Results tagged ‘ World Baseball Classic ’
Back to Spring….
Well, after two weeks of October baseball, it’s time to switch gears and remember that we’re still in March here. The World Baseball Classic was such a great tournament and although I was always on board with it, I appreciate it so much more now, and sincerely hope that it develops into a really incredible event. I had such a great time being able to root for players that I wouldn’t normally root for (and being able to do the “Youuuuuk” cheer? so much fun). I hope my Mets friends out there don’t think too poorly of me, but there’s a little bit of me that might miss rooting for Jimmy Rollins…not that it will be hard to start hating him again–in fact, I think I’m already there, so no worries, but it was really nice to get to know a whole other group of players that I don’t get very much exposure to. Plus, in the WBC, I really loved seeing guys play against their teammates (ie, Wright gets a single against Puerto Rico and is on first base with Delgado) but now I get to see countrymen play against each other. Hmmm, I wonder what might happen if Jeter makes it to third base during a Subway Series this year? Anyway, of course I was disappointed to see the US lose last night, but I was more upset that the team was going to dissolve now. Oh well, if we keep progressing at this rate, we’ll make the Championship game in 2013 and win the whole thing in 2017.
The best part about this “October baseball” of the WBC is that now that it’s (almost) over, we don’t have to dread four months without baseball…just 14 days! I find it hard to believe that in exactly two weeks, I’ll be rushing back from class to check and see how my Mets did in a game that actually counts for something! Yeah, I know, how uncool I’ll miss most of the game for class, but what can I do? I’ll get to see maybe an hour in the middle, but other than that, I’ll be relying on text updates from my mom. Spring Training games are great when you haven’t seen live baseball since October, but at this point, I’m really missing the competitive edge. I think that’s why I immersed myself so much in the WBC and kind of put the Mets on the back burner. Anyway, two weeks and I’ll be plenty satisfied!
Over the weekend, I was excited to get to see my first baseball game of the season in person. A friend and I went to see Notre Dame take on Seton Hall (unfortunately, they lost, but it was baseball nonetheless). Notre Dame’s season started a month ago, but they started play on campus this past week (can you imagine baseball in Indiana in February? brrr). Getting to actually sit in the stands and be there was so great. I know it’s only college ball, but you never know, I could have been watching the next Aaron Heilman, Jeff Samardzija, Brad Lidge or Craig Counsell (all ND grads). I’m hoping to get to several minor league games this summer (especially when Buffalo is in town…gotta see my future Mets!) and hopefully even a few Mets games. It’s a six hour drive to New York City from my house, and the trip can be kind of expensive, so we’ll see. My best friend and I are making plans to go in June and see a Mets/Phillies game, and my family is looking at possibly getting to Citi for the Subway Series, but I don’t know how hard it might be to get tickets for that (anyone with experience for Mets/Yankees games have advice?).
Well, I think I’ve sufficiently procrastinated for today, I should get some actual work done now! Welcome back to Port St. Lucie, Wright and Putz….and no complaining about not winning, you’ll be with guys like Delgado, Beltran and Reyes, who have much more to complain about!
Stunned (again, but in a good way)
So I’m kind of shaking while typing this.
Wow. Did that really just happen? Did DAVID WRIGHT really just send the US team to the Semis in the WBC? I’ll admit, I was kind of hoping that Youk would just hit a grand slam or something so that Wright didn’t have to bat and I didn’t have to stress out, but OMG, I am so glad he did!!!! Never in my life was I ever happy Jimmy Rollins scored a run, but his most recent run put a big ‘ol smile on my face!!!! Wow….I am stunned! You know, it’s one of those things you always picture happening and wish would happen, but when it comes down to it, it just doesn’t seem like it could happen, WELL IT DID! So proud of my met, and my whole US team..great job guys, now let’s kick some butt in LA!
Oh, and did anyone else see Delgado take down Victorino? So funny……sorry Carloses, but at least you get to rejoin (most of) your buddies in Port St. Lucie now.
