Mets fans will pull for Red Sox and Dodgers

In my last poll, I asked my readers what team they will pull for in the playoffs.  The Red Sox were the victor over the Dodgers by one vote.  Here are the results…Somehow, the Phillies managed to garner 11 votes.  I’m guessing those were voted for by Philly fans, don’t you think?

Personally, I’d like to see either the Twins or the Tigers win it all, though for Johan Santana’s sake, maybe the Twins shouldn’t win it all.

Next poll: Were the right people fired?

Poll Results: Mets fans not counting on October in 2009

Will the Mets make the playoffs in 2009? Mets fans don’t seem very optimistic about their teams playoff chances in 2009.

Next poll: How many games will Johan Santana win in 2009?

Off Topic: FrankTV needs to go away

My team isn't even in the playoffs, and I cannot stand these incessant commercials.

I could link you a video, but I won't because you know the commercials, they're awful, and I don't want them anywhere near my blog.

Nick Friedell, over at Big League Stew, had a conversation with one of the head honcho's from TBS. The man is obviously deranged, as he had this to say:

"I think we feel that as long as we have a variety of spots, and that the spots are all different, and that you get a wink and a nod every time a FrankTV spot comes on that, there will not be that wear-out factor," Gregor said. "I could make a point that there are quite a few commercials that run on television that run repeatedly and yet they still cut through."

Now that is funnier than any FrankTV ad I've ever seen.

This man honestly believes those crappy impressions that come at us every three minutes are funny and entertaining, and that we want to see them?!?!? Ugh.

Everyone out there in internet land: Boycott FrankTV. Do not watch even a second of it. Therefore, they'll be forced to cancel the show, and we won't have to sit through his shenanigans anymore.

My updated playoff predictions

Here is an updated version of my playoff predictions, complete with the results from my first round of picks. Leave yours if so inclined.

MIL vs. PHI
I had: Philly in three.
What really happened: Philly in four.
Close, but no cigar.

LAD vs. CHC
I had: Cubs in five.
What really happened: Dodgers in three.
I don't think I could have been more wrong. Perfect case of a team getting hot at the right time.

BOS vs. LAA
I had: Angels in four.
What really happened: Red Sox in four.
And with that, my world series prediction is out the window. (I had the Angels beating the Cubs.)

CHW vs. TB
I had: Tampa in four.
What really happened: Tampa in four.
I nailed it!

NLCS: PHI vs. LAD
ALCS: BOS vs. TB

PHI vs. LAD
I'm going to take the Dodgers in six.
Yes, the Phillies starting pitching is good, but their bullpen will soon falter. I'm waiting for Brad Lidge to implode. Dodgers just look too good right now, and with everyone hitting in that offense, it's truly a force to be reckoned with.

BOS vs. TB
Sorry, Tampa. Red Sox in five.
I love the Rays, but they lack the "experience." The Red Sox are a postseason team, they simply find ways to win when it matters most. A better start from Josh Beckett this time around will help considerably. Still, Tampa Bay will put up a fight.

My World Series: LAD vs. BOS, a Yankee fan's worst nightmare.

My playoff predictions

Since the Mets are MIA from the playoffs, I figured I'd make a few picks and predictions on what will happen in the first round.

NL:
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
LA Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
AL:
Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels of Anaheim
Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

MIL vs. PHI
I'm taking Philly here. The Brewers had to scrape together a starting rotation for the last week of the season, and now with Ben Sheets struggles, they'll have to continue to hope and pray for good starting pitching. Philly caught fire late, and has been rolling near the end. Their bullpen is far superior, as is their starting pitching, and offense. Philly in three.

LAD vs. CHC
Tough one. Cubbies in five. I think this will be the toughest fought out match-up. The Cubs are really good, so are the Dodgers. The Cubbies can rely on both their starters and their bullpen, plus they have a nasty offense. The same argument can be made for the Dodgers.

BOS vs. LAA
Angels in four. The Sox are good, but I think the Angels are going all the way. Their SP hasn't been the same, but it's kind of tough to pitch when you've locked up the division in early September. The Sox will miss not having Josh Beckett until game three. Angels are going to win it all, beating the Cubs in the WS.

CHW vs. TB
Tampa in four. A good run for the Pale Stockings, but it's going to have to end. They won three games against three different teams to close the season, but the Rays are going to come out and be running on all cylinders. Tampa is nasty. Go Scott Kazmir?

