OK, we could all see that one coming…

Did I say that the 8 game layoff would be a buzz-kill for the Rockies?  Jeez.  Two years in a row the team with the longest (Rockies) and 2nd longest (Tigers) layoffs in history go down rather quickly.  It’s just that you have to give the team with the shortest time from their high of winning the Championship Series the edge when it comes down in such lopsided fashion.  It’s just a major factor when there is such a huge difference in time such as the 8 game layoff vs. the Sox 3 game layoff.

Enough of that — Congrats to the Red Sox.

What I cannot stand is a Mr. Alex Rodriguez.  What the hell is with this guy?  Does he think he’s bigger than the game (yes)?  Boras talks to Ken Rosenthall and tells him that A-Rod is opting out.  I know why he did it….national stage and all of that, but jeez.  How classless can you be?  Can’t wait until today to let everyone know?  Thanks for trying to hog the spotlight you selfish bastards.

Continuing with Yankee news, Donnie Baseball is no longer with the Yanks.  Mr. Yankee himself has taken his ball and gone home.  He didn’t get the job and has let the team know he won’t be back as a coach next year.  That leaves Joe Girardi as the club’s new manager.  Good luck, Joe….you’re going to need it!  Hope you get Posada and Mo back…otherwise you might have some trouble next season!

Met news….Nope, nothing yet.

Listen to it live here:
WFAN Home
or listen to the replay when it’s posted here:
WFAN Archive

Summary of the interview on the Mike and the Mad Dog show 

On his feeling in the pen prior to the start…
He felt good, got the ground balls he wanted, just not where they needed to be.  It was a stupid throw into the outfield, then he hit Dontrelle — he tried to get him with a changeup.

On his feeling after the game — distant looking — like he didn’t care…
People misread his feelings.  He doesn’t want to use the word devistation in conjunction with a baseball game.  He saves that word for human tragedy.  He was extremely disappointed in his effort and the way that the season ended.  He tries to be as professional as possible and it was extremely hard to present himself that way after the game.  He said he’s still kicking himself for the start.  He places most of the blame on himself.  He apologises if people misconstrued the way he appeared to feel about his start.  He was embarassed.

On the three terrible starts at the end of the season…
Those weren’t the lone reasons that the Mets lost.  He had good starts prior to those three where he gave up 0 & 2 runs and they won neither.

On the collapse, his place in history and the post mortem…
He can’t put his finger on any one thing.  Philly series in NY, they had two good starts in a row and lost both of them.  The feeling started there and then it just snowballed.  It was like the team would just wait for the other shoe to drop.  Once the momentum would swing, there’d be a ‘here we go again’ feeling.

On the rest of the NL feelings toward the Mets…
Tommy doesn’t dispute the ill will felt by other teams.  He’s found that people in general just don’t like NY.  He said if you don’t like NY, you generally don’t like NY sports teams.  He’s talked to other people in the game who has said the same thing about the Phillies.  Everyone was just looking to beat the Mets because they were on top.

On the Marlins and the fight on Saturday…
He agreed that it wasn’t a good idea — it pumped up the Marlins, making that Sunday game their playoff game.

On Milledge, Reyes and the dancing…
Tommy doesn’t disagree — people are a little to ‘excited’ over the game.  Just shut up and perform.  Let sleeping dogs lie.  No need to incite the other team.  Just go about your business.  Act like you’re a professional and you’re just doing your job.  He cited Barry Sanders — no celebrations on TDs, just gives the ball back to the ref.  He said that’s why people think he’s emotionless out there but he’s just trying to be professional.

On declining the option…
That’s accurate — he thinks he will decline it on Friday.  He’s going to become a free agent.  He still would like to hear from the Mets.  He doesn’t know if the Mets are done with him.  Tom said he’s still interested in coming back.

On his position with this team and its collapse…
It bothers him.  It makes him appreciate the things he’s done in the past.  He also thought it will be something that every one of the players will carry with them and help them going forward — something they will call on often.