Hmm, I wonder if this was Wright’s way of getting back at Beltran for his increidible catch earlier in the game.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Seeing as I go to the most Irish school outside of Ireland itself, today is pretty much the biggest day of the year. I was walking to class today, seeing all the green shirts and wondering if this was really more green shirts than any other day…then I saw a girl wearing green shoes, skirt, shirt and hair, and knew it was officially St. Patrick’s Day. Of course, going to such an Irish school does have it’s perks. We got a great St. Paddy’s Day present: a sunny, SEVENTY DEGREE day. Now all those from the more southern states may not understand, but 70 degrees in the middle of march is as rare as seeing a leprechaun. Walking to class in flip-flops and capris was really awesome and I’m trying to enjoy it, because it’s supposed to be 40 by the end of the week.
Today is also the home opener for the Notre Dame baseball team (what a day to have it too, with this weather). I really want to go, but it depends on how much work I can get out of the way (ie blogging right now isn’t helping the chances) and if my friends aren’t busy (wimpy, I know, but I have issues going places by myself).
I know I haven’t blogged in a while, but I found that when I was home, I just wasn’t around my computer as much. I did have a great Spring Break though. The recent aquisition of HD TV and the MLB Network in my house provided me with plenty of entertainment, including basically the entire first half of the WBC in HD (awesome!!!). I’m still a little sad that the Dominican got knocked out earlier, but glad that the US didn’t have to worry about them the second round. I like to think after the US team beat the Netherlands on Sunday, David Wright texted Jose Reyes saying, “That was for you!” I think it would be fitting. I was really rooting for Puerto Rico last night….ie, didn’t want to see them play the US today, seeing as they mercy-ruled us last time. Hopefully they’ll still be exhausted from that, and we can send the Carloses back to Port St. Lucie. Also, so glad to see that Ollie will be returning to camp. He’s the player in the Classic that I felt needed to be in camp the most. Don’t forget the US plays Puerto Rico tonight at 7….go US! (PS David Wright- I don’t care if you felt a little dizzy after you got kneed in the head…after what we went through with Ryan Church last year, we don’t need to know that too! Give us a little break.)
Mets lost to Atlanta in Spring Training today 
. However, Daniel Murphy was a beast, going 3-4 (he’s now batting above .400 in Spring Training….RIDICULOUS!) and Jon Niese only gave up two runs (on a homer) in 4 innings, so I think that’s decent. I’ve decided to stop speculating about who the 5th starter will be because I have a feeling that all of the potentials right now will get a start sometime during the year. Ryan Church scored the only run of the game with his first homer of Spring (was it him who said you only need to hit one during Spring so you know you still got it? There you go, Ryan, now save the rest for the regular season).
I’ve noticed that there is quite a roller coaster as far as opinions on the Mets go. First, after the season, everyone was really down on them, thinking they’re the team that can’t “finish it” and play all 162 games, etc. Then we got K-Rod and J.J. and everyone was saying how great the Mets are going to be next year. Then that kind of died down, and people started talking about how Omar wasn’t doing enough this off-season and the Mets didn’t look like a playoff-caliber team. Then Spring Training started and everyone was talking about how people like Luis Castillo and Marlon Anderson were in such great shape, and the whole team looked good….now we’re back to thinking the Mets are going to fall apart in September and we’ll continue to fail. Well, I’m an eternal optimist, so I have felt from the day we got K-Rod and J.J. that we had serious post-season hope in 09 (who am I kidding, I felt that way September 29th…). So I think I’m just going to stop reading all the negative articles, and just wait 20 days until the season starts and see what happens, because really, anything can happen during the season (what, 2008 Tampa Bay Rays???). And I’m hoping and praying that 2009 ends more like it did 40 years ago (or 23…I’m not picky).