Thoughts? How do you see the playoffs breaking down?

Commence the curse

"Registration for Mets playoff tix opens"

Oh, crap.

I hate when teams do this. I know it's a necessary evil, but it just stinks of "jinx."

But for those with the cash, get your name in now for the possibility of possible playoff tickets.

Last Night...

I finally got my emotions semi- in order...

Last night was something special...from about 5 o'clock, when I got out of class, I had goosebumps. My stomach was in knots, I can't tell you how much my hands were shaking...
Coming up on gametime, I did all my rituals, put on the Mets batting helmet (backward for defense, foward when they're batting) I also put up the lucky cardboard box, and filled out my scorecard. I had to leave the door open on our dorm room, and had to blast "Meet The Mets" (original version) very loud for all to hear...

This was one of the best games ive seen, by both teams...
I especially will not forget Endy's catch...that was one of the most beautiful catches I've ever seen...top play of the year in my book...

I will not forget this game. I've been a lifelong Mets fan, my dad is a mets fan, so i've followed in his footsteps. About 3 years ago, i started to watch religously...i would watch and/or listen to as many games as possible. This year put me over the top. I have purchased so many mets shirts, hats, weird little knick knack items (like one of those light up glass things you buy on the streets of NYC) I've started blogging, and now have my own domain...as you can obviously tell...

Thats why it hurt so bad last night...
I've put so much emotion into this team, so many amazing moments and the few bad ones. The team has been so high (11 run inning in Chicago, sweeping the Braves...just so many) and we've hit some rough patches (No Pedro, No El Duque...a few more, but it pains me to think...)

But here we are...2 runs away from going to the World Series...
I have to say, this was an amazing year...we should be proud of what they did, but we should look forward to next year...
The team will be stronger, more well rounded, and they will be hungrier...alot hungrier.
They tasted it, but they're going to want more...

Omar...Willie...and all the guys...lets do this again...

Ya Gotta Believe!

...Almost There...

We're about 60 minutes away from gametime...
and I've never been so nervous.

I cannot imagine what Oliver Perez must be feeling...hopefully nothing.
he should just go out and throw the ball right past those Cardinals (not past Lo Duca though, no Wild Thing tonight Olli.)

We need someone on the offense to have a HUGE game...
Wright, Delgado, Beltran..one of them needs to have a monster game...

alright...you know the rally cry...

Ya Gotta Believe!!

Game 7:: Cards 3 -- Mets 1

i don't know what to say...i'm in shock.
nice job by Jeff Suppan...



good job Endy Chavez...that was nice.



...see you in april...

...Game 7...

The table is set...
With a 4-2 win in Game 6, there will be a 7th, and deciding game tomorrow night...

John Maine pitched an amazing game...giving up 2 hits over 5 1/3...
...he got out of a huge jam in the first, and settled in real well...he was scaring me with his walks every inning. but he stayed cool and pitched great.

....Billy Wagner....i dont know what to say...he is a heartattack pitcher...that was such a mess...he couldn't put away anyone after having them deep in the count...
...cmon Billy, stop worrying about what you're going to write in the Post tomorrow...and pitch the darn ball!

~Game 7~
Suppan v. Perez(?)
Oliver Perez will likely start the game, with Darren Oliver coming out of the pen if Perez gets in any trouble at all...
We need a huuuuge game from the offense, that was completely shut down by Suppan last game...

...keep it up boys...
Ya Gotta Believe!

Hot Foot remembers the last "Game 6"

Over at HotFoot, they remember the last Game 6 @ Shea...

The infamous Game 6 of the '86 WS...

"We believe because we've seen it with our own eyes.
We believe because there is no other option.
We believe because time and again, the Mets have come back from great obstacles all year long.
We believe because we watched them compile the best record in baseball despite the fact you couldn't tell who might be on the mound from one day to the next.
We believe because of Wright's walkoff against Mariano.
We believe because of Carlos's walkoff in the 16th against the Phillies.
We believe because of Wright's walkoff in the 14th inning against the Braves.
We believe because of Carlos's first pitch walk off against the Cardinals.

We believe because we are Mets fans.

I believe.

Ya gotta believe."