On his last start and will it be his last?
He wouldn’t want to leave on that note but he’s not 100% sure if he’s coming back.  He doesn’t want to leave on that start but if his life won’t allow him to pitch, he won’t.

Hey Guys — remember this next year when you go into Atlanta…

Hey Braves — how’d you guys make out this year?  What a bunch of unprofessional broadcasters.  Can’t wait to see them next year with Tommy G on the mound in ATL.  Kill two birds with one stone, fellas.

Omar on the FAN
Omar was on WFAN this afternoon and did a decent job.  He knows what he has to do and he wants to win in the worst way.  I believe he’ll make a few moves — some big ones like Santana.  I just hope it doesn’t cost too much as many of the teams out there know that the Mets are desperate to revamp the rotation and the pen.  As long as Omar can take some of the emotion, caused by this collapse, out of it and doesn’t give away the farm, literally, I think it’ll work out well.

Say it ain’t so, Scotty.
Schoenweis has been accused of using steroids.  They were supposedly delivered to the White Sox clubhouse.  Read the full story on ESPN’s site here.

Andruw gone?
Schuerholz, the Braves GM, said that Andruw won’t be back with the Braves as they can’t afford him.  That suprises me…I think it’s more like they don’t want him.  He did have a rough year.  Could you see him in Yankee Stadium next year?  Put him in center and move Melky over to right? The Yankees have a club option on Abreu for ‘08.  Andruw could be a good fit, provided he sheds some weight and is willing to tow the line over in the Bronx.

Jose vs. Derek
If I hear another caller or host on sports talk radio say “Now do you still think you can mention Jose Reyes & Derek Jeter in the same sentence?” I think I’ll smash my radio!  If these people were honest, they would compare apples to apples…  Jose is 24 years old.  Derek is a 32 year old seasoned veteran!  Compare Jose to Derek at the same age and I think you’ll see the similarities!  Derek made stupid mistakes — they may have been handled better by the staff and team around him, but he was a young kid at one point, too.

I’ve been asked if I’d rather have Reyes or Jeter on my team and I always answer the same way:
If you’re asking would I rather have the potential of Reyes or the rest of Jeter’s career, I’d take Reyes all day long.  If you’re asking in a clutch AB — say game 7 NLCS, 2 men on, 2 out, down one run…I’d take Jeter in that spot all day long.  That’s currently – in a few years, I’ll have a different answer, I’m sure.  I expect it’ll be Reyes all day long.  This kid has the potential to be the Derek Jeter of the New York Mets.  He has the same/better range, a better arm, he’s faster and I expect, he’ll only get better as he matures and fills out more.

Basically, to break it down, Jeter’s been playing in the majors for 12 year and Reyes has been up in the show for 3 years.  Reyes will be great.  He has the talent, he just has to get his head back in the game.

-J

Well, we heard just a little while ago, Willie’s back, as he should be.  There shouldn’t have been any question, in my mind.

Your a hall of famer, but I think I speak for all Met fans when I say hit the road.

I have to address some people I’ve been hearing state, emphatically, that the Mets need to trade Reyes.  I have to ask — Are you high?  Look, the guy had a bad 2nd half….actually more than a bad 2nd half — it was awful.  Did you see his first half?  Did you see him last year?  Yes, he has some growing up to do and I think he’ll do it with the proper people around him.  Rickey will be bye-bye and I think that’ll go a long way to getting this crap sorted out.  You have to ask what happened.  I remember on Willie’s 1st and 2nd year, Jose would make a mental mistake and Jose would immediately go and apologize to Willie…now, he doesn’t seem to care and that leads me to believe he either has lost respect for Willie or doesn’t fear Willie.  I hope that’s all it is, because that can be fixed.  The other, worse choice is that he is OK under achieving — just getting by with his play, knowing that they won’t get rid of him.  I don’t think that’s the case because he never looked that way up until this point.  Maybe he’s gotten comfortable in the Majors and now he feels he’s made it and can just coast.  Possible, but I don’t think that’s it.  Maybe he was just in a freaking slump and it’s the first real adversity he’s faced in his career.  Who knows.  I am sure he’s going to sort it out in the off season.

