I thought we'd do decent. I mean it's the A's, we always make a run for the division. Wasn't prepared for how lousy the first half would be but I was equally unprepared for how great the second half would be. All in all I guess my prediction was not far off.

Oh yeah. All the new pitchers came a long way. There is always some first year advantage (hitters don't know your pitches) but the way they all improved leads me have high hopes. Swisher and Johnson and Crosby should continue to improve as well.

Griff: totally with you on the inequity of the teams. The Yankees spent ~4x more than the Twins and A's for 2005! The whole chart is here. Some interesting things to note like how much the Giants, Phillies and Mets spend and how little it gets them. And how the very bottom teams really don't have a chance.

The Mets were hampered by the one thing that can still hurt them this year. Poor coaching decisions (especially with relief pitching) by Willie Randolf. At least this year we got rid of Looper and have Billy Wagner.

Good joke for young baseball fans:

What are the last two words of the National Anthem?



"Play Ball!"

That plagued the Giants too. Bottom of the 6th mush-for-brains Alou would yank the pitcher and send in a reliever for 2/3rds inning, the switch. New guy gives up two runs? Keep him in! If he gets out of a jam yank him. Total stupidity.

Injuries, bad managing and bad front office can all keep teams from succeeding. The Giants have had many chances to get some quality players but always get a mediocre player cheap and they flounder. I attribute a lot of this to them trying to build a supporting cast around Bonds.

Almost game time! Orosco throwing to Gary Carter, opening day ceremonial pitch.

Hey, why can'tcha drink beer in Citizens Bank Park?

Cuz the Phils lost the opener

(The beauty of this otherwise lame joke is that you can use it pretty much every year)

Maybe the A's should have spent more... considering the score last night. :biglaugha

Can the Mets hold onto first place?? Game 2 starts in less than an hour!

A fluke I assure you. The Yankees (and Red Sox for that matter) can unleash huge totals like that anytime. In fact pitching around the league is so weak this year it looks like it will happen frequently based on the first 3 days of games.

These last two A's games were great. Tuesday night it was all tied up 3-3 in the 9th. Huston Street came in and got through the inning. Before the A's came to bat the radio announcers were commenting on how nasty the clouds looked. Soon enough the rain came. Then the A's got two men aboard before Scutaro came up. He hit one over the fielder to drive in the winning run and as he was celebrating it really started pouring! Fucking epic.

Last night Scutaro (SS filling in for Crosby) made a fantastic play grabbing the the ball on his far right, jumping, turning and firing and on target throw to first for the out. It probably made the highlight reels. If it didn't something is wrong. Later in the game Big Hurt (Frank Thomas) came up and drilled a pitch that looked like it would for sure be gone. It came down inches below the marker above the scoreboard for a double scoring three runs. That in itself was great but the best part was the big smile Frank had when he hit it. Those moments make me love the game. :sniff:

FIRST PLACE METS!

Pedro pitching tonight, and I have tickets for Tuesday's game.

20th Anniversary of the 1986 Mets!

YEAH BABY

Mets are more or less on fire! How was the 7-1 victory Steve?

The AA Binghamton Mets are kicking butt as well.

BINGHAMTON -- For 10 anxious pitches, Jay Caligiuri battled Reading Phillies relief pitcher Talley Haines.

With two out in the ninth inning, a full count and the potential winning run on third base, the Binghamton Mets' third baseman kept fouling off pitches, keeping alive his at-bat.

Finally, on pitch number 11, Caligiuri ripped a base hit to left field, scoring Carlos Gomez and capping an 8-7 come-from-behind victory for the B-Mets on Tuesday night at NYSEG Stadium.

"I love (that situation)," Caligiuri said. "I'm not in trouble in that situation, the pitcher is in trouble. He's got to get me out. I can relax and just get a good pitch to hit." linky

YEAH!! Another win!

Oh, and Jeb.... I have tickets for this coming tuesday's game at Shea. This week they're in DC... too far for me to travel. But I'd go there if someone wants to give me tickets. :)

Long at bats rule :D How is the Mets farm in general? It seems lots of teams don't have good young talent they can bring up. Oakland is well known for drafting well and Minnesota for making good trades / scouting.

Oh, this Tuesday. I demand a full report ;)