Die Hard Sports Fan

David Wright didn’t end up winning the NL Final Vote ballot to make the 2008 All-Star Team. Instead, an outfielder named Corey Hart of the Milwaukee Brewers got selected. On Friday, Omar Minaya called Wright multiple times according to Mets.com. David saw four missed calls and two voicemails and thought, “I thought that I was traded.” If there is one Met that I don’t want traded, it’s Wright. The good news is that Omar wanted to let David know that he ended up making the All-Star Team as a replacement to the injured Alfonso Soriano. Wright had this to say about making the All-Star Team…

It seemed like I got quite a few second chances. When you realize that you’re not going to something that you want as badly as I wanted to participate in this All-Star Game, it makes you appreciate a lot more when you get that phone call. To be able to come up through this system, being a Mets fan as a kid, and to participate in the closing down of Yankee Stadium at the last All-Star Game, it makes it extremely special. It’s something that I wanted pretty badly. It’s been an up-and-down week. It’s been great for the way the team’s been playing, so I didn’t really have anything to complain about. But after the vote, I was obviously somewhat disappointed. Glad I didn’t make any plans.

Congrats to David. It’s too bad he didn’t make the team originally, but he’s right in saying that it seemed like he kept getting second chances.

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This morning, Omar Minaya joined Boomer and Carton of WFAN to talk about the outfield situation, Jose Reyes slamming down his glove, and whether or not the Mets are in the trade market. To hear the interview in its entirety, click here.

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Ryan Church came back to New York yesterday and underwent neurological tests today in Manhattan. The Star-Ledger reported that the “MRI Ryan Church had on his head and neck were negative.” The Mets said his status is still day-to-day. This is good news because not all of us believed him when he said that he sat out of the game due to migraines. Church insisted that he has been suffering from migraines for a lifetime.

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Well folks, MLB.com released the roster for the 2008 All-Star Game. Unfortunately, Billy Wagner is going to be the only player representing the Mets. It’s the sixth time that Wagner has made the All-Star team so hats off to him. There is some hope that another Met can make the All-Star team, but he needs your help. Mets.com pointed out that there is one final spot on the roster so the fans can vote for one of five players on the NL Final Vote ballot. The five players are: Mets third baseman David Wright, Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell, Astros left fielder Carlos Lee, Giants center fielder Aaron Rowand, and Brewers right fielder Corey Hart. I already voted for David. If you didn’t vote for Wright yet and you want him to represent the Mets then go to MLB.com to vote for him.

American League

Pos	Player	B/T
C	Joe Mauer, MIN	L/R
1B	Kevin Youkilis, BOS	R/R
2B	Dustin Pedroia, BOS	R/R
SS	Derek Jeter, NYY	R/R
3B	Alex Rodriguez, NYY	R/R
OF	Josh Hamilton, TEX	L/L
OF	Manny Ramirez, BOS	R/R
OF	Ichiro Suzuki, SEA	L/R
DH	David Ortiz, BOSº	L/L

Pos	Player	B/T
P	Justin Duchscherer, OAK	R/R
P	Roy Halladay, TOR	R/R
P	Scott Kazmir, TB	L/L
P	Cliff Lee, CLE	L/L
P	Joe Nathan, MIN	R/R
P	Jonathan Papelbon, BOS	R/R
P	Mariano Rivera, NYY	R/R
P	Francisco Rodriguez, LAA	R/R
P	Ervin Santana, LAA	R/R
P	Joe Saunders, LAA	L/L
P	George Sherrill, BAL	L/L
P	Joakim Soria, KC	R/R

Pos	Player	B/T
C	Dioner Navarro, TB	S/R
C	Jason Varitek, BOS	S/R
1B	Justin Morneau, MIN	L/R
2B	Ian Kinsler, TEX	R/R
SS	Michael Young, TEX	S/R
3B	Joe Crede, CWS	R/R
3B	Carlos Guillen, DET	S/R
OF	J.D. Drew, BOS	L/R
OF	Carlos Quentin, CWS	R/R
OF	Grady Sizemore, CLE	L/L
DH	Milton Bradley, TEX	S/R

National League

Pos	Player	B/T
C	Geovany Soto, CHC	S/R
1B	Lance Berkman, HOU	S/L
2B	Chase Utley, PHI	L/R
SS	Hanley Ramirez, FLA	R/R
3B	Chipper Jones, ATL	S/R
OF	Ryan Braun, MIL	R/R
OF	Kosuke Fukudome, CHC	L/R
OF	Alfonso Soriano, CHC	R/R

Pos	Player	B/T
P	Aaron Cook, COL	R/R
P	Ryan Dempster, CHC	R/R
P	Dan Haren, ARI	R/R
P	Brad Lidge, PHI	R/R
P	Tim Lincecum, SF	L/R
P	Ben Sheets, MIL	R/R
P	Edinson Volquez, CIN	R/R
P	Billy Wagner, NYM	L/L
P	Brandon Webb, ARI	R/R
P	Brian Wilson, SF	R/R
P	Kerry Wood, CHC	L/L
P	Carlos Zambrano, CHC	S/R

