Monday, October 16, 2006

Rainy Issues

Tom Glavine gets his wish.

We have yet another rainout, pushing Game 5 back to Tuesday evening, and letting Glavine go on normal rest not only tomorrow, but if the Mets get that far...normal rest for Game 2 of the World Series.

So let's discuss some things, shall we?

The Philadelphia Phillies used this off day to make a move to ensure that their team will be more ready for battle in 2007.

They hired Art Howe.

No no no no no...don't laugh. This is a shrewd move by the Phightin' Phils...after all, they're going to need somebody to be that calming influence on the bench when Ryan Howard becomes filled with self doubt after the Phillies fans turn on him after grounding to the left side with a runner on second base on a night where he had already hit four home runs. Who's going to be on the bench to let Howard know that everything is going to be all right as long as he battles?

Who's going to provide the pre-game brownies?

And who's going to be there during that inevitable day where Charlie Manuel, Davy Lopes, Jimy Williams, Pat Gillick, Chase Utley, Greg Luzinski, Harry Kalas, Pete Rose, Donovan McNabb, and Bernie Parent all get ejected for arguing balls and strikes? They'll need that excess managerial savvy that only Art Howe can provide...because who else would know to play the infield in while down by seven, to prevent that all important eight run lead?

Of course, someone is going to have to wake him up first.

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Oddly enough, Art Howe gets hired the same day his Oakland successor, Ken Macha, gets the boot. Howe was quoted as saying that it was a shame, because Macha really battled.

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Speaking of battling, turns out that Albert Pujols, who strained an oblique earlier this season, has been battling a bum hamstring. Tony La Russa hopes that it doesn't affect So Taguchi's power stroke.

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"The Mets, let's face it, aren't going to win any pitchers' duels. That would require them to have pitchers who actually can shut a team down." -Sports Illustrated's John Donovan
Um, was Mr. Donovan notating the weekly minutes of a Sons of Satoru Komiyama Society convention during Game 1?

***

The crack staff really did it this time.

They have uncovered some photos of some old...old...old Met baseball, from when I was not yet a year young. I thought it would be fun to use this unscheduled off day to share them with you:

This is how you know it's an old game...the upper deck seats are like that "sea green" color from your old box of Crayola crayons.

If you look closely at the scoreboard (the old scoreboard, I may add), you'll see that the Pirates come to town on September 24th, 25th, and 26th. Using that, along with the linescore, as a clue, the crack staff has deduced that this is from a game against the Dodgers on August 29th, 1971 (thanks to the good folks at Retrosheet). Tug McGraw got the victory on a walk-off single by Tommie Agee (and correcting my earlier mistake, you can read about it at Mets Walkoffs). Not a bad bit of detective work considering these pictures were taken with an instamatic camera. You know how else you know this game is old? Check out the trivia question on the scoreboard above, and see the answer below (hint, click the picture itself):

Active pitcher...Hoyt Wilhelm.

I'm old.

20 comments:

Jaap said...

Wow, so you got to see Bobby V playing shortstop for the Dodgers? Cool photos. Still, somehow it doesn't make me nostalgic for the 70s...

I.M. Forme said...

haha what a great comedy website--a's firing macha, and whoa The Battler is working again--what an imagination you've got there.

Anonymous said...

Hey - if Hoyt pitched game 3 for the Mets, Glavine would be pitching to wrap the series up tonight.

Anonymous said...

Great stuff there, Metstra. Hard to see the numbers and positions on the scoreboard, but looks like the Mets that day had Bud, Garrett, Cleon, Kranepool, Grote, Shamsky (?) and Agee playing. Can't make out 2B, but I guess it was Boswell?

My first game at Shea was '72 or '73, but the look was similar. Still had the colored squares outside, way before they painted it blue.

Anonymous said...

Holy sh*t!!!

Also look who's playing 3b for the Dodgers, before his horrendous arm (and the errors that came with it) forced him to 1st base.

If you don't wanna see who it is, skip this scroll
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Steve Garvey. Clearly recognizable.

Anonymous said...

Great, great pics. I could really go for a Rheingold about now.

Quick side bar - why is everyone so down on Shawn Green? OK, he's not Roberto Clemente out there, but he's also not Greg Luzinski. Let's not forget the great relay in Game 1 of the NLDS on the double tag-out at home. He's also hitting .300 for the post-season, and has had some key RBI hits. Can work the count too - makes the pitcher throw strikes.

Anonymous said...

Great pictures.

But I think if the Mets make the Series, it starts on Saturday. So Glavine would only have 3 days rest since he's going tonight. And Maine pitches tomorrow. So who would get the nod in World Series game 1? Ollie Perez? Dave Williams? Darren Oliver if there's no Game 7 of the LCS? I'd say El Duque's the favorite.

beezermess said...

Hey Metstradamus....

