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Archive for the ‘Wally Backman’

Father’s Days’ Mets News

June 15, 2008 By: Keith Category: AL West, David Wright, Keith Hernandez, MLB, NL East, New York Mets, Omar Minaya, Texas Rangers, Tom Seaver, Trot Nixon, Wally Backman, Willie Randolph No Comments →

Die Hard Mets Fan would like to wish all of you a Happy Father’s Day.  So the Mets get to play twice on Father’s Day as a result of last night’s rainout.  I guess most of them won’t get to see their families unless they brought them to Shea.  The Mets are getting rocked 8-2 right now in the Top of the 8th.  Maine only gave up 3 runs until he got beat up in the 7th.  Hopefully the second game will be much better than this one.

Mets.com:

Pedro’s return parade rained on - Jon Blau reported that, “Saturday night’s game between the Rangers and Mets was postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 1:10 p.m. ET. Tickets for Saturday night’s game will not be honored at either of Sunday’s games, but can be used for any other game during the 2008 season — depending on availability.”

Nixon’s debut to come during twin bill - Marty Noble put together a pregame analysis for both of today’s games between the Rangers and the Mets.

An off-day not on Wright’s mind

Newsday:

Nixon arrives, but role on Mets up in the air

Drug secret helped Mets get Keith Hernandez - Steven Marcus pointed out that on,

The 25th anniversary of the most significant trade in Mets history includes a historic footnote. It might never have occurred if the Mets’ front office knew why the Cardinals were unloading Keith Hernandez.

Years before he became a central piece of the 1986 world champion Mets and gained iconic status in team history, Hernandez abused cocaine, an issue not publicly confirmed until Hernandez and several other players testified in the 1985 Pittsburgh drug trials.

I highly recommend that you read the entire article.

Ex-Met Backman has had one wild ride of late - Ken Davidoff ponders, “As Willie Randolph writhes on the Mets’ skillet, his job in serious jeopardy, it’s interesting to wonder whether Backman would be a candidate to replace him had he made different choices - and whether the Mets should give him a job somewhere in their organization now.”

Minaya’s full autonomy more like fool autonomy - Shaun Powell believes that Omar Minaya doesn’t want to fire Willie Randolph because that’s the manager he hired.  Powell thinks that the Wilpons do want to fire Willie.  Since Omar received full autonomy upon taking over, he would be acting as a puppet if he had to pull the trigger.

Schedule has been brutal to Mets

Randolph hanging on as Mets manager for now - David Lennon and Ken Davidoff wrote, “A person familiar with the situation said late Saturday that Randolph was not likely to be fired on Father’s Day and would be on board the team’s charter to Anaheim, Calif., later Sunday night. But the Mets are still seriously considering a plan to fire Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson in a last-ditch effort to revive this underachieving team.”

New York Daily News:

Rangers soak it all in at Shea - Roger Rubin explained that, “Five members of the Rangers starting lineup and a relief pitcher put on a show for Mets fans Saturday night at Shea and also showed New York what a team having fun looks like. After finding out the game had been postponed due to rain - it will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader beginning today at 1 p.m. - they made the drenched tarp on the field their personal Slip ‘N Slide before exiting to chants of “Let’s go Rangers!”  The article contains pictures of the 5 Rangers sliding on the tarp, and it pretty funny.

Mets show interest in Rockies’ Brian Fuentes, but deal not close

New York Post:

NEVER MORE POPULAR, HERNANDEZ IS THE REAL MR. MET

25 BEST MOMENTS AT SHEA: NO. 15 - “The Mets seemed destined for the World Series in 2006 until they were cut down by the underdog Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. The series went to a decisive Game 7 at Shea Stadium, the first Game 7 there since the 1986 World Series.”  That was depressing.  It was like the MC pressed a mute button as soon as Beltran watched the called strike three go over the plate.

SERBY’S SUNDAY Q&A WITH… Tom Seaver.

The Star-Ledger:

The beginning of a long (and potentially longer) day - Colin Stephenson provided the lineup for the first Rangers-Mets game of today’s double header.

Sunday’s Mets News: June is Here

June 01, 2008 By: Keith Category: Carlos Beltran, Fernando Tatis, Gary Carter, Los Angeles Dodgers, Luis Castillo, MLB, Matt Wise, Mike Pelfrey, NL East, NL West, New York Mets, Pedro Martinez, Ryan Church, Shea Stadium, Wally Backman, Willie Randolph No Comments →

It is June 1, so the Metropolitans are in a new calendar month.  The Mets are 27-27 right now, so the Mets would be 81-81 if you prorate it over the course of the season.  This is worse than at the end of April when they were on pace to get 87 wins.  They haven’t hit their stride yet, as Willie would say.  The good news is that they are coming off of a productive week where they won 4 out of 5 games.  Will this hot streak carry over to June?  And for how long?

Mets.com:

Church set to resume productive role - Anthony DiComo reported that Ryan Church returns after suffering his second concussion in three months.

Tatis, Mets turn fortune around - Anthony DiComo summarized yesterday’s game between the Dodgers and the Mets.

Reyes rebounds from early slump - Samantha Newman put together a pregame analysis for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Mets.

Pelfrey shakes off pressure at Shea

Castillo rests injured left leg - Anthony DiComo reported that the Doctors called Luis Castillo’s ’sore knee’ a strained hip flexor.

Injured Wise to seek second opinion - Jon Blau stated that Matt Wise wants to confirm the rotator cuff tendinitis diagnosis.

Newsday:

Mets rally in 8th, beat Dodgers on Tatis’ hit

Pelfrey sharp, but is it enough to stay a Met?

Peering over the .500 hump

Beltran’s big blast wakes up Mets

Beltran, Tatis rally Mets to 3-2 win over Dodgers - Mark Herrmann also summarized yesterday’s Dodgers-Mets game.

New York Daily News:

Carlos Beltran, Fernando Tatis spark comeback as Mets beat Dodgers - Adam Rubin wrote up a game summary for yesterday’s game between the Dodgers and the Mets.

Avoiding case of the Willies

Fernando Tatis is marvelous once again

Unlike old days, MLB teams hold fire on managers like Willie Randolph

Every time Gary Carter opens his mouth, he hurts his own cause

Mike Pelfrey throws curve into Met plans with Saturday’s performance

Ryan Church, Luis Castillo set for returns Sunday night

New York Post:

ANOTHER AMAZIN’ RALLY AT SHEA - Mike Puma summarized yesterday’s Dodgers-Mets game.

CASTILLO PINING TO PLAY

THE WAY TO ‘BELT’ BROXTON

25 BEST MOMENTS AT SHEA: NO. 17

PEDRO MUST DELIVER MORE THAN LAUGHS

MAJOR OBSTACLE - Kevin Kernan explains why it is hard for Wally Backman to find a job in the Majors.

New York Times:

Tatis Plays the Star in Another Comeback - Ben Shpigel summarized yesterday’s Dodgers-Mets game.

For Mets, Tatis’s Timing Is Perfect

The Star-Ledger:

Mets may be turning a corner

Church on Sunday - Colin Stephenson provided the lineup for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Mets.

Some extra postgame quotes from the Mets’ clubhouse

Another Amazin comeback

Pelfrey makes his case to stay in rotation