Pos	Player	B/T
C	Russell Martin, LA	R/R
C	Brian McCann, ATL	L/R
1B	Adrian Gonzalez, SD	L/L
1B	Albert Pujols, STL	R/R
2B	Dan Uggla, FLA	R/R
3B	Aramis Ramirez, CHC	R/R
SS	Cristian Guzman, WAS	S/R
SS	Miguel Tejada, HOU	R/R
OF	Matt Holliday, COL	R/R
OF	Ryan Ludwick, STL	R/L
OF	Nate McLouth, PIT	L/R

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In this week’s ‘25 BEST MOMENTS AT SHEA’, Brian Costello of the New York Post lets us know what No. 12 is…

SHEA STADIUM

June 21, 1964

Shea Stadium was two months old when it played host to its first truly historic moment. The Phillies’ Jim Bunning pitched a perfect game on Father’s Day, the first perfect game in the National League in 84 years.

It was the first game of a doubleheader and Philadelphia would win 6-0, but all anyone talked about was the pitching performance from the lanky right-hander.

The 32,904 fans at the game became Bunning fans in the final inning as he became the eighth man in the history of Major League Baseball to achieve perfection. He also became the first pitcher in the modern era to throw a no-hitter in both leagues. He had no-hit the Red Sox in 1958 as a member of the Tigers. That day he walked two and hit one.

Against the Mets New York Mets , he was flawless. It took him only 90 pitches and the 32-year-old struck out Mets rookie John Stephenson to complete his 27 up, 27 down masterpiece. The fans gave him a long standing ovation.

Bunning was the first NL pitcher since John Ward to pitch a perfect game. Ward did it for Providence on June 17, 1880.

The Tigers traded Bunning the winter before to Philadelphia. He would play a role in Philly’s pennant chase that season. He struck out 10 Mets with a baffling curveball and a slider he mixed in.

Just three Mets even came close to getting a hit. Jesse Gonder hit a hard shot between first and second that second baseman Tony Taylor knocked down, then threw to first for the out. In the third inning, Amado Samuel lined a ball over the head of shortstop Cookie Rojas, but Rojas made a leaping grab.

Ron Hunt came close to ending the perfection in the fourth with a pop fly along the right-field line that was out of the reach of outfielder Johnny Callison. The ball fell just a few feet foul, though, and Bunning then struck Hunt out.

Bunning would be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996 and is now a Senator from Kentucky.

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For those of you that are fans of Jose Reyes, the New York Times found out that Jimmy Rollins had to go through some tough times before becoming the MVP last season. Rollins said…

Sometimes it takes a year or two, but with me, it took three. I was the same way until I figured out who the heck I was. I could run, I could play, I was fast, but it was all raw ability. But now, I’m showing off my raw ability, with learning, with knowledge. I’ve learned the game. I understand the game. You come out of that, you’re a completely different player.

The big thing for me is: how do you make that adjustment? That’s the learning curve. He still has the tools, a great arm. He does have power, hits from both sides of the plate, speed, good glove. The mental makeup. He’s a smart baseball player. He’s the complete package, but he won’t fully mature until his failures start making sense to him.

At times, it was like, I don’t care what you say. Other times, it was like, O.K., let me try it. Or, I’m struggling, let me try what they say. If I’m feeling good, I didn’t listen to what they say. When I’m feeling bad, all right, I’ll try it. But now, I’ve processed all the information, and I know me. I can’t do Ryan Howard. I can’t do Chase Utley. I can only do Jimmy Rollins.

People always have more expectations for you than they have for themselves. Put that out of your mind, learn who you are, know who you are and go out and do it. Believe me, people will accept you, because my on-base percentage has never been high, but I score runs. What’s more important? Me being on base or me scoring runs? If I’m scoring more runs, I’m doing my job.

Wright and Reyes quickly became my new favorite Mets, but you probably know by now that I have completely fallen out of love with Reyes over the past year. The most important thing that Jimmy mentioned was that Jose ‘won’t fully mature until his failures start making sense to him’. That’s the same thing as when people admit they have a problem at AA. Maybe Jerry Manuel will be able to get into Reyes’ head. Otherwise, somebody else has to whether it’s management or a player. He needs to be molded into a Professional baseball player.

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Ralph Branca is a former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who wants his son-in-law Bobby Valentine to come back home and manage the Mets if such an offer was made, according to the New York Times. Branca said…

They know Bobby. They know he’s a very loyal guy. He’s a got a year and a half left on his contract over there. The owners have been very, very good to him. He doesn’t have to contend with the New York press and guys who are dishonest. But I would tell him to take the job. Come back home, baby. I think he would be open to it. It’s New York City, the hub of the world, the media capital of the world. It’s his kind of town. He’s the kind of manager they need now. A guy who is volatile, makes tough decisions, and is very loyal to the team. He’s probably the best manager in baseball, even though I’m prejudiced. But you know he makes all the right moves. He took a mediocre team to the World Series in 2000. And with a break here or there, he could have won it all. I mean, he got beat on a 15-hopper up the middle by Luis Sojo.

