1. The reeling Mets will take two of three from the Rangers at Shea Stadium. They'll take a 20-0 lead on Sunday and hand the ball to Billy Wagner in the ninth, not realizing that the struggling closer would perform his tribute to Super Bowl XV before securing the victory.
2. The Yankees, in their seemingly never-ending quest to move past .500, will drop two of three to the Astros at Minute Maid Park. The only real drama will come when Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens see each other at the Galleria. The former friends will steal their strategy from this episode of "The Simpsons," with Clemens as Homer and Pettitte as Bart.
[Bart and Homer spot each other suddenly. They gasp]
Bart: I can't let Dad see me playing hooky!
Homer: I can't let the boy see me skipping work!
[Bart brushes his hair forward; Homer uses a comb as a
mustache]
Bart: [walking past] Good afternoon.
Homer: [walking past] How do you do, sir?
Together: [chuckle] Sucker...
3. Ramon Castro will have another pocket-schedule snafu (second item here) when he misses Saturday's game. "I went to Citi Field," Castro will explain. "I thought it opened today. I was wondering why there was so much construction equipment there."
4. A reader named Chuck, yet another distraught Mets fan, e-mailed me with an interesting thought. As we know, since the end of last year, the Mets have insisted that they've moved past The Collapse. When we all know they definitely haven't. Marlon Anderson conceded as much this week.
Here's what Chuck wrote: "Why not think about 2007? If I were Mets manager, there would be a blow-up picture of Jimmy Rollins with champagne in the locker room, and every team flight would have a replay of one of the 14 ridiculous September 2007 losses. It should be a motivator (like when Rocky would put Drago's picture on his mirror while training!)."
I agree entirely with Chuck. I love it when people lather themselves with their past mistakes and try to turn it into a positive. For example, my fellow University of Michigan product Chris Webber created the Timeout Foundation, which helps out youngsters, rather than run away from his infamous error.
What do you think? Should the Mets have approached the 2008 season with such a mindset? Would it have made a difference?
5. I will be on "Miked Up," Sunday night at 11:30 on Channel 4, with guest host Bruce Beck.
Thanks to the IMDb, and have a great weekend. Happy Father's Day to all, especially to Steve from South Amboy.
Comments (17)
Thanks Ken. Right back at ya. FOX, CBS and NBC-Pretty, pretty, good! It seems that there is a strong Ken Davidoff demand for late Sunday night TV. Nice job
Ken, teams that have the collapse that the Mets have last year don't recover from it for years. I'm not saying the Mets will have the same fate as the 1964 Phillies, but the Phillies from '64 on didn't make the playoffs again until 1976 when they won the NL East. That's 12 years after the collapse. Teams usaually don't recover that quickly from a collapse nor do they forget it. It's too bad Francesa will not be on Miked Up this sunday. I would rather have you on the show with Francesa instead of Bruce Beck. I'm not taking anything away from Beck, but you and Francesa would have been very interesting.
Dennis I was very young in 1964 but I know that before the Mets came into existence the Phillies stunk on ice and were probably the worst team in baseball. Maybe they played over their heads in 1964. They had a few good players, Johnny Callison, Rick Wise, Art Mahaffey and Jim Bunning were probably All-Stars. Clay Dalrymple and Tony Taylor were mediocre, I'm certain the rest weren't that good.
I mean you had the Dodgers, Giants, Cardinals which were loaded with Hall of Famers and the Braves had Eddie Matthews and Hank Aaron and the Cubs had Billy Williams and Ernie Banks. Where does that leave the Phillies and the Reds (who still had Pete Rose, Tommy Helms and Vada Pinson)?
I think Ken probably picked this week to go on Miked Up specifically because he wouldn't have to deal with the bloated ego of the host.
Ken...looking forward to seeing you on Miked Up...if Willie goes, what happens to the coaches ?
The Phillies of that time also had Richie Allen a true star and possible HOF'er if he had had his head on straight, my bad. Still talent was less than that of other teams and only 1 team went to the post-season. Unlike now for the Mets, Dennis
Hey Ken.
