Geezers Power Mets Past Crew: Shef of the Present Ties it So Gimpy Castillo Can Walk Off

AP

I'm surprised Gary Sheffield could even swing with that enormous patch on his shoulder. But swing he did, and his teammates politely mobbed him. I didn't see Shef out there celebrating with Luis Castillo at the end (maybe he already went home or retired?), but I was distracted by the way Oliver Perez was jumping around like he was next in line to swing at the pinata at a children's birthday party and he had heard the thing was stuffed with Hot Wheels. Anyhow, I'm glad that's over with, as talk of numbered hologramed balls had made me embarrassed for the guy, as well as draining baseball of any remaining magic. The guy who acquired the appropriately catalogued ball remitted it for some promotional considerations. How romantic!!

The Mets continue their charity tour of the second division, spreading good cheer and easy victories for the opposition. As a sober Willie Randolph looked on, the Brewers looked to be well on their way to continuing their psychic domination of the Mets from last year, when the Crew was a much better team. Now that they are second division again, they can play with the NY Mets. But the Mets surprised the Men of Milwaukee with some hitting heroics and decent bullpen work, and they're right back at .500 where they started.


Coming to Queens really has to suck for Coach Randolph.

Castillo came through with an infield basehit to win the game. SNY interviewed him after the game, a tradition that seems cruel when the target is gassed English As Second Language ballplayer still on the field. Anyhow, I have no idea what Castillo said, but I felt for him and his struggles to play respectable baseball.

Jerry has Senior Moment Forgets to Pull Livan Hernandez
The bloom is off the rose. The other Livan Hernandez showed up in the 6th. He probably should have been sitting on the special bench they made so he can take showers all by himself by then, but Jerry has to learn somehow. Getting five decent innings from Livan is acceptable; problem is the three other guys who also only give you five innings.

Gary Jinxes Livan
In that 6th inning, Gary of SNY would not shut up about the Brewers offensive futility. You knew what was coming and Gary seems to enjoy this, or be unable to stop himself. As Livan weakened precipitously, Gary ramped up his rhetoric. Ryan Braun finally shut him up by slamming a demoralizing 3 run homer into the left field stands while Gary was still braying on.

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Somebody explain to me what they were thinking here.














Did they run out of money? Did Ebbets field have little league quality facilities? Is it a tribute to Guantanamo Bay? When the SNY cameras pan over the place, I keep expecting Freddy Kruger to pop out of there. That's the best they could do?

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Mets Today does some speaking truth to power/incompetence that's worth checking out. Met flak David Howard apparently called in to Mike Francesa’s radio show to set the audience straight on Citi's unsightly sightlines. It appears the same design company HOK goes around building flawed "throwback" parks, and keeps getting hired. Sounds like a Hollywood director or a candidate for some bailout money!