If you notice...the Loge level was Orange, the Mezzanine was Blue and the Uppers were Green...the Field Level was painted in that pale yellow and I think it stayed that way until the late 70's when they changed to their current scheme...
I think seeing pictures of that time remind us how different and the same baseball really is...and that is really cool.
Ok, enough of the nostalga B.S. It is time to go back to chewing my nails....

Anonymous said...

and their first baseman was
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Bill Buckner



who had a 1.000 fielding %age according to baseball-reference.com that year.

Anonymous said...

CLUELESS ART IS BACK!!

WBAHAHAHAHAHHA!

THe Phillies must NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN want to MAKE THE PLAYOFFS! BWAHAHAHAHAHH!

Good luck Art! Make sure "your guys" go out there and "battle".

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHASSAAAA!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Damus, my favorite line in the Phillies article is "they have instant credibility." OK - Art howe - suck ass manager. Jimy Williams - suck ass manager - oh wait, both *former* managers because they sucked so bad. Then Davy Lopes - ??? What has he done lately? Does he still have that bar handle mustache?

The Metmaster said...

Beezermess:

You are close with the colors during the early days of Shea, but I have a few years on you, grew up 10-minutes from the place on the #7, and spent virtually my entire childhood there. (I remember it being built. We would drive to L.I. on Sunday afternoons and saw the stadium and the World's Fair go up)
The field level seats were painted yellow. All the seats in the place were wooden, slatted seats. The Loge was a tan color. Mezzanine was blue. Upper Deck was green. The tickets were color coded the same way, so an usher knew immediately if you were in the wrong level. Field level was $3.50, Loge and Mezzanine were $2.50, Upper Deck (General Admission) was $1.25. Compared to other parks at the time, Shea was palatial. It had escalators! It had that huge scoreboard. Between innings, listening to Jane Jarvis on the organ, the white border surrounding the scorebaord was lit with multicolored lights. EVERYONE sang "Meet The Mets" BEFORE every game.
Yeah, it's a dump now. But when they implode it I will be very emotional. A big part of me will always be there in sprit.

Anonymous said...

A question:

Why are Art Howe and Davey Lopes and Jimy Williams on the Hate List?

We should all be very happy that they're going to be in Philly next year, making another Mets Division Championship all the more likely.

Anonymous said...

Nice post, Metmaster.

My memories don't go back as far as yours, and of course I know like we all do that the place has seen better days.

But I'll be one sad man the day it comes down. Not so much because the memories of '86 or '69 (or '06) go with it, but because it's a place where I've enjoyed so many fun times over the course of ~35 years.

Hell, I can remember freezing my ass off in the upper deck watching the Jets.

It may be an ugly stadium, but it's my ugly stadium.

Anonymous said...

I agree, it will be an emotional day to see Shea come down. Many memories are tied there, not just from the Mets, but things like laying in the parking lot to watch fireworks with my Dad. It was a great place, and I will miss it.

I also agree about the Art Howe thing. I am hoping the Phils implode even more now.

Anonymous said...

Hell your not that old I have a Hoyt Wilhelm rookie card

Met fan w/Mole

Anonymous said...

Metstra:

I happened to run by a friend of mine who has a Yankee blogsite. His question of the day was very similar to yours last week......Admit it? You really were rooting for Jeff Weaver tonight? True or False? A la your Kenny Rogers last week against the Yankees.

I think someone is stealing your material? Who would have thought that Rogers and Weaver would be throwing the games of their lives in these playoffs?

Anonymous said...

Looks like the extra day did Weaver more good than Glavine. However, going home has been great for the Mets and they responded before when they were down 2-1. Coming home with a chance to win isn't all that bad.

Metstra: Two thoughts of concern
1. Reyes and Wright seem overanxious. Perhaps a symptom of their first postseason. Can they snap out of it in time?
2. Can the rookie Mayne hold up to the pressure of a playoff elimination game?
3. Do you really think Carpenter can cough it up twice in a playoff series?

Metstradamus said...

In response:

1. Reyes and Wright seem overanxious. Perhaps a symptom of their first postseason. Can they snap out of it in time?

I agree. And I hope so.

2. Can the rookie Maine hold up to the pressure of a playoff elimination game?

I think he'll be ready. He has a level head about it and understands that he has to throw strikes. And if not? He'll be on a short leash anyway.

3. Do you really think Carpenter can cough it up twice in a playoff series?

You wouldn't think so, but his numbers are worse on the road than at home...significantly. Make him work, get to the bullpen. I'll still take my chances on the bullpen.

beezermess said...

Hey Metmaster...

Thanks for that info...did not know that...it will be emotional for me too when Shea goes boom....
I spent 17 long years at Shea as a food vendor and I will forever cherish those memories, even though I had to watch players like Chris Jones and Daryl Boston