While the comparisons to Reyes and Jeter are gone, I still think Reyes has the potential to be as good.  He has the talent.  The question is, does he have the mental makeup?  From what I’ve seen so far, no.  I do think he can get there if he’s developed properly with the proper coaching.  Remember, he’s only 24 years old…what were you like at 24?

People keep talking about Santana and while I want him, I wouldn’t trade Reyes for him.  Reyes is the most exciting player in baseball — I don’t think there’s much doubt in that.  Here’s why I say that:
1. He’s a better fielder and has the most range than pretty much any other shortstop in baseball.
2. He has a better arm than pretty much any shortstop I can think of — Furcal’s probably 2nd.
3. He’s faster than pretty much anyone in baseball.
4. His stolen base record speaks for itself.
5. His OBP (before the fall off after the All Star break) was great.

I think much of the problem is people were left with this bad taste in their mouth after witnessing the decline.  I think they need to remember what this guy has done in previous years as well as just 2 months ago.  I guess that’s what it’s like playing in New York — they forget about what you did for them.  It’s what are you doing for me?  This guy’s going to turn it around.

Yes, Santana will be the main target for Omar during the off season, but what’s it going to cost?
Here’s what it sounds like according to popular opinion:
1. Beltran & Humber or Pelfrey
2. Pelfrey, Humber & Milledge
3. Gomez, Pelfrey & Humber

I don’t know how I feel about that.
1. I don’t like Beltran going because I think he’s a good centerfielder and a good hitter and he’s nice and quiet and respectful.  He just goes about his business and gets it done.  Pelfrey, I think, will be a good major league pitcher.  He may have been rushed along a little.  He looked like he was ready during the spring but I guess that whooping he got on the last day in Tampa Bay before the regular season was a harbinger of things to come.  Humber also looked pretty good — it was his first major league start, so I think you got what you expected.  Unfortunately the Mets were in a bad spot when he was making that start so it was a more glaring failure than it would have been otherwise.  I still think he could be good.
2. Milledge definitely has the tools — he’s going to be a good player but he seems like he doesn’t want to obey the rules.  Sometimes you wonder what happens to these guys on the way up.  I know they get told they’re the best things since sliced bread and I think that has a negative effect on them.  He made some bonehead moves on the base paths (he’s not the only one), like on Saturday where the score masked it.  But I still like his talent and I’d like to see him get a shot.  The thing is, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but I got a good look at Milledge on Saturday, and I know you can’t let this be your only gauge, but I believe everything you do and how you do it shows how serious you are about the game.  While he was warming up in the outfield with Victor, the right field ball boy, he was so nonchalant in his warmup, frequently dropping balls.  I mean, I know it doesn’t mean anything, in the grand scheme of things, but I wish he’d look like he wants to be here — or STAY here.  Now, I don’t want to pile on because, like I said, I really like the guy’s talent.  He has a nice swing, a quick bat and I think he’ll develop into a decent corner outfielder — with pop.
3. Gomez makes the same mistakes on the basepaths that seem to plague all Mets players — even Endy Chavez.  I mean, what the hell was that?  But back to Gomez.  He can really go get ‘em out there.  His swing isn’t there yet as he swings out of his shoes on just about every pitch.  Hey, you’re supposedly faster than Reyes — hit line drives and balls on the ground, just like Jose’s supposed to do.  He needs more seasoning before he can be a legit major league player.  I just have trouble getting rid of some of these chips — maybe it’s just my personality.  I just would like to see an outfield of Milledge, Beltran & Gomez with Endy as the 4th guy.  You wouldn’t be able to drop a golf ball in there on those guys.

