Mets Flashback Continues: Yanks Remind Jerry's Kidz of Their Limits

                                Bat fight: why couldn't Mike finish him off when he had the chance?

Just a few comments because, well, no one likes to blog after watching their team get slapped down by ass munches across town.  But the back to the future theme continues, as the Mets continue to chase the Br*ves and now have had their bubble burst by their ancient nemesis,  the Spankees.  The team with the $300 billion dollar payroll and their round on the mound ace CC Sabathia (aka the biggest winner) had no problem putting an end to the Mets modest winning streak, and for good measure, easily grabbed a weekend series that really might have meant something for Jerry's Kidz.  Even with two of their superstars on the mend and playing at half speed, the remaining $200 billion worth of Spankee players was more than a match for our wildcard-at-best squad.  The series was a mixed bag.  Jose Reyes' missteps lately have been limited to his haircut and headdress--otherwise he's been raking at the plate, snappy in the field, and dazzling on the dance floor.  Can't wait to see his latest handshakes. 

 
 "Remember when you were as good as me? Now you can't get out of your own way."

Johan wasn't bad today, but he wasn't good either.  Sad to say, this was one of his better showings in the subway series.  If you're not worried that the Mets ace is injured or has lost it, then you're living under a rock. Speaking of hardly imposing, the Amazing Mets offense pulled off another disappearing trick, not scoring for the last 15 innings of the series, though to be fair, they were facing some tough, fat pitching.  But fairness ain't got nothing to do with it; it's hard to remember how we ever thought this was a rivalry.

 
Sabathia, before dining on a sumptuous pregame meal of Jeter's ex-girlfriends (Arod's are too chewy).

Oh well, at least the subway series wasn't humiliating this season (3-3 tie). You know, like Dwight Gooden/Darryl Strawberry as Yankers, or like A Rod wanting to become a Met before taking the $$ to join the Rangers who then pay the Yankees to take him.  A quick stop at wikipedia refreshes the memory if you want to know what humiliation is in its most recent vintage:

June 14, 2009 – Francisco Rodriguez confronts Bruney during batting practice and are separated by teammates. The Yankees shutout the Mets 15–0 in the biggest blowout in the history of the series, tagging Met ace Johan Santana for nine runs in 3 1/3 innings, the most Santana has ever allowed in his career.

June 28, 2009 – Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who entered the game to face a batter in the 8th inning, bats against Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez at the top of the 9th inning. Rivera drew a walk with the bases loaded, forcing home Brett Gardner to earn his first career RBI. Rivera would go on to finish the game and earn his 500th career save as the Yankees swept the series at Citi Field.

MLB rip offs now fit in your pocket

When are people going to say enough is enough? The recession hasn't slowed MLB gauging down a bit. Recently, one lawmaker got into the action over exorbitant ticket fees for Yankees tickets--$10 in fees for a $5 ticket got him steamed.  Why anyone would want to be seen in Yankee stadium now that Lady Gaga is on the prowl is beyond me (that guy scares me), but in principle this pisses me off.


"Why can't the other team score any goals?"

Now that I am sporting an Ipod touch, I am privy to a whole new world of MLB nickle and diming shenanigans courtesy of MLB.com, a notoriously buggy enterprise. From what I gather, the MLB purposely stripped down its Gamecast--admittedly weak soup already--so they could charge for this "app" they have.  They give away this app, "At Bat," in a shitty almost useless version, called "lite" to try to drive you to "upgrade" to the pay version which you can use to watch mlb.tv, if you bought that.  So they nail you first for the service ($80-100), then rig it so they can get you again ($14) for the right to watch the service on your mobile device. The best thing (besides the crappy service and blackouts of course) is that the app then expires at the end of the season, though I bet they do fans who don't pay close attention the courtesy of automatically renewing the app on their credit card next April.


Wanna get fucked by the MLB? There's an app for that.

Of all the institutions I wish would get its comeuppance before this recession peters out, the MLB is up there on the list.  Without remorse, they have gauged the fans since the sport's rebirth after the 'roid aided McGuire-Sosa HR fest. Someday they'll have to beg those same fans to come back.  Until then, I have only my rallying cry: Bite me, Bud!

The Summer of Dickey

Maybe it's just me, but are baseball headlines getting more salacious? One report encapsulated the Mets Saturday loss to the Yankees thusly: "Yankee's Long Balls Give Phil Hughes His 10th Win." That's a victory that sounds painfully Pyrrhic.  So if you're suffering Dickey headline withdrawl, here's a potential headline for you: "Touchy Pirates End Sausage Fest." Maybe you can do better than I did.