Mets
Game 15 - June 8th....Mets v Cardinals
This one was a game of firsts....the final - Mets 25, Cards 16. Metropolitans plate 18 runs in one inning, and finish season at 13-2!!!!
Many a highlight...Kuppens hits two dingers for the Cardinals, and Ryan McKeon blasts his first! Congrats to both of these Redbirds!
Big Papi, his HR crown being challenged by the Big Kup, goes yard in the final frame to take the season HR crown with 11! Geyer and GMan both shine on the hill....Mark "It ain't just my glove!" smacks a rocket shot into center....Mark Rattenbury launches ANOTHER Missile over the centerfield fence....SPLASH!
And of course...the clutch Rook...Dools steps to the plate in the final frame, and smacks his first HR - as a 10 yr old!!! Watch out for this youngin' next year!
What a game, what a season!
PLAYOFFS NEXT!
Game 14...June 7th....Mets v Rangers
Showdown for First Place!
Mets enter the game in first, with a 11-2 record; Rangers second, at 10-3...
Tommy O'Brien starts on the hill for the Metropolitans and spins a gem, as he keeps the vaunted Ranger attack at bay through the first four, as he strikes out six, scatters 2 hits, and leaves after 4 with a 2-1 lead.
O'B, O'C and Big Papi go a combined 5-9, and score 4 runs...'Sweet Glove' Mark McKenna smacks a hard single in the fifth, and scores the Mets fifth and final run....Big Papi blasts yet another HR, and Mark Rattenbury and Justin Cobin close out the win on the hill - Cobin with a bases loaded strike out of the final Rangers batter!
Mets win 5-3, and clinch first....one game to play before playoffs.....
Game 13 - Mets v Dodgers....June 1st.....
This one belonged to the Irish! O'C, O'B and Burke lead the way tonight....facing the Dodgers tough Sam Asnault, he who shut down the Metropolitans earlier in the year.....these veterans lead the way.
O'C takes the hill, and hurls a masterpiece....5 innings, 15 outs, 13 K's!....O'C walks only one all night, the first batter, but Rattenbury then makes a great catch in right, and guns one to first, doubling up the Dodger runner...the next 13 outs are K's, including 7 in a row at one point....kudos to Charlie Blackington and Conor Hayden, who both hit the ball with authority for the Dodger Blue. In the sixth, Mark ‘the Glove' takes the hill, and in his debut, is impressive - 10 pitches to retire the side!
Burke leads the offense with two Dingers - he's now the league leader, and hot as a pistol! Tommy the Gun O'Brien mashes the ball all night, and goes 4-5 with 3 runs....Nails Winn contributes with his own offensive explosion, going 3-5 with one a long shot to the fence...O'C legs one out in the infield and goes 4-5 and scores 4, ‘J' Cobin goes 2-5, Dools goes 2-4, Mark ‘the Glove' continues to put the bat on the ball, and scores one, and Julien Geyer has another hit...
Special call out to our injured Strawberry, Ryan McElhinney, on the DL for a game, but shows up to support his teammates! Great team, wonderful kids, magical season! Metropolitans win again, and now stand at 11-2!
Next game - Saturday the 7th, against the Rangers.....Cardinals make up on the 8th at 4 pm.
Game 12 - Mets v Cards....May 31st....
The Metropolitans go in at 9-2...face off against a tough Redbirds squad that beat the men in blue, black and orange in a thriller early in the season....
This one belonged to the Mets arms.....Tommy O'B starts on the hill, and his heater keeps the RedBirds feathers on fire....4 2/3 innings, only 2 runs, 7 Ks...a hurling masterpiece...Big Mark Rattenbury, fresh off his 6th inning rally ignition single against the Sox, closes it out, getting the last 4 outs, 3 on Ks, as his heater hums.....
Big Papi Burke does it again - blasts a three run homer in the first, as the Mets start off strong...O'C goes 2-3 with one off the base of the fence in right, and a walk, ‘J' Cobin goes 1-2 with 2 walks, O'B lines a shot to right center and works a walk, Julien Geyer contributes with a big hit to right, Nails Winn with another nice hit, Mark ‘the Glove' McKenna works a walk, the GMAN posts a .1000 OBP with two walks in two trips to the plate....and Teddy Craven continues to swing a hot bat, as he moves runners over on both trips to the plate....But in the fourth, with the Mets clinging to a 4-2 lead, it's our Strawberry, rookie sensation Ryan McElhinney, who delivers the big hit - blasting a double into the left field gap...knocking in the runs that break the game open....the other Rookie - our irrepressible Dools, strokes another double...boy, the Mets future is bright!
Special kudos to the Grinder - Julien Geyer - unsung hero again - just solid as the day is long - down at third, O'C fires one down to third, Geyer, smooth as silk, handles the throw, and applies the tag to thwart a Cardinal steal....great play....
Mets win 8-3....now 10-2!
Game 11 - Sox v Mets....May 28th...
Mets come off the incredible rally against the Pirates...what can top that? How bout a 7-6 barnburner with the Red Sox....another late inning rally to win it!
