R.A.vaged

Most of you that know me, know me as a rather grounded Yankee fan. Especially during the regular season. I try never to get to low when the team isn't playing well, and never to get too excited when they are rolling. This is an outlook that has been cultivated by their regular appearances in October. Not gloating at all. That is simply a fact. Any regular season spike (good or bad) is offset by the consolation that lies in knowing that they will be there in October. Until proven otherwise (on a regular basis), I see no reason to feel differently.

Overhyped by the media, but Mets fans usually are absolutely gaga about their yearly meetings with the Yankees. Aside from local hype, it's just another 6 games (soon to be 4) on the schedule for both teams. While the players are likely to share my view, Mets fans continuously use these games as a measuring stick.

The Subway Series (regular season version) is not nearly as important to Yankees fans as it is to Mets fans. Yankees fans can usually rationalize regular season Subway Series losses by being in the race in October, while Mets fans are at home. This year's version was spiced up a bit with the Mets in contention for a playoff spot. The Mets (again, just stating the facts) are a team of unknowns who have played some unbelievable baseball at times this year. Their success has injected some energy into the crosstown rivalry by giving Mets fans the window of opportunity to believe that their team is on a parallel with the Yankees.

However, they were sorely smacked back down to Earth this weekend in losing 2 of 3 to the Bombers at CitiField. While this will likely have no long-term implications on the Mets playoff hopes, it is a subtle reminder that they still have a long way to go. I ordinarily would not feel the need to point out that the Mets ate some crow, but there are three reasons that lead me to bring this up.

1. Frank Francisco's "Chickens" Comment

Honestly, who is Frank Francisco to make a comment like that. The guy is continuing to cement his status as one of the "boobs" of MLB. Give him credit for having a relatively solid year thus far, but make him take his medicine for this ridiculous statement. Aside from the obvious that the Yanks lineup has some proven hitters, they also swept them at Yankee Stadium in early June!

Frank Francisco throwing a chair in Oakland and hitting a lady in the face. Who's the chicken again Franky?

Add to that the fact that the Mets had a clubhouse attendant get a chicken that they playfully referred to as "Jeter" before settling on "Little Jerry Seinfield", and they just look ridiculous here. I appreciate the Seinfeld reference as much as the next guy, but come on with this. Putting a nice bow on all of this is that Francisco was placed on the DL today with an oblique strain. Karma is a b*tch Frankie.

2. Mets Organization Employees Complaining About the HR's at Yankee Stadium

I respect Terry Collins as a baseball man a lot. But come on, this is Baseball Knowledge 101. You can't complain about ballpark dimensions if BOTH TEAMS are playing a game in the same ballpark. The Yankees are built for that park? Guess what, they are built for a lot of things. And they hit a lot of home runs on the road as well (as the Mets found out). I wonder how much of an issue this would have been if Ike Davis had popped a couple of "generous" home runs over that right field porch. Maybe they should evaluate that.

Cry me a river. Last time I checked both teams get a shot at popping one over the 314 marker.

Part of this was drummed up by Mets media announcers who brought this up during the game. But Collins also referenced the "friendly" home field for the Yanks in interviews. I just don't see how you can go down that road. Especially since most of the newer parks in baseball are bona fide band boxes. Where's the gripe when the Mets play at Great American Ballpark or Minute Maid?

3. R.A. Dickey's Hype for Sunday Night Baseball

I like Dickey a lot (TWSS). I have rooted for him this year, and will continue to do so. This is not anything that was really in the ORGANIZATION'S control. Dickey is a humble guy who would just as prefer to make another start and be on his way. This is more an issue brought up by the media and perpetuated by Mets fans than anything else.

A perfect example....and I will take an anti-Yankee position on this. When the ESPN announcers were talking about the matchup during last night's game, they said "We could be watching both All-Star game starters here tonight."

Sabathia has had a nice year (9-3, 3.45 ERA) but certainly will not be the AL starter. David Price (10-4, 2.90), Chris Sale (8-2, 2.24), and even Matt Harrison (10-3, 3.24) might have something to say about that. Dickey has a real shot to start for the NL.

Dickey has a real shot to start for the NL. Sabathia is having a solid year, but is a longshot to start for the AL. Mets fans were frothing for this opportunity to show off their Dickey. Both guys underwhelmed.

This just illustrates how overhyped this matchup was. C.C. and Dickey were each mediocre, and the game was decided in the bullpens.

FINAL VIBE

Just to re-focus, I don't want it to seem like I'm raining hate on the Mets. I am happy for my Mets fans friends that have suffered through the Madoff scandal, the Jason Bay disaster, the Jose Reyes exit, and other hard luck moments over the past 5 years. They are about to endure some meaningful summer baseball, and that's a great thing.

As for using the Yankees as a measuring stick....you're just not there yet.

Rubber Dickey

Every baseball season brings its share of surprises. Players who inexplicably underperform (see Lind, Adam and Lee, Cliff). Star players who experience resurgence (see Hamilton, Josh). Players with a new opportunity who take it and run (see Cabrera, Melky). And of course, young players who experience a breakout and make an impact earlier than expected (see Trout, Mike and Harper, Bryce).
But every once in a blue moon we see a journeyman player who figures something out and emerges to an All-Star level out of nowhere. The last man cut from this mold in recent memory was Kent Bottenfield in 1999 (journeyman pitcher who had never won more than 5 games with 5 different teams prior to winning 18 with St. Louis that year).

