Mets Prove Why They Will Always Be New York's "Other" Team

Can Someone Photoshop "ASS-HAT" Onto This Guy's Forehead For Me?

The Nationals may be playing out a lost season, but the New York Mets are a dumpster fire. The Mets just dropped their second straight game to the Nats last night, and in this blogger’s mind, have officially been eliminated from contention.

As bad as we are, teams who drop a series to the Nats should be automatically eliminated from the payoffs. The way the Mets played the last two nights, they deserve as much ridicule as they get. Power Alley (an okay radio show on MLB Homeplate, XM-175) is devoting much of their program to how the Mets can salvage anything in 2009. Right now, the callers who claim to be Mets fans seem to think the organization may need to consider keeping anything of value before the riots begin at Citi Field and the fans start tearing the new park apart.

Earlier this week, Mets Vice President of Player Development Tony Bernazard apparently went to Binghamton, NY where the Mets AA affiliate plays and challenged a bunch of players to a fight and used derogatory terms to call them out. What exactly is he trying to develop? I mean, other than a reputation for being a complete and total ass-hat? This comes on the heels of another accusation that Bernazard challenged Major League closer Francisco Rodriguez to a fight on the team bus after a game in Atlanta. Then there’s the case of the fan who killed his mother after the Mets lost a game to the Nationals a couple of years back.

What exactly is wrong with that organization? At least, so far anyway, we just kinda suck at playing baseball. The Mets appear to have a fanbase and front office that kinda sucks at life. Gain some perspective.

Collin Balester Called Up

Collin Balester Speaks To Fans At "Blogger Night" in September of 2008 - Say... Whose Sexy Elbow Is That In The Background?

The Nationals have recalled one of the fans’ favorite players from Syracuse. Collin Balester, whose candid opinions found on radio stations and on his blog, will toe the rubber tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals in the make-up game of a rain out from May 3rd.

Balester was 7-9 in 19 starts in AAA but he does have some Major League experience.

The move was made after Jordan Zimmermann was placed on the 15-day Disabled List with a tender elbow.

John Lannan is a Warrior

John Lannan Tosses Complete Game Shutout Last Night

It’s so simple, yet so many seem to struggle with it: throw strikes, stay ahead, win each at bat. That’s it. Simple formula for success yet so few pitchers can pull it off.

Last night, John Lannan threw his second complete game victory this year and his first career complete game shutout (at least in the major leagues). Lannan threw 106 pitches last night and a staggering 80 for strikes – that’s nearly a 4:1 strike:ball ratio.

Perhaps the most important thing he did last night was not succumb to fear. He pitched to contact and let his defense make the plays last night – including an absolute gem of a play in CF by Nyjer Morgan keeping the shutout intact in the third inning and a couple of well placed double plays to get out of trouble. In fact, of his 27 outs recorded, only one was by strikeout.

Now, the detractors will say, “well, yeah, but he did beat the Mets who are really beat up by injuries right now.” That doesn’t matter. The Nationals play in the midst of a lame-duck season and have absolutely nothing to play for – including apparently any pride whatsoever because it really looks as though they can’t wait until September is over. More importantly, though, that’s what good pitchers do – they beat the teams they are supposed to beat and they don’t let up just because the opponent is weakened. Lannan saw an opportunity to go for the kill and he took it.

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come. Stan Kasten and Mike Rizzo hung their hats on young pitching this year hoping it would pay off in the long run. These kids have to have the mentality to go seven innings at a minimum; and it has to start now. They need to learn to throw strikes, stay ahead and win each at bat above all else. They need to know they aren’t going to get sent to AA just because they get shelled on one night. They need to know that even if they give up a few runs, they need to keep throwing strikes; bull-dog mentality.

The Nationals are playing out what looks to be a lost season. Rather than focus on winning a few more games this year, let’s take advantage of this break we’ve been given and see if all our kids can do what Lannan did last night. He was handed the de facto “ace” tag earlier this year and he just showed you why. After an incredibly morose start, he’s pulled his record to 7-7 with a 3.38 ERA after last night; and playing for this team that may be the most admirable effort of any player in the majors this year (alarming note: John Lannan has won more than ¼ of all of Washington’s wins this year – UGH).

So take note Steve McCatty. Let your kids go out and get knocked around a bit. See what they’re made of. All of the trials and tribulations John Lannan had to overcome in his young career certainly seem to have paid off. Time to see if Jordan Zimmermann, Craig Stammen, Ross Detwiler, Shairon Martis, J.D. Martin, Colin Balester or any other kids you may have can do it. Start pushing them in AA and AAA so they’ll be ready for it when they come to Washington.

Oh, and cross your fingers that we can get a deal done with Stephen Strasburg.

Scott Olsen Receives The 'Kiss of Death'

Scott Olsen Heads to Alabama to see Dr. James Andrews - Ugh

Scott Olsen looked reinvigorated in his last two starts before the All-Star break. He looked like the pitcher the Nationals traded for when they gave the Marlins Emilio Bonifacio in the off-season.

Just as Olsen was showing promise, now comes the news that he’s going to see Dr. Andrews – no, not Erin Andrews the hot ESPN sideline reporter (who was recently captured on video naked), Dr. James Andrews – baseball’s Dr. Kavorkian. Olsen has soreness behind his throwing shoulder and is scheduled to meet with Dr. Andrews in Birmingham, AL today.

Earlier in the week, the Nationals fired manager Manny Acta and replaced him with Jim Riggleman – the result? The Cubs pulled off the rare four-game sweep on the road at the hands of the Nats. It truly cannot get much worse.

However, the Nats did make a roster move which supposedly would make the team better. They dumped the dead weight of 16-year veteran journeyman, useless sack of dog-crap, never should be on a major-league roster, called his own team the fat chick in a bar you go home with after a few beers Julian “pass the Pepto Bismol” Tavarez by DFA’ing him after last night’s game. Problem is they brought up a pitcher identical to Tavarez (except he’s not a 16-year veteran and he didn’t call the Nats the fat chick you go home with after a few beers) in Logan Kensing. Perhaps it’s time to start referring to the Nats’ bullpen as “The Recycle Bin.”

Garrett Mock (whom Washington received from Arizona for Livan Hernandez a few years back) made a successful transition from bullpen to starter while in AAA Syracuse. He, however, did not make a successful transition from Syracuse to Washington. Mock’s start was disastrous going 3.1 IP, 7 R (4 ER), 8 H, 2 BB, 1 K. His demise was aided by a costly error by Alberto Gonzalez but Mock didn’t show the moxie to work past the error and he allowed himself to be consumed by it.

There appears to be some good news. The Nats have called up J.D Martin from Syracuse to replace Olsen in the rotation. Martin was a “sandwich” pick of the Indians (35th overall) in 2001. He played for the Indians organization his entire career until finally signing a minor-league deal with the Nats this past off-season. Martin finally looks like he has realized his potential and it’s time to put him to the test. He is four years removed from elbow reconstructive (Tommy John) surgery.

Another rookie called up? Another key injury? Replacing trash for trash in “The Recycle Bin?” I’ll bet the happiest man on earth is Manny Acta.