I know there’s some revamping to be done, but I just don’t know who I want to see go.  I do know that Willie better lay the smack down next year as these guys cannot be allowed to pull the same crap they pulled all year long.

Let me know what you think should be done.

On Glavine…
Ed was confident on Glavine going into the big game and was suprised at the performance.  Omar said they’ll evaluate bringing him back. (No thanks — see ya Tommy -J)

On Wagner and his comments…
Ed said Billy thought his comments were misconstrued and apologized to Willie and Rick.

On Willie’s future…
Mike said Willie needs to reign these players in — especially Reyes & Milledge
Ed agreed and while he doesn’t think you need to take the exuberance out of them, just make them celebrate in the dugout.  EC also thought there are a few veterans who don’t run out ground balls and need to hustle more.

On Pedro pitching today on a one game playoff…
Perez was slated to pitch today if there was a game on short rest.

On Castillo being a bad influence on Reyes…
Castillo’s a gamer — wants to win and takes it very hard when they lose.  Castillo does sulk after a loss.  Ed had no insight on the influence off of the field.

What’s up with Reyes?
Is it an off field issue?  On field?
Ed agreed but he said it’s not an off field issue — Reyes, he said, is a good kid.  Jose tends to take his bad at bats into the field, not fielding practice ground balls, hat sideways, etc.  Valentin not being there was a big loss to Reyes and the team.  Jose needs to get a grip on his emotions.  He tends to make the same mistakes over and over.
Also, Milledge running after Dontrelle’s triple & not knowing how many outs there were — Stuff like that needs to be rectified.

On being in history as the biggest collapse in the history of baseball as a team…
Some players did seem to care about that.  Schoenweis said “This is really going to hurt because this will follow us around for the rest of our careers.”  They all know they screwed it up (gee, thanks -J).  Delgado said they just didn’t take it seriously and they read their press clippings and thought they were better than they were.  They looked around and thought they’d just kick it into gear when everyone got healthy and they couldn’t do it and it just snow balled.

On firing Willie…
Ed thinks Willie will be back (We’ll find out from Omar in a bit -J).

Who will be a Met next year?
Delgado - Yes
El Duque - Probably — limited roll (Pen)
Reyes - Absolutely
Wright - Absolutely
Beltran - May be traded for a big pitcher (I’m not for that! -J)  Depends on who you could get — Santana?  Mets should be proactive to get him in off season if it requires Pelfrey, Milledge & Humber, do it (yikes!)
Milledge - Split opinion.  He has baggage.  Drives you crazy as he has the talent but he gets sidetracked with ’stuff’

On Rick Peterson…
Should he take a hit in the organization’s eyes?
Yes, somewhat.  There were some thoughts around the clubhouse that he couldn’t be found during some tough starts but when Maine pitched his gem, he was out in front, ready to talk.

Omar coming up in a little bit.
Edit: Just moved to tomorrow at 2 PM — Omar is in meetings and can’t break away (I’m sure he is! -J)

Hey Tommy Nice Job –
hit one of those golf
balls in the woods for
me.

CRUSHED
The season is officially over with an absolute drubbing of the Mets at the hands of the Florida Marlins and one, Tom Glavine. To point out the obvious, in the final game that the 300 game winner and future hall of fame pitcher started for the Mets was a complete and total failure. How does a veteran pitcher such as Tom Glavine get only one out in a start that was the biggest game of the season? How does Glavine do that after John Maine, a guy who is basically a rookie, pitches a near no-hitter and the offense gave so much run support just 24 hours prior? I can’t explain it. It just makes no sense.

The Phillies did what they had to do and the Mets did not. The Mets needed to play just .500 ball and all would have been well — they couldn’t do it. Baseball’s a funny game as you can look at stats and figures and basically just throw them out the window as the games have to be played and anything can and does happen. The Mets tried to hand this division to the Braves and the Phils all season — they had no takers until this last stretch. Philly started playing good ball and the Mets just couldn’t get it together.