Hope everyone has a fun, safe St. Patrick’s Day! I have to admit, the only green I was wearing today were my green flip-flops (it’s days like today I wish I had the green Mets shirt, which, come to think of it, my dad has….wonder if he wore it?).
Team Tightrope Still?
Is it just any team with Mets players on it adopts the title of “Team Tightrope”? Well, the US nearly lost to Canada today, but was able to hold on to a 6-5 win over Canada. Wright was 0-4 (or 0-5….he didn’t get a hit either way) and was the first of three US players to come up in the 7th with the bases loaded and not get a run home. Well, leaving the bases loaded in both the 7th and the 8th didn’t cost the US as they were able to hold on to the win, with the help of J.J. Putz. Of course, he didn’t make it easy to watch, as he gave up one run in the 8th and had a runner on second when he finally got Jason Bay to fly out and end the game. I guess this gives J.J. one save and K-Rod none (Venezuela doesn’t play until 8 tonight).
Now, we’re watching the Carlos Brothers (yes, the Puerto Rico manager was smart enough to play them!) take on Panama, although I’ll probably miss a lot of this game for dinner.
The Start of the World Baseball Classic
Does this make me a horrible person? I go to turn on the Dominican/Netherlands WBC game today, find out Jose Reyes (my favorite player) is not starting, instead Hanley Ramirez is, so I immediately decide that I’m rooting for the Netherlands. I’m sorry if this is a little immature, but looks like my logic that Jose is the better man was right, as not only did the Dominican lose, but it was really kind of Hanley Ramirez’s fault (his error in the first allowed two runs to score, and Netherland won 3-2). I actually missed a lot of the game to go shopping with my sister, but I got home just in time to see the Netherlands shock the world and actually pull of the upset. Of course, I was careful before getting too excited and checked to see if Jose got into the game….he pinch ran (seriously, you didn’t even let him try to hit???). Other Mets: Tatis played first later in the game, but got no at bats and Pedro (ok, not a Met anymore, but oh well) pitched three perfect innings. Good to know that this loss for the Dominicans had nothing to do with any Met players. If you start Jose against Panama or Puerto Rico, Felipe Alou, then I’ll start cheering for you again.
Team USA is playing Canada right now and down 2-1??? Let’s go boys.
The Mets are facing Washington and right now losing 5-3, but with most of our starters and even backup players in the WBC, I’m not too concerned with it.
Oh, and being in New York is so great. Yesterday at the grocery store, I saw a guy wearing a Mets shirt and it wasn’t a rare site! Plus, watching baseball in HD is so much better than watching it on my computer…it’s great.
Back in New York
Well, after a 10 hour train ride and very little sleep, I’m home! Of course, the first thing I had to do was flip on the TV and watch the MLB network for the first time (my family recently upgraded to digital cable a week after I left for school, so I hadn’t had the chance to watch it yet) and I was soooo excited! However, as soon as I tuned in, I had to change the channel quickly because they were repeating 30 Clubs in 30 Days and they were doing the Phillies….a little too painful to hear about all the ways they can repeat their title. I’m now watching it though, and it’s fabulous (Nats vs. Orioles…I’m just glad to be watching baseball on TV!).
The Mets face the Cards today and it’s not on TV or radio…go figure. They’re in the top of the 4th right now, 2-0 Cards. Castillo, Valentin and Coronado have the three hits for the Mets.
In what I feel establishes the Mets as the most talented team in the majors, we have sent our league-leading 16th player to the WBC. Upset A-Rod isn’t going to play for the DR? Fernando Tatis isn’t, as he just got called to report. Before adding Tatis to the WBC roster, the Mets were tied with Boston for the most players (15 each). However, of those 15, Boston only had four or five roster players, while the Mets have something like 11 or 12. So have no fear, Mets fans, when we don’t look so hot in Spring Training, even our back-up shortstop isn’t at camp right now!
Oh, and for all those who just aren’t satisfied with Spring Training (it certainly helps, but it’s just not enough for me!), today marks the ONE MONTH mark until baseball returns (minus Opening Night on April 5th…but that’s not the Mets, so it doesn’t count)!!!!!