The New York Times went on to say that “Valentine’s contract with Chiba Lotte expires after the 2009 season. However, such agreements in Japan are usually easy to break with some negotiation.” I understand that Branca is Bobby V.’s father-in-law which makes him biased, but I’m biased as well because I’m a huge fan. All in favor, say “aye.” Like I said before Willie getting whacked, Bobby V. is the only one I want to replace him if he were to get let go.

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So most Mets fans wanted Willie whacked and those of you who wanted that got their wish. The only improvement since then is the play of Jose Reyes. Reyes has decided to finally play baseball once Jerry Manuel took over which is another reason why this guy is so hard to root for. Otherwise, the team is playing exactly the same under Manuel as they did under Willie.

Last night, Manuel took Johan Santana out of the game against the Phillies after pitching eight innings. The score was 2-2 at the time, and Manuel brought in Duaner Sanchez to save the game but ended up giving a two-out RBI single to Shane Victornino. It was a very questionable move Mets fans because Santana only had 95 pitches when he was taken out. We know that Willie would’ve taken Johan out too. So what’s different? Absolutely nothing. The Bullpen still couldn’t save the game. It’s the same problem as last season. The Bullpen was smokin’ until July of 2007, and then they couldn’t hold a lead the rest of the season. Since I’m such a realistic Mets fan, I saw the collapse coming a mile away. It began in July, and I knew that the Mets wouldn’t have been able to do anything in the Playoffs if they ended up making it. Of course I thought that they would’ve made the Playoffs, but I saw the flaws and knew that they would’ve been outed in the first round. We were hoping that Sanchez would’ve come back and pitch like he did in ‘06. Omar brought in Matt Wise in the offseason. Duaner’s return didn’t live up to the hype, and Wise hasn’t done much of anything before being placed on the DL.

My point has always been that this is on the players. It doesn’t matter if Willie or Jerry is the Coach. I also heard on WFAN that Willie wasn’t able to punish Reyes whenever Reyes acted up because Minaya said that Reyes was too valuable to the team. So Jose has gotten away with whatever he wanted. You can see on the field that Reyes’ immaturity has regressed. He never showed it until he was benched by Willie for not running out a few ground balls last year. These on-the-field temper tantrums are current because Reyes never did that in his first few seasons. Now, the Mets fired the Manager who did the right thing by benching him so Jose can continue to feel like he’s bigger than the team. I’ve got a huge problem with all of this. The Phillies had no problem benching Jimmy Rollins for not running out a ground ball, and Rollins was the MVP last year. Jimmy said he deserved to be benched. So why can’t the Mets do this? Why can’t Reyes handle being benched? I have no idea, but the Mets have to do something with Reyes. I know that Jose puts up great numbers when it doesn’t matter a la A-Rod, but where was Reyes in the ‘06 Playoff, in September ‘07, and in the first half of ‘08? He’s nowhere to be found when there’s pressure or criticism which means he lacks Rocky Balboa heart. It’s a shame with all of that talent. Just like Lorenzo said to Calogero in A Bronx Tale, “There’s nothing worst than wasted talent.”

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Even though Jose Reyes is quickly becoming one of the players on the Mets that I want traded immediately, I was going to congratulate him for tying the Mets All-Time triples record that was set by Mookie Wilson.  However, I just came across a really juicy article by the New York Post which made me change my mind.  During the game when Reyes threw his glove up in the air, Keith Hernandez said that the Mets were “babying” Reyes and “He’s got to get over that. Enough babying going on now. He’s a grown man. He’s been around a long enough time. Take off the kid gloves.”  Well, Jose’s friends and relatives told him what Keith said which led to a “very heated” situation on the plane out to St. Louis.  After Reyes confronted Hernadez, Keith said “I was just doing my job - you should do yours.”  Supposedly, they almost were about to exchange punches.  Both Jose and Keith deny that the situation was anything more than a conversation, but other players on the plane said otherwise.

Toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow, round-for-round, I got Keith’s back in this one.  I love his quote, “I was just doing my job - you should do yours.”  Isn’t that the truth.  He’s one of my favorite Mets of All-Time, and he’s a legend in Queens.  He has rings and played the game the way it should be played.  Reyes is like a pimple on Keith’s rear end right now so he’s messing with the wrong cat.  The Mets are babying Jose, and this is just another incident on his part so this is it for me.  I now want him out as much as I want Delgado and Castillo out.  I would only have been impressed by Reyes if he shut the hell up and played like a professional who makes millions of dollars.  He is going backwards instead of forwards, and that shouldn’t happen at 25.  I don’t remember this stuff happening the first three seasons, it’s all since he got benched by Willie.  He has no heart which is why he’s unable to come through in the clutch or listen to people when he’s does wrong.  I would feel much better if he was doing this stuff when he was a rookie and not doing it anymore.  This kid’s heads too damn big.

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Mets.com reported that Moises Alou’s return from the DL will be postponed due to weather in Florida.  The rain washed away Moises Alou’s rehabilitation efforts Wednesday for the second time this week.  So he flew to New York with plans to play for Double-A Binghamton on Friday instead.  He will end up missing the series against the Phillies, but the Mets are hopeful that Moises will be ready to play on Monday.  We need him back.

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