This loss is tougher than last year, by far. To come all this way and cough up the division in a matter of 2 1/2 weeks is just brutal from a fan’s perspective and I am sure just as brutal for the guys who have to put all the time in on the field. Don’t worry, I am not crying for any of them — they make tons of money and that’s their job, but psychologically, it has to be tough. It’s also tough on the fans. We fans put in a bunch of time, energy and emotion into these players during the 162 game season and when the rug gets pulled out from under you like this, it’s a little rough — especially when it’s your guys who are pulling it!

Last year, game 7 of the NLCS was a great acheivement. I was happy with the progress of the team. The year before last, I went to a game at Shea near the end of the season. It was a Tom Glavine start where he pitched a complete game shutout and struck out 11. Oh, and the Mets scored 11. That was great, but it was a meaningless game. The next year, I was at several playoff games and happened to be at the game 7 where Endy made the catch and the Mets were 1 hit away from going to the World Series. I was sad with the outcome but satisfied with the progress. This year, they had something to prove. They were the better team the year before but it didn’t work out. That’s OK — this was the year…Our season has come, remember? Then, opening day — Saint Louis was absolutely rocked and I was thrilled. Ah, the chip is on their shoulders and they’re playing to prove it, I thought. They went to Atlanta and started to take care of business, showing that it wasn’t a fluke, but couldn’t quite seal the deal. Then, opening day at Shea…I was there and pumped up, ready to go. J. Roll declared the Phillies the team to beat and they were doing a good job of it until he committed an error on a routine groundball — Mets win and Jimmy gets to hear the Shea faithful chant his name probably as loudly as anything I’ve ever heard chanted at Shea Stadium. Hearing your name screamed by 50,000+ fans is good, unless you’re from the opposing team. The Mets had trouble with the Phils for the rest of the series, but no matter, I thought they’d still get it done.

You could just tell that this team didn’t have the same magic as the previous year. They were good, but just not as good. I guess it’s hard to recreate that feeling…Just ask the Yankees. Yeah, I know they are in it every year, but there was a magic to those 90’s Yankees that I don’t know has been there since. From every account I’ve heard, the Mets in ‘06 had one of the best clubhouses in baseball. Everyone got along and no one was left out. Of course, winning helps develop that but I think these guys genuinely liked each other.

After Saturday’s game…
Hey Jose, here’s what your buddy, Hanley Ramierz said before the game:

“I don’t care if it’s broke (his hand). I’m gonna play tomorrow. @@#$% everybody on the Mets. I’m going to kick their *&^Y%A$ tomorrow.”

I get sick everytime I see Jose out there chatting with this guy.  Someone tell Jose that this guy made a fool out of him — both on the field and off.  He really needs to get his head out of his rear and start playing ball — next year, that is.

The fans came out (after taking hits for not being there the whole week) and did their best.  I was there Friday and Saturday holding down field boxes sections 156 & 157, but the guys, except for Saturday, just couldn’t get it done.  How do you lose to Kim on Friday?  He’s AWFUL!  Well, I guess you could begin with two of the worst starts I think I’ve ever seen (outside of several Rick Ankiel starts several years ago).  Thankfully, Tom Glavine will ride off on the two jet skis and brand new Buick he got from the team for his 300th win.  He’ll also get a ton of use from those 300 golf balls they marked with ‘300′ for him, starting today.

REMEMBER THIS MOMENT…
There’s a lot to talk about in the next few days, but I hope these guys remember this feeling and I hope it’s a bitter taste in their mouths for the whole off season.  Don’t let this happen again.  I have plenty more to say and will do so in a little bit — talk to you in a few hours.

I am at a loss for words. I will write something tomorrow about this absolutely devistating loss to the Florida Marlins and, ultimately, the Philadelphia Phillies…