This Should Be Interesting
Today Team USA takes on the Phillies, and I’m really excited. Of course, I was thinking the game was at 1 (like most Spring Training games) so at 12:50 I go to get ready to listen to the game and find out it started at noon. Well, it was a great time for me to tune in as the USA was in the middle of a 4 run inning! I actually started listening durind David Wright’s second at-bat, and he got a hit, yay! It was his first hit of WBC Exhibition, and I know that exhibition games don’t mean anything, but it’s still nice to hear he’s getting going.
The Mets take on Italy at two today, so looks like it will be another rematch against Mike Piazza and as big a fan I am of Mike, I’ll still be hoping that the Mets can pull it together and win. The lineup includes Castillo, Tatis and Church, with Maine on the mound. Adam Rubin of Surfing the Mets joked that Maine’s perfect batting average in Spring Training is on the line, as he’s batting second, and I got a laugh out of that.
Well, can’t blog much longer as I’ve got a busy day, running errands and packing for Spring Break. Can’t wait to be back in New York tomorrow!
Cursed Position?
Do I dare utter these words? Is there any chance that it was not dear Billy Wagner, himself, blowing the saves, but just whoever person is dubbed the Mets closer?
The US was playing Toronto today, going into the bottom of the 9th with a two run lead, and brought in J.J. Putz to finish it (did they play Thunderstruck when he came out???). Next thing you know, the US team is walking off the field “losers.” Yes, that is right, Putz blew the save. This begs the question of whether it might have something to do with him being (one of) the Mets closer(s). Maybe it wasn’t Wagner, Schoenweis, Heilman, Ayala, and anyone else in the 08 bullpen, maybe it was just the fact that they were members of the Mets bullpen that caused them to blow saves….oh dear, I hope this is not the case! Or MAYBE the US team lost because Davey Johnson thought it was a good idea to have Derek Jeter pinch-hit for David Wright in the 7th!!! I was very angry to see Wright come out (he DHed today, batting 4th) and Jeter do nothing more than ground out.
In other baseball news…yeah, there’s really nothing. Every team that I was rooting for lost. Like I said, the US lost to Toronto. The Mets lost to Washington. Castro hit his second 3-run homer of Spring Training, and Tatis added a solo shot, but that was all the offense for the Mets. The Dominican lost to Baltimore (Pedro pitched and gave up I think 2 runs, Reyes did not play). Venezuela lost to Houston (K-Rod was not in the game, so he couldn’t deny or confirm my closer-curse theory). Puerto Rico plays tonight (what’s up with the night games during Spring Training???) so hopefully the Carlos Brothers will save this from becoming a completely lost day for Mets fans. But hey, I’ll take a 3-32 Spring Training record for the Mets if it means a 32-3 start to the season (and maintaining this winning percentage).
In other news, Wright and the rest of Team USA will be on Letterman tomorrow night to read the Top Ten list (reasons to watch the WBC!) so be sure to to watch it! I’ll be on the train heading home for Spring Break (overnight….ugh!) but I’ll have my brother DVR it.
Who to Cheer For?
Ok, so maybe right now I don’t have a problem choosing who do root for yet, but I certainly have a number of teams to follow!
While the Mets are without nearly half of their 25 man roster, they are currently losing 13-0 to the Cards. Poor Freddy Garcia got roughed up a bit in his second start…I can only think this is anything but helping his run for the 5th starter position. Needless to say, this game was a little to painful to watch, so I switched to the US/Yankees game.
Team USA is beating the Yanks 201 in the 5th….David Wright is batting clean-up, nice to see a Met get that spot! Of course he’s 0-2 but give him some time to settle in. (He just walked to load the bases….woohoo!) And can I just say how hard it is to root for Jimmy Rollins? I mean, I don’t have a problem rooting for most Phillies players individually, it’s really just the team, but Rollins is the one Phillie I really don’t like. Good thing he’s not playing today. Also, the locker room arrangement has Rollins-Jeter-Wright in one row….poor Jeter being between the rivalry (it could be worse, Derek, Beltran could be where Wright is), but poor Wright being next to one Mets rivalry and another team rivalry on the other side of that! Haha, I still think it’s kind of funny.