We start with the Pirates game hero, our young Wally/Brooks Rookie of the Year candidate - Brett Dooley takes the hill, and pitches a strong game against the tough Sox lineup, keeping the ball in play, throwing strikes...only one walk over three innings of work....Chris Haggerty leads the Sox attack with two stinging hits, and limits the Metropolitans to three hits in the first three....but two are four-baggers, with Justin Cobin hitting his first of the year, and league leader Papi going deep yet again! After three, the Sox lead 5-3.
The Mets score two in the 4th to tie it at 5, as Cobin walks, O'B doubles to knock ‘J' in, and O'C singles in O'B....O'C, playing our Tug again, spins a gem in relief, pitching the last three, allowing only one hit - a blast to center by Rocco Laguelle - congrats Rocco! ....the blast puts the Sox up 6-5 as we head to the bottom of the 6th....
New day, new heroes....Mark Rattenbury leads off with a clutch single to right...after a fielder's choice out, the GMAN, Ryan Gillis, comes through big time, with a hard smash hit - two on now, one out....Zach Coggins, on in relief, gets the next Mets batter....two outs...up to the plate steps our Mookie, the fleet footed "J" Cobin....he's already hit a Home Run today, why not the winning hit?...and so it is - as Cobin delivers - a lined shot to right, plating the winning run in a another come from behind thriller! Mets win 7-6!
Game 10 - Mets v. Pirates - May 27.....
Put this one under the truly Amazin' category...
Mets square off against the hard hitting defending champs...Mets score two in the first frame.... Pirates counter with three in the second, highlight a nice two bagger by Jeff Powers...after two, it's 3-2 Pirates...Metropolitans rally for three in the top of the third - the amazing Rook - our own Wally Backman, Brett Dooley, lining a hard single to plate Tommy the Rocket and Nails Winn...Mets lead 5-3.
To the bottom of the third we go...and the skies open...the rain falls, and with drops falling from the sky, the Pirates sticks add thunder to the storm...Rookie Matt Froio, Joe Buckley, Tommy Ryan, Jeff Powers again, all deliver big hits for the men in black....our Ryan ‘Strawberry' McElhinney comes in and stops the thunder, and the rain too!....inning ends, skies clear (this kid is magical!), but the storming Pirates have done their damage - Mets trail after three - 11-5.....Mets go quietly in the 4th, but get one back in the top of the 5th...Teddy Craven with a key hit....Our Big Papi, in relief, shuts down the Pirates in the bottom of the 5th...on to the 6th we go.
Sun shines, rain is gone, and the rally caps work their magic...down 11-6, Ryan ‘Strawberry' McElhinney leads off with a hard shot down the third base line...Mark ‘the Glove' McKenna works a walk (great at bat!)....Tommy Ryan, hard throwing Pirates star, fans the next Met....one down, still trail by 5.....Julien Geyer - the Grinder (that, the ultimate compliment) works a key walk....bases loaded....Craven gets one home on a fielder's choice - now down 11-6, but two out....but no quit in these Amazins....Cobin works a walk - loads em up again....Tommy the Rocket (‘my dad was a track star and I can really scoot too!') O'Brien legs out a single....11-7....O'C with a hard shot to second, too hot for the Pirates to handle...11-8...still loaded...Big Papi walks...11-9...can they really pull this off????? Winn works a walk...11-10...bases still juiced...still two outs...passed ball scores the tying run - 11-11!
Sometimes....it's the right man (LL boy), for the right moment....up steps the Rookie wonder - he's caught, he's pitched, he's played second, short, outfield....everywhere but first and third...and he hits (remember that hit in the third, before the Pirate storm?)....Dools settles in...big smile across his face...and the KID delivers - line shot to the outfield....O'C and Big Papi score...and the Metroplitans, improbably, incredibly, have plated 7 runs with 2 outs...and head to the bottom of the 6th with a 13-11 lead....
The Mets coaching staff huddles....The Mets coaches, on the hot seat for pulling Tommy the Gun in the midst of a perfect game, and pulling the outfield in against the Cards...now decide - in the heat of the moment - 'now would be a good time to play our Rookie Brett Dooley at third base for the first time all year!'....great coaching, confidence in Dools....or just Irish luck (Coaches O'C, O'B, Doonan...kids should be wearing green shirts!)????....stay tuned......
Pirates are a tough team...no quit in them...Buckley singles off Big Papi, and Tommy Ryan walks....first and second, no outs....Tom Powers strides to the plate....Blisters one down the third base line....It's not Wally Backman - it Brooks Robinson!....Dools, incredibly, in his debut at third (after getting the big hit in the top of the frame), snares the bullet on his knees, scrambles to the bag, and gets the force at third! Fantastic play! One down now, still first and second. Jack Conte (a sweet shooting hoopster too!) lines a double to left....and here - again - it is the unsung hero - Julien Geyer hustles to the ball, spins, and hits the cutoff on the numbers - great play...fundamental execution......keeps the second Pirate runner at third...one run in - 13-12, one out, and second and third....infield now in....the vets now come through....ball in the dirt, O'C scampers after it...Pirate breaks from third, Big Papi covers the plate....O'C throws a strike to Big Papi - out at the plate! - runner from second breaks for third - throw to third....runner out at third! Doubleplay - ball game! Fittingly, it ends with our Brooks or Wally, take your pick, in the dirt at third, having made the last tag....maybe we should try him at first too????