It's so sad that on June 13th so many fans, the undersigned included, have practically conceded the 2008 season. While the team is not mathematically elimintated from the race, their acute horrific play and 'deer in the headlights' gaze on so many (Wright, Reyes et al) clearly do not impart any confidence. In fact, the team's play can best be described as futile. Speaking of The Simpsons, the current Mets remind me of the episode where Homer realizes his lifelong dream: 'to become disabled and work from home.' He then gains so much weight the Plant allows Homer to monitor the safety system from Evergreen Terrace. When a crisis develops Homer tries to call the Plant but is unable because his fingers are too fat for the phone. An automated message is heard 'your fingers are too large to use this dial pad; to obtain a special dialing wand hang up and...'
That's the Mets of 2008. We'll catch you Sunday night!
~H
Ken, do you think you would be on if Francessa was hosting? I know he probably disagrees with you that he's not an expert about baseball.
This sucks what Billy Wagner is going through, and it sucks about Willie. Wagner is one of the few Mets I like because I know he does CARE. And Willie most certainly does. I really think if he played second instead of Luis Castillo the Mets would be alright. But I do agree he's lost the team and needs to go.
As for your Simpsons references...we may (are) be zeniths apart on our baseball philosophies, but you always pick great Simpsons references. The only thing I think you missed, is Bart said his line in an English accent...though I'm not 100% sure.
Frrancesa did work for CBS Sports in the 80's up unitl the earlier 90's. So he is a expert to some extend.
I'm not surprised one bit by the news that Willie is on the verge of being ousted, along with one or more coaches. I predict he is fired sooner rather than later, and HoJo gets the ax, too. I doubt Peterson will be fired. Like we have said all along, Manuel will be the interim manager.
How can Willie be supported at this point, considering the Mets have played quite poorly for long stretches over two seasons? Change is needed. What's positive for Mets fans is that with 3 1/2 months remaining in the season, a 7 1/2 game deficit is nothing. One good week could substantially wipe that out and I expect the Mets to have such a week at some point.
Happy Father's Day Ken.
The Giants won the pennant in 1935 and 1937 after collapsing in 1934. The Dodgers won 4 out of 5 pennants after blowing it in 1951. But it took the Red Sox 8 years after blowing it 1978 and the Angels 7 years after 1995. Those may hold more relevance for the Mets as they have an aging team and little talent in the high levels of the minors.
As far as embracing failure I remember the Baltimore Colts coaches showed the team the complete game film of Super Bowl III the Friday before there first regular season meeting in 1970. Part of it was game preparation as the Jets had many of the same players. But part of it was psychological: this is how we were humiliated on national TV. Dale Earnhardt also did the same thing with the tire that went flat costing him the 1990 Daytona 500 to a mediocrity named Derrike Cope. Hung it in the shop at Childress Racing as a reminder of what could happen on the last lap.
Do you get to eat the chips on the desk of "Miked up"?
Hey, everyone. Dave Lennon is working on an updated Willie story. Sounds like Peterson is in more trouble than HoJo.
Richie, good question about Francesa. I have a relationship with Bruce. I don't really know Mike.
I still would be surprised if Peterson gets sacked during the season. Didn't you defend Peterson not too long ago, Ken? I think it "sounds like" Peterson is in more trouble than HoJo for PR/"motivational" purposes than anything else. But, we shall see soon.
You're right, Jim, I don't believe Peterson deserves to get canned. I think this as much personality-based as it is performance- and result-based. Some people (like Tony Bernazard) just don't like Peterson.
Ken, you mentioned the name I had in mind. I think Bernazard might very well "have it in" for Peterson. I have never been a big fan of Peterson only because I don't like coaches or managers (i.e. Joe Torre) that become bigger than the players who are winning and losing the games. But, Peterson has enjoyed a great deal of success and is a well-regarded pro. Does he deserve to get fired mid-season? I don't think so. I think excising Randolph will be enough. The staff can be changed post-season when a permanent managerial replacement is brought in.
Ken, a Bruce Beck story. As a former one-man-band (we shoot our own video as well as report) the thing that sucked the most was carrying all the equipment. It gets heavy.
Sometimes on Wednesdays Jets press conferences Bruce Beck would show. He would carry his cameraman's tripod. You almost NEVER seen that. He also held my microphone once I believe, though that might have been Garry Apple.
Yes, I agree on Bruce, Richie. Both he and Gary Apple are as good as they get.
lose two of three to the lastros? the lowly lastros? laughable. i woulda left my nyy cap in my seat had they lost two of three to the lastros.