I also tried to check on the DR, Venezuela and Puerto Rico, just to see how the other Mets are doing. Last I checked, Reyes is batting leadoff and was 0-2, no Mets pitching yet for Venezuela (although for those sentimentalists, Endy Chavez was batting leadoff and I think he had a run scored; plus, one of my older favorite players, Melvin Mora was 1-2, yay!). As for Puerto Rico, the Carlos’ had matching hits (although Delgado’s was a double) and were both 1-2. As excited as I am for the Classic, I’m dreading seeing my players play against each other…scratch that, I’m really excited to see that, I just don’t want to have to pick one team over another.
I believe we are 38 hours away from Classic action! Although, let’s be honest, how many Americans will be waking up at 4:30 or earlier to watch Japan and China?
Also, anyone who saw the MLBlogs homepage saw that the lead headline is the Mets!!! I even got on the “Meet the Mets Bloggers” links, thanks MLBlog staff!
The Debacle of the Astros
The Mets certainly showed up to play today….and by play, we mean score runs! The Mets practically demolished Houston. The game was a little slow in the beginning…Maine threw two decent innings, giving up a solo homer in the first and I think one more hit? The homer was a big deal, because the wind was blowing out and it was bound to be a big-homerun game. The game didn’t really get interesting until the third, when the Mets kind of put this game in the bag. We had a monster 8 run inning. The Mets started by loading the bases with no outs (and let me note, they did this is the first two innings as well and didn’t score), and Ryan Church was able to get on via error which also let a run score. Then, of all people, Brian Schneider hit a grand slam (woohoo) to make it 5-1. A few batters later, Delgado hit a 3 run homer (told you it was homerun weather!). The best part was that both the grand slam and the 3 run homer were off the same batter. It kind of reminded me of Fernando Tatis’ two grand slams of the same pitcher in the same inning, but not quite as cool. After that, the game seemed to just drag on and on (you should have heard the announcers talking about it). The Mets added a run in both the 4th and the 5th. Finally, Ramon Castro created his own birthday present (he turned 33 today) with a 3 run shot in the 8th. Seeing a big offensive game is great (15 hits!) but it was a little sad to think that this is the last Spring Training game (for at least a few weeks) for most of our big players. Jerry tried to get most of the guys leaving in the game, but K-Rod didn’t pitch, which surprised me a little. I’m sure there was some reason, but I don’t know enough about a pitcher’s training to know why he didn’t pitch.
Now I have to switch into “go Mets..and…go WBC teams!” mode. I’ll definitely be rooting for the US (gotta support my country, duh!) and I’ll also be rooting for the other Mets players and their teams. Of course, when it comes down to the finals and everything, it’s US all the way. Honestly, I’m so excited to see Mets play against each other. I’m thinking that it’s going to be hilarious to see them interact when playing each other. Exhibit A: Wright claiming that if he has the chance, he’ll be going in hard to break up a double play against the Dominican and Reyes. Of course, there is no way that we could ever break up the Carlos bros, so they’ll be working together to get Puerto Rico to the finals. Be sure to tune in, games start this Thursday (of course, they start at 4:30 in the morning, so I probably won’t catch a game until Saturday, which by the way, will be the first day of my Spring Break, so I’ll be in New York!!!
Anyway, sorry if this kind of rambled, it’s the start of midterms week, so I’m a little tired.
To see the box score for today’s game, click here.
Day off tomorrow, so no baseball. And in reference to the Johan saga, true, not going to New York for an MRI is good news, but I still won’t be convinced he’s ok until I see him pitch and here that he looks fine.
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