Aging hefty, lovable pitcher from a Disney movie? No, 1999 NL All-Star Kent Bottenfield who had just 26 career wins prior to winning 18 with the Cards that year. Subsequently, he faded away into oblivion. Will Dickey suffer the same fate? Not likely.  (Reuters)

This year's Kent Bottenfield Award goes to R.A. Dickey. To be perfectly honest, the Mets signed him prior to 2010 to be a placeholder in their rotation. Actually, that's being pretty generous. When he came on with the Amazin's, he had not even a guaranteed rotation spot. Despite pitching pretty admirably over the past two seasons (2.84 and 3.28 ERA, respectively), Dickey has never established himself as a standout pitcher in this game.

Apologies to my fans of locker room humor, but this guy has garnered more respect than to receive an unabated barrage of jokes about his last name. "Knuckling Dickey" (see above) is about as edgy as I'll get here. (Jesse Thorn)

This year has changed all that. Not only does Dickey sport an 11-1 record to go with a 2.00 ERA, but he also leads the National League in strikeouts (103). What makes this all the more remarkable is that prior to 2006 (at age 31), Dickey had never thrown a "knuckleball" in the major leagues. After battling arm troubles across 5 spotty seasons with the Rangers, Dickey elected to re-invent himself by transforming his knuckle-esque forkball into a true "hard knuckleball." This year, he truly is spinning stuff that has hitters baffled.

What grip would suit Dickey (that's what she said) if this card photo were shot today? (Baseball Almanac)

Now, Dickey is starting to threaten the baseball record book. He's the first pitcher in 25 years to throw back-to-back one hitters. On top of that, he has not allowed an earned run in 42 2/3 innings. Because of his unconventionally nasty "stuff", there is no hitter in baseball looking forward to facing him right now. As of this blog, he is poised to start for the NL in July's All-Star Game.

It remains to be seen whether Dickey will continue his assault on MLB, or if he will threaten 20 wins (as it appears he will). However, one thing he has done is provide Mets fans with an anchored player who is truly easy to root for. In the interest of focusing this blog, I will not even get into his troubled upbringing (and sexual abuse endured as a child). All this does it make it easier to pull for the guy.

He has become a player who is the voice of the team. Someone who their young guys look to for leadership. When you hear him speak, his humbled tone is remarkable. He gives the impression that he is counting every blessing that he gets. He has taken this second chance and made the most of it. What makes it all even better is that he is 37 years old, and does not appear to be slowing down any time soon.

Hodge Podge

Expect more blogs moving forward...
Due to a number of external obligations, it's been awhile. Below I will offer an unabated blitz on relevant sports topics over the past few weeks. Short, sweet, and to the point.

"The Tickle Monster"

Is this how you pictured the tickle monster? I'm not certain how many people actually envision who their "Tickle Monster" is, but I'm pretty sure this guy isn't it. Makes you want to full-out yak into a bag.

Sandusk. Jesus H. Christ.  The rundown from witness testimony is absolutely disgusting. This entire case is why people have a hard time dealing with the credibility of defense lawyers. How do you defend something like this and continue to have a clear conscience? I guess there is money to be had, and that is what talks. These proceedings can't be completed soon enough. I hope that this guy goes down hard and that he's removed from society for the rest of his days.


Deal with the Devil

What? You can get a name jersey for $175? F*ck me eh?

I have come to the realization that I tend to root for evil teams. Yanks, Cowboys, MCFC, and the Devils. OK, so I spent an exorbited amount of money on a Devils jersey. I love playoff hockey. I just can't follow the sport too closely during the regular season. I think that playoff hockey takes on a completely different nature than regular season hockey does.  I was pumped when the Devils took out the Rangers in the East, but figured that they were up against it in the finals. You can't undersell the value of a hot goalie in the NHL playoffs. Brodeur was hot. Quick was hotter. That was the difference.

It makes me sad that Parise will likely jump ship to another team, as his talents have outpriced the Newark market. However, it's hard for me to feel like the Devils will not bounce back, as they have been able to sustain success for longer than just about any Metro-area team outside of the Yankees. They went through similar turmoil when Scott Gomez left (although I admit Parise is a better talent than Gomez).


King Crab

"Not one championship, not two, not three, not four..." etc. I would love to know how you reconcile rooting for this guy. I know it's kind of cliche to root against LeBron....But consider me on board. Can't wait to see him lose again.

This Lebron James guy. I just can't root for him. I know the comparisons to Jordan are in the air. And it makes me less likely to pull for him. And I hated Jordan. But I respected him.

I don't have a lot of respect for LBJ. I think he's a tremendously talented player. However, I don't think you'd ever hear Jordan say "I'm taxed by playing the 4" or anything else resembling an excuse. I hate to be a bandwagon "Heat Hater" but I am. I feel that he has made Dwayne Wade into a player that is difficult to root for. 

All Thunder baby, all the way.

Schmo Hitters

These two Mets hurlers have helped the team stay near the top of the standings this year. Let's not get greedy though.

I was all over the Johan Santana no-hitter. Although a Yankee fan, I'm not a Met hater by any means. It makes for a great summer when both teams are good.  What Terry Collins has done with a team of Omar Quintanillas, of Kirk Neuwenhius', of Lucas Dudas' is remarkable.

I think that Johan deserved his no-hitter, as umpire's decisions are part of the game. I wonder how many no hitters were aided by an umpire's call here or there. I bet there are a few. I think the Santana no-hitter is a great story. And I am happy for Mets fans that they got to experience it. But the Dickey appeal? Come on guy!

They would have been better off just taking the high road and moving on. You can't appeal the play that they did. David Wright doesn't ever make that play against BJ Upton.  They appear to be "no hitter" whores, despite their manager's attempts to minimize the appeal.

Dickey has had a phenomenal year. His back-story makes it even more phenomenal.  He will be a NL All-Star at age 37 and that is to be commended. But let's not try to reach for unearned successes. Could you imagine if the appeal is won?

The Mets two "no-hitters" in history would be on a blown call, and on an appeal. That's no good.