prove a point and the answer was yes. I sat in Mezz 9 Friday night and watched Endy put out Johnny Damon. I watched the Mets trail after Matsui's HR; meanwhile, the Yankee fan next to me did everything to contain himself saying the Mets didn't stand a chance. But then there was Endy...

Endy Chavez has a knack for the dramatic. Extra inning wins, ridiculous catches, game-winning bunts, and a priorty mail message to the Bronx. Move over kids, there's another team in town. His 2 run HR Friday sealed the deal for the Mets. From there Perez pitched another solid game, Joe Smith made Mr. Jeter weak in the knees, and Billy Wagner nailed down the save. It was an intense game to the very last swing and miss from Giambi, but I wouldn't have had it any other way than to see the guy next to me walk out of Shea meekly with his tail between his legs.

Yes the Yankees staged a rally Saturday in the rain, but the Mets held out. At that point we had won the series. Yes the sweep would have tasted sweet, but what maybe felt better was watching the Mets lose Sunday night with a shrug of the shoulders. Eh, we won the series, we've got the lights Monday, had a good homestand. Now off to Atlanta.

Ask any Yankee fan and they won't tell you they lost a series to the Mets this past weekend. They'll tell you how they "almost" came back and a rookie shut the blue and orange down. They can't see the reality of the situation. The Yankees are clawing for every positive they can find right now. I say, let them claw for it.

I walked around Manhattan Friday afternoon and saw a sea of blue and orange. As much as many may say the Yankees are America's team, I truly believe the Mets are turning New York into their city. It's a nice feeling, although one I'm not quite used to yet, to see so many Mets fans to high five on the street. The Mets have finally broke free of the "other team" stigma and it may not have happened if Endy Chavez hadn't set the tone of a chilly Friday at Shea. If you don't believe me, look to the skyline for proof.

Chaos and the Number 7

His name is Jose Reyes. We know him and by now, everyone else should too. This kid is just nuts. And that is why I love him. Baseball itself brings a smile to my face. It's a game that makes me happy & that I probably get far too wrapped up in from March - October. I never could have imagined one human being could multiply that feeling tenfold.

Jose Reyes is an absolute weapon on this Mets squad. Tonight, Delgado may have been the man at the plate when the winning run came strolling in. Yes, Delgado worked a great AB, but Reyes was the miracle worker tonight. A lackluster bottom of the 9th turned into a little bit chaos once Reyes reached the basepaths. But we're used to that; we don't expect peace among the bags when Reyes is out there. With his steal of 2nd on the pitchout, he created the energy and that run. Mr. Number 7 created some chaos for the Chicago Cubs, despite the fact this is becoming the norm for the blue and orange.

Speaking of Chaos and 7, today I nabbed some tickets to Friday night's Subway Series matchup. How I have managed to hit Opening Day & a Mets/Yankees matchup in the same season and still live 5 hours away from NYC is beyond me, but I'm not complaining. I am so excited to be at the first game between these two teams this season. It is most definitely going to be...well, chaotic at Shea. Am I a little anxious? Most definitely. I'm not really sure what to expect, because despite the lack of interest outside of the NYC area, there's still the fire between these two teams' fans. Although I feel like it is only appropriate to ride the 7 train to Shea Friday night, I haven't decided if I'm going to do it. Between Reyes, Mets vs. Yankees, and the 7 train...that may be a little too much chaos for me.

Wright Kind of Wrong

The Mets are a bit lighter these days. Some may say a bit cooler, even a bit closer. Whichever way you see it, I think it's a fabulous thing. A couple days of go the Mets decided to shave their heads. Some may see it as antics a college team would do, or a playoff superstition, but the Mets claim it's a move to show team solidarity. David Wright, who has looked anything but right this year, needed to change things up. Maybe a bit more drastic a change than most would choose, he became the leader of the pack, shaving his head first and prompting the rest to shed their locks. Since then, he's had a couple good games at the plate. Time will only tell if the new cut is the difference maker.

Some may see this as a foolish way to pass the time on a long road trip, but I love this team. I love that they love each other. I like to see them as a solid unit, even if haircuts are their way of showing it. I know it sounds biased as a Mets fan, but I do not believe you can find a team that is as close-knit as the Mets have been the past couple years. I also love that Mets fan are a crazy bunch; and should the Mets get hot after this hair loss, you'll see a lot of bald heads at Shea.

As much as I love the new dos, some of these gentlemen look just plain awful. Shawn Green sans hair is just downright wrong.

One Big Blue & Orange Nation

Much is to be said about the effects of new technology. Be it YouTube, My Space, Wikipedia; we truly are all connected and can get a sneak peek into just about anyone's life. My choice of creeping is Facebook. I tried to stay away from it, but I caved. And it may have been one of my better decisions.

Besides constantly looking at pictures and wall posts, I stumbled across a group: Global NYM Facebook Group. I quickly joined and didn't do much else beyond that. This past summer I started leafing through the threads and was intrigued by some of the discussions (while less intrigued by others). I thank Mr. Lastings Milledge for creating such an argument I couldn't resist to jump in. Since then it's been a pleasure to become a "regular" and get to know Mets fans from all littlle corners of the country.

As a lonely Mets fan among either Yankee fans or baseball haters, it is nice to "know" others who have the same passion for this team. Through this group, we've started Fantasy Leagues, documented Keith Hernandez humor, achieved some group representation on Mets Weekly & ESPN.com, and have an upcoming group day at Shea this summer (thanks to the hard work of a few gentlemen). With 12,000+ members and still growing, there always something to talk about. We're a strange little bunch, an odd family of sorts. We're a bit dysfunctional, but none the less, quite fun. So if you're looking for a place with a little Mets love, come join us.

A Tale of Two Aprils

May 1st is upon us...and it's been a while since my last post. The first 30 days of a long season behind us and I can't help but wonder if this one is any different than the last. Last April we found ourselves in almost an identical position. Aprils end last year brought us a change of the guard at second base; the first dip into reserve arms after an injury to a starter; a record to be content; and a lead in the NL East. Fast forward to 2007 and some things are eerily similar...

Today we send El Duque (no surprise) and Valentin to the DL, causing up to double dip into New Orleans. Everyone seems so fragile and fingers are crossed Alou will be fine after his awkward run in with the chicken wire in left field this evening. The Mets record is nothing to frown about, yet those who have been tuning in every night know some of those losses should have been W's and some of those losses were not pretty. It's been a ho-hum April for me and I look forward to this team breaking out as summer approaches.

April brought my first home opener (and the following two games of the Phillies series) which was an unforgettable thing for a lifelong Mets fan. It also brought some of the coldest hours I've endured watching a ball game. The "breeze" at Shea in early April is relentless. This spring also brought the continued growth of Jose Reyes. He has sealed the deal as being the most exciting kid to grace baseball in years. And April proved to be a picture perfect month for John Maine and Joe Smith.

Those who are happy to see the calendar flip include Delgado & Wright. It's particularly frustrating to watch Wright through this slump. Mets fans haven't experienced a real "down time" from this kid and he is without a doubt putting incredible amounts of pressure on himself to break out of it. As fans we expect so much out of these kids, but I can only hope the boo birds calm down. He's working hard to come through this and we have to have faith in this kid. It's heart breaking to know how much effort he's giving, yet still his frustrations are coming out in every way; throwing his helmet, kicking the dirt, sitting in the dugout after the game. One can only hope it's May flowers for our corner infielders.

April has treated us well enough. We're fighting for the top spot in the East, our arms have hushed the naysayers, Endy is being Endy, and our outfielders have been swinging some hot bats. Things could be worse...we could be in the Bronx.