Die Hard Sports Fan

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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For one day, the Mets were clicking on all cylindars.  It must be that Rocky Mountain air.  They scored 5 runs in the first inning and kept tacking on insurance runs.  Vargas was pretty solid today.  He only allowed 2 runs in 6 innings.  And what a great Evans had in his Mets debut.  Perhaps the Mets will be able to win this series before coming home.  I would love to see that.

Mets.com:

Evans makes his mark right away - Nick Evans made a name for himself in his MLB debut today so Owen Perkins lets us know all about that.

Randolph keeping eye on the ball

Mets’ skid stretched to five at Coors - Owen Perkins summarized last night’s game between the Mets and the Rockies.

Mets turn to Vargas on short rest - Owen Perkins put together a pregame analysis for today’s game between the Mets and the Rockies.

Minaya reiterates support for Randolph - Here’s part of what Omar Minaya stated about Willie Randolph.  Check out the article to find out more.

Willie Randolph is our manager. He has my support. He has our ownership’s support. I am here to support Willie. I’m here to let him know my support, to encourage him and to let him know we believe he can get this team on track. Willie’s totally dedicated to doing that, and I believe he can do that.

The team’s not playing well, and sometimes as the general manager, you have to see how the team is playing. This is one of those situations that you always leave open the ability to visit the team and see the team. We had a good [series] last weekend with the Yankees, but the fact that we didn’t play well — we played some good games, but the bottom line is we lost in Atlanta — and I felt it was important for me as the general manager to be with the team now, especially finishing off the road trip.

When we get back to New York, we’ll sit down and talk and look each other in the eye. Sit down in a room and have Willie have a little bit of a conversation with the ownership and myself and tell us why he felt those things were said.

Mets, Randolph focused on playing ball

Anderson exits with pulled hammy - Owen Perkins lets us know that Marlon Anderson left last night’s game because he suffered a strained left hamstring.

Woozy Church out of starting lineup - Owen Perkins pointed out that Ryan Church sat out for the third straight game after suffering from a mild concussion.

Newsday:

Minaya gives Randolph vote of confidence

Church still dizzy from apparent concussion

THIS DAY AT THE OLD BALLPARK - Newsday lets us know what happened at Shea Stadium and at Yankee Stadium on May 23 of a year in the past.

New York Daily News:

Willie Randolph gets stay of execution as Mets rock Colorado - The AP wrote up a game summary for today’s game between the Mets and the Rockies.

Gary Carter would love to take Shea reins as Mets manager - Adam Rubin found out what Gary Carter said about managing the Mets when asked by “The Mike and Murray Show” on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Mets lose in 13 innings to Rockies, drop fifth straight - Adam Rubin also summarized last night’s Mets-Rockies game.

Pedro Martinez wants to pitch - Pedro Martinez said, “My dad told me he wants to see me pitch again”

Ryan Church Bering head woes

New York Post:

RANDOLPH’S ON A ROCKY ROAD

PATH TO REDEMPTION STILL OPEN TO WILLIE

NO HOLLIDAY FOR AMAZIN’S IN COLORADO

MARTINEZ’S DL RETURN DELAYED BY TRIP TO D.R.

New York Times:

Mets Win and Change the Subject for a Day - Ben Shpigel summarized today’s game between the Mets and the Rockies.

After Minaya Supports Randolph, Mets Lose in 13 - Ben Shpigel summarized last night’s Mets-Rockies game.

Wright Wants Mets to Take Losses Personally

The Star-Ledger:

Final: Mets 9, Rockies 2 - Jeremy Cothran wrote up a game summary about today’s Mets-Rockies game.

Game 47: Mets at Rockies - Jeremy Cothran provided the lineup for today’s game between the Mets and the Rockies.

Closing up shop (finally) in Denver

Church a scratch, dizzy after flight

Who’s in line for Willie’s job?

