Observations From Friday Night's Game

On Friday night, the Mets were nice enough to allow other bloggers and myself to attend the evening's festivities.

Here are a few things that stood out.

It's a good thing David Wright is not a doctor.

Shake it up a little more, David. 

After crashing, head first, into the left field wall, Jason Bay left the game with what the team described as a possible concussion.

Now, any normal person would say things like, "Feel better, Jason," or, "I hope you're okay." Not David. No, he decides to get in there and shake Bay's head around even more.

I was pretty embarrassed to be a Mets fan when Bay exited the game. If you were listening to the game on the radio or watching it on t.v., you may have noticed that Bay left the field to boos. Yes, an alarmingly large number of Mets fans were booing their own team's player after being injured. Scott Hairston practically got a standing ovation when he entered to take Bay's spot out in left. This isn't Philadelphia. Knock it off.

Finally...

Will anyone ever put a stop to the wave? I don't know if 34,000 people were just extremely bored, but at one point the wave went around the stadium at least 6-7 times in a row. I would be impressed that such a large group of people would be committed to completing the wave that many consecutive times, but I hate the wave.

I'm Sorry For Ever Doubting You, R.A.

Raise your hand if you were excited about the Mets signing R.A. Dickey back in December of 2009? If you raised your hand, you're a liar.

I was scrolling through my Facebook page the other day, and ran across this post.

Silly me. If only I knew then what I know now.

R.A. Dickey is amazing.

Dickey has gone from being the butt of jokes among Mets fans to becoming one of the most dominant pitchers in all of baseball in 2012 and a large percent of the fanbases' favorite player.

Dickey showed off his brilliance again Wednesday night against the Rays, throwing a one-hitter, and striking out a career high 12 batters.

He also now holds the franchise record for scoreless innings at 32 2/3.

As the lone knuckleballer in baseball, I would have to think, if R.A. keeps this up, there will be kids out there determined to pick up a baseball and try and throw knuckleballs.

He's inspiring.

I even tried to throw a knuckleball last weekend during a game of catch (I failed miserably though).

Consider this my apology to R.A. I'm sorry for doubting you in the beginning, and thanks for proving me wrong.

ICYMI: The Week In Review

The Mets began interleague play Friday night with a series against the Yankees. So far, it hasn't gone well. The Mets have dropped the first two games of the three-game series. They will try to win the series finale this afternoon. Game time is 1:05.

In his first start since throwing the no-hitter, Johan Santana got smacked around by the Yankees Friday night. He gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings of work.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis rode the subway to Yankee Stadium.

David Wright now holds the franchise record for runs scored. He passed Jose Reyes Tuesday night, scoring his 736th run as a Met.

Political commentator, Bill Maher, purchased a minority stake in the Mets.

The MLB Draft was earlier this week. With the 12th overall pick in the first round, the Mets selected shortstop, Gavin Cecchini. Cecchini has agreed to the terms of a contract with the Mets for $2.3 million. For a complete list of all of the Mets selections from this year's draft, visit St. Lucie To Flushing.

Ike Davis still can't hit. Word on the street is that a decision may be made (keep playing him, bench him, or send him to Buffalo) on Davis once interleague play ends later in the week and the DH is no longer needed.

To make room on the roster, Josh Satin and Jack Egbert were designated for assignment on Wednesday. They both cleared waivers and joined Buffalo.

The Mets created quite the hullabaloo on Thursday after announcing that they would be reprinting all 41,922 tickets from Johan Santana's no-hitter and selling them for a measly $50. Those who actually attended the game are not pleased with the fact that another fan who did not attend will have a ticket stub with their seat printed on it.

With his last win, R.A. Dickey now leads the major leagues in wins and is one inning away from leading the majors in consecutive scoreless innings pitched.

On the injury front...

Omar Quintanilla has a fracture in his left index finger. The injury has not kept him out of the line up.

Jon Rauch missed the series in Washington due to debris in his elbow. He has since returned to the bullpen.

Jason Bay is back! I know you're all excited...or not. Bay was scheduled to make his triumphant return on Thursday after fracturing a rib back in April. He was scratched, however, after the antibiotic he had been taking for a sinus infection caused him to be nauseous.

Ruben Tejada pulled himself from a rehab game in Buffalo on Tuesday with tightness in his right quadricep. He is now back in Port St. Lucie.

Chris Young returned to the Mets after having surgery in May of 2011 to repair a torn anterior capsule in his right shoulder. In five innings of work, Young gave up three runs on six hits, while striking out two and walking one. He threw just 75 pitches.

Jon Niese is expected to undergo surgery during the off-season to correct a heartbeat, that at times, has been irregular. After throwing six scoreless innings in last Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Niese was pulled due to a rapid heartbeat. Doctors have cleared Niese to continue playing baseball.

Mets Select SS Cecchini With 12th Overall Pick

With the 12th pick in the 2012 First Year Player Draft, the Mets selected 18-year-old shortstop Gavin Cecchini out of Barbe High School in Louisiana.

The righty hit .413 with seven home runs, 32 RBI and 31 stolen bases for Barbe this season.

Last Fall with the USA Baseball 18U National Team, he helped his team earn a gold medal at the Pan American Championship in Colombia, where he hit .500 with 17 RBI in 15 games.