Game 5: Cards 4 - Mets 2

...not good.
Tom Glavine looked ok, but continually got squeezed by Jeff Kellogg. Kellogg did not establish any strike zone what-so-ever. He was calling strikes all over the place (especially the strike to Jose Valentin with two on and two out)

Again Glavine pitched great ball through the first 3 innings. Then hit his bumps in the 4th and 5th.

The Mets left 8 players on...2 in the first, 2 in the 8th...



Back to Shea tomorrow night for Game 6...
Maine v. Carpenter...
this should be a tense game, Maine needs to throw the game of his life, and we need to get to Carp early...

...im very nervous...

Morning Notes

Tonights matchup is Glavine v. Weaver...
Carpenter will pitch Game 6...

Pujols has a sore right hammy...
(you never want players to be injured, no matter what team, but its playoff time, and it seems only fair to have the other team get hurt once in a while too)

Newsday is reporting that El Duque could go Game 1 of the World Series, if the Mets make it that far...

to quote Rick Peterson, after a 72 ptich bullpen session from Hernandez...
"He was excellent"
...excellent news!

Game 5 Rained out

Game 5 has been rained out, every game will be shifted back a day...
so game 5 will be tomorrow...

This gives Glavine an extra says rest, which is very good for us...
He will hopefully pitch much better going on 4 days rest instead of 3...

uhoh...Cards take 2-1 lead in series.

Im a wreck.
The Mets and Wagner let one go in Game 2...
and then they didn't even show up in Game 3...
this is realllly not good.

Oliver Perez will pitch today...and hopefully pitch very well...because our long relief man Darren Oliver pitched 7 amazing inngings yesterday trying to salvage the Steve Trachsel disaster.
D. Oliver gave up 3 hits (one was with the bases loaded, but those were Trax's men...also a WP) in 7 superb innings.

So...that means either today will be a 6-7 inning bar none...
or Chris Woodward will be on the mound as we scramble for anyone that can throw the ball over the plate.

Game 1: Mets 2 - Cards 0

CARLOS BELTRAN! wow. that ball was outtttta here.

Tom Glavine was just unbelieveable last night. Guillermo Mota was great. Billy Wagner was excellent.
9 innings of 4 hit ball. That's just amazing. "King Albert" went 0-3 with a strikeout.

The game ball goes to Glavine, Mota, Wagner, and Beltran.

David Wright had two very nice plays in the field, including a 5-3 line out double play, to get Tom out of a jam.
Jose Valentin madea a very nice play in the 9th...falling away from first and Carlos Delgado dug out the throw for the 2nd out. that was nice.

Looks like we lost the Cliff Floyd gamble...He left the game in the second inning after tweaking it during his at bat. Endy Chavez came in and played very well in the field...going into the stands attemtping to make a catch, and then a very nice diving catch in the 7th to help out glav...

so on to Game 2...Maine v. Carpenter...
it will be fairly cold tonight, i dont really know if that will help or hurt us. Hopefully Maine can give us 5 or 6 innings af solid baseball, and we can pass in onto the bullpen. The pen is well rested after the days off and needing only 3 pitchers in Game 1.

Maine vs. Carpenter: Game 2 @ 8

(Note: The Detroit/Oakland game has been moved up to 4:20 to attempt to avoid snow...)

Game 1 Cancelled

Game 1 of the NLCS has been postponed until tomorrow...
every game is now pushed back a day...

...bummer, i was really lookin forward to this...

Cliff in the lineup

Cliff Floyd will be in the starting lineup tonight, says Willie Randolph on WFAN.
Endy Chavez will come on as a pinch hitter/defense.

Tuesday @ Shea.

Both teams are at Shea Stadium today, participating in various workouts and warmups...

Hey, Mets...please stretch alot! No calf injuries!!

The Mets will most likely announce Tom Glavine as thier Game 1 starter. Which will be no surprise to anyone.

The Burning Question(s): Will Cliff Floyd make the roster? If not, who takes his place?

...From what I saw, the amount of pain Floyd was in, it did not look good for him. That means either Oliver Perez or Dave Williams can make the team and possibly start Game 4...

NLCS set.

Bring on the Cardinals!

St. Louis beat San Diego by a score of 6-2 to clinch a spot in the NLCS.

Weds. night will be the game.
At Shea.
Tommy Glavine will be pitching.


And Shea will be rockin'!