Omar offers Randolph a vote of confidence

Mets reportedly call up Nick Evans

Omar: We’re going to support Willie

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The 2008 Subway Series will begin tonight, if it stops raining.  And man is it raining.  Tonight’s game will probably get postponed.  If you’ve followed what I’ve written then you’d know that I think the Subway Series is overhyped Interleague play.  I’m not a fan of Interleague games at all.  It wouldn’t bother me if they eliminated it from the schedule.  If they did it at all, I think that it would be better if they did it like the NFL where each NL division plays a specific AL division per year and then it alternates annually.  That way, each division plays the same opponents.  For instance, if the NL East played the AL East in 2008, then if the NL East played AL Central in 2009, and so on.  It seems like the Interleague play goes on forever.  Or is it that the MLB season goes on forever?  I don’t know.  And then there is the difference in rules which is the dumbest thing in sports.  That doesn’t happen in the NFL, NBA, or the NHL.  The difference in rules is buch league.  Anyway, here’s the probable pitching matchups for the weekend:

• 04/16/2008 - Johan Santana (4-2) - Darrell Rasner (2-0)
• 04/17/2008 - Oliver Perez (3-3) - Andy Pettitte (3-4)
• 04/18/2008 - John Maine (5-2) - Chien-Ming Wang (6-1)

Mets.com:

Randolph tabbed as NL All-Star coach - Tom Singer reported that these coaches will join Colorado manager Clint Hurdle as the coaches of the 2008 NL All-Star coaching staff: In addition to Willie Randolph and Black, Hurdle will be assisted in All-Star duties by his own Rockies coaching staff — pitching coach Bob Apodaca, hitting coach Alan Cockrell, third base/infield coach Mike Gallego, first base coach Glenallen Hill, bullpen coach Rick Mathews and bench coach Jamie Quirk.

Alou eager to play at Yankee Stadium - Anthony DiComo put together a pregame analysis for tonight’s game between the Mets and the Yankees.

Newsday:

Starting today, Mets’ Randolph in line of fire - Jim Baumbach believes that Willie Randolph is in danger of losing his job.

Wagner rips teammates after Mets loss - Mark Herrmann found out what Billy Wagner said after yesterday’s loss to the Nationals, “Somebody tell me why the — the closer is being interviewed and I didn’t even play. Why are they over there and not being interviewed? Oh, I’ve got it. They’re gone. — shocker.”  Wagner was pissed because his teammates weren’t around after the game to deal with the press.

Yankees, Mets stumble into Subway Series

SNY’s Cohen gets to call Mets game from upper deck - Neil Best pointed out that the SNY team called yesterday’s game from the upper deck at Shea Stadium.

Nationals’ Harris has knack for robbing Mets

THIS DAY AT THE OLD BALLPARK - Newsday tells us what took place on May 16th of a year in the past at Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium.

Reyes tries to ignite on bases, but Nats nail him - Roderick Boone walks us through the 8th inning of yesterday’s game between the Nationals and the Mets.

New York Daily News:

Basement Bombers vs. bickering Mets - Mike Lupica also wrote up a pregame analysis for tonight’s Mets-Yankees game.

This train to Bronx should be taken out of service - Bill Madden critizes the Mets.

Visitors save Johan Santana to show Yanks what they’re missing

Fox not on board for this Subway Series - Bob Raissman pointed out that Fox will not be airing any Mets-Yankees games this weekend.  I could care less because they suck at it anyway.

Mike Pelfrey gets no-no support - Kristie Ackert also summarized yesterday’s Nationals-Mets game.

Willie Randolph will be all-star assistant

New York Post:

BOOS FOR WILLIE’S AMAZIN’ MESS

THE SUBWAY SERIES MATCHUPS

UN-MET GOALS PUT RANDOLPH IN JEOPARDY

PELFREY MATURING ON MOUND

CASTILLO RETURNS - AND RUNS INTO TROUBLE - Bart Hubbuch is upset with Luis Castillo for not scoring when Austin Kearns dropped the ball in yesterday’s loss.

METS PREPARING FOR AMAZIN’ SUBWAY RIDE - Mike Puma explains where the Mets are as they come into the Subway Series.

New York Times:

Wanting Answers, Wagner Adds Questions - Ben Shpigel wrote up a game recap for yesterday’s game between the Nationals and the Mets.

Wagner, Talking Again, Criticizes Silent Players

The Star-Ledger:

Willie Randolph to coach in All-Star Game

Wagner rips teammates after Mets’ crushing loss

Leader needs to step up to plate for Mets

Reyes’ aggressive approach in eighth backfires

Digesting Wagner

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