As of right now, Cecchini is committed to the University of Mississippi, so it remains to be seen if he decides to sign or not.

I honestly don't know whether this will be a good pick for the Mets or not. I don't pay much attention to the draft. It's such a crap shoot. 

It doesn't matter to me where a player is drafted, whether they are a first round pick or some obscure player in the final round. It doesn't matter to me if they were the best in their high school, or if they were the best player on their college team. What matters is if they can perform in professional baseball.

If he decides to sign, I wish him well, and I'll check back in a year to see how he's doing.

To read more on Cecchini, check out ESPN HS.

He's not very active on Twitter, but if you care to follow, you can find him at @GavinCecchini2.

ICYMI: The Week In Review

Something big happened Friday night. You may have heard about it. JOHAN SANTANA THREW A NO-HITTER. For the first time in the franchise's history, that's 8,020 games played, a Mets pitcher threw a no-hitter. 

R.A. Dickey followed with a gem of his own on Saturday afternoon, throwing a complete game shut out. I guess that's one way to not have to worry about your bullpen imploding every day. Dickey was also named the National League Player of the Week. 

Banner Day returned last Sunday. The winning banner payed homage to Mike Piazza's home run on Sept. 21, 2001, and read, "The home run that helped heal NY...God Bless America! Let's Go Mets!" 

The Mets finally gave Manny Acosta the boot. He was put on waivers, but cleared and has since joined Triple-A Buffalo.

In his first major league hit, pitcher Jeremy Hefner hit a home run. 

David Wright told WFAN that he will not discuss a contract while the season is going on. 

The Mets optioned catcher Rob Johnson to Triple-A Buffalo, called up reliever Elvin Ramirez, and designated pitcher Chris Schwinden for assignment. Schwinden was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays.

John Franco will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame prior to today's game against the Cardinals.

On the injury front...

Justin Turner went down with an ankle sprain after making an attempt to get back to first base. Omar Quintanilla was called up from Buffalo and has taken over at shortstop. Piece of trivia for you. Quintanilla is the first player in Mets history to have a last name that begins with the letter Q. 

The Mets placed Ronny Cedeno on the disabled list with a calf injury. Jordany Valdespin was called up from Buffalo. 

On Thursday, Chris Young pitched six scoreless innings in Buffalo. He walked three and gave up two hits in 87 pitches. He also hit 84 MPH on the radar gun. According to ESPN New York, Young will join the Mets rotation as soon as Tuesday.

Josh Thole returned to the Mets after spending nearly three weeks on the disabled list with a concussion. Thole got the concussion after taking an elbow to the head as Philadelphia's Ty Wigginton went into home plate. 

Mike Baxter suffered a displaced right collar bone after making a spectacular catch to preserve the no-hitter. Ramon Ramirez has a hamstring injury thanks to the no-hitter celebration. Baxter and Ramirez have been placed on the disabled list.

Jason Bay made a rehab start in St. Lucie on Saturday. He went 0-3 with two strike outs.

Miguel Batista is eligible to return from the disabled list on Monday. Pedro Beato may return today.

Thank You, Johan Santana

Mark it down. June 1, 2012. The Mets finally threw their first no-hitter in franchise history.

I don't even know what to say right now, so here's Howie Rose's call, courtesy of Deadspin.

Congratulations, Johan Santana!

To Boo, Or Not To Boo? The Beltran "Debate"

I haven't quite figured out yet if there is a serious debate among fans as to whether or not they will boo Carlos Beltran tonight, or if a lot of it is media driven.

Either way, it's dumb.

The former Mets outfielder returns to Citi Field as the Cardinals take on the Mets in a four game series starting tonight.

If I asked ten random fans why they would consider booing Beltran, I would venture a guess that probably eight out of those ten would base their reasoning on something involving a strikeout in 2006.

Yes, Beltran stood there and watched strike three which ended the Mets hopes of reaching the World Series. It's been six years. Let's move on.

This goes for the media as well. It doesn't need to be mentioned in every article you write about him. We all saw it. We all remember it. We don't need to be reminded.

Stop judging a player based on ONE moment in his career.

If you're one of the fans who notes his major contract and injuries, well that describes most  of the Mets players. Highly over-paid and often times injured. Why pick on one guy in particular for it?

Beltran talked about the moment with WFAN, saying:

“If they want to remember that moment, that’s fine with me,” Beltran said. “For me, that was my best year in baseball. I don’t look at that moment as defining my career or defining my season.”

Neither should fans. Beltran went on to say:

“There were times I felt like, ‘What do I have to do in order to be one of their favorites?’...Fans choose who they want to cheer for. I’m a quiet player. You’re never going to see me out there showing a lot of emotion. I am who I am. When you try to be someone else then you’re being fake to yourself, and I don’t like to do that. I don’t know how it’s going to be (tonight). They’ll decide if they want to cheer or boo.”

Leader is defined as the following: a person who rules, guides, or inspires others.

Beltran took a lot of grief from the fans and the media about not being a leader. No where in the definition does it say that a leader must be vocal or in-your-face.

When Beltran steps to the plate for the first time tonight, take a moment to remember the good times, and cheer for the guy.

He may have ended the Mets run at the World Series in 2006 with that one strike out, but if it weren't for him, the Mets may not have been there in the first place.

He was an important part of the Mets. Cheer him on before that first at bat, then move on.