Little League at its best!...and congrats to Pirates for a heckuva game.
Mets now 8-2.
Game 9...May 24th....Mets v Dodgers...
Dodgers took the first match up, in a taunt 3-2 thriller...this one would be different...
A lot of highlights...Dools pitches a great first 4...McKenna moves to lead off, and grinds out 3 walks in five plate appearances - .600 OBP for the unselfish lead off hitter....our Youkilis - Greek God of OBP!....the Big Four - O'B goes 2 for 3, Justin goes 3 for 3, O'C goes 2 for 2 with a walk, and Big Papi goes 3 for 3 (Yard again!)....an amazing 12 at bats, 11 times on! How's .910 OBP work?
But all that said....this night belongs to our young George Foster - Mark Rattenbury drives a rocket deep into the shallow end of the Swim Center's pool! 1.2 seconds from bat to landing, the ball sizzled like a missile!.....Big Mark isn't done, as he strikes out seven over three with his dead red heat, and slams the door on the hard charging Dodgers...(congrats to Dakota Achin, who smacks two doubles to lead the Dodgers attack)...
Mets win again - 16-9.....now stand at 7-2.
Game 8....May 20th...Mets v. Rangers....
Going in, Rangers stand at 5-1, with only loss to Mets....Mets at 5-2....Showdown Tuesday....
Rangers throw the crafty Doonan, and he throws 3 strong innings....our Metropolitans plate two in the first on a single by Tommy the Rocket, and an RBI two bagger by Nails Winn...In the third, the Amazins plate three more, as O'C, O'B and Burke string back to back to back singles, and Nails Winn knocks them around with another two bagger (see a trend here?).....The Rangers manage to scratch out three of their own against the Rocket over the first four, and after four, Mets lead 5-3....in the fifth, the Rangers rally for two, and we enter the sixth knotted at 5...
"And the young shall lead them"....Ryan (our Strawberry) leads off with a hard single...."Wheels" Gillis scratches out a well earned walk....the two rooks have set the table for the vets...1st and 2d, no one down....O'C to the plate - liner to right - Ryan scores to put Mets up by one!...."Wheels" to third! the crowd now roaring (sort of)....after one out, and O'C's steal of second, its 2d and 3rd and one out....Big Papi to the plate...any question that he delivers? Nah! Hard smack down the third base line, driving "Wheels" and O'C home....Mets lead 8-5!
Bottom of the sixth - Mark "softest hands in the league" McKenna stabs two grounders to short, Dools flashing the leather as he covers the bag at second to handle the textbook exchange with McKenna, lead runner out both times, and the Mets hold off the Rangers....8-5 win!
6-2 and rolling.....
Game 7: May 18th - Mets v Red Sox....
The coaches meet before the game, and agree to stay out of the way this time....All contribute on this day...it starts with Ryan McElhinney, who pitches a strong two against the tough Sox lineup....Nails Winn follows with a strong third, and our Wally Backman, Dools the Super Rook closes out the last three frames.
Big Papi goes way deep again...O'C just missing one, knocking one off the top of the fence, while going 3 for 4...Nails brings the Shea (ah, Barnes) crowd to its feet, as he blasts one onto the left field screen, despite the third base coach's Fisk-like wave dance, just a foot foul!...
Congrats to young Hoops Haggerty, who slams a Home Run to center for the Sox!
But this game ball goes to Teddy Ballgame Craven - Mr Smooth - as he goes 2 for 2, and makes a running one hand grab in right....Ryan McElhinney earns game ball honors as well, as he follows his strong pitching with a long double...Julien Geyer and Mark Rattenbury deserve kudos as well - great at bats, and Julien makes a terrific stab of a foul ball, as he collides with our Gary Carter....Rattenbury makes a nice stab and throw from third....Tommy O does a nice job at short, and ‘J' Cobin plays a solid all around game.....as the sun sets, all is right again in Metropolis, and the Mets win 15-7.
Mets now stand at 5-2...and if we can keep the coaches from messing it up...this squad looks good!
Next game: Tuesday May 20th showdown - 2d place Mets v 1st place Rangers
Game 6: May 17.....Mets v Cardinals
Another wonderful Little League game....Mets take an early lead on another blast form our Big Papi - Big Burke! Cobin goes 2 for 2, O'Connell 2 for 3, O'B 1 for 1 with 3 walks....but give the Redbirds credit, as they hang tough, and flash some good glove work....The Metropolitans do their part, with a diving catch by Nails Winn the highlight of the night....
In the end....the Cards are clutch...Michael Lund comes in to snuff a Mets rally, and the Cards pull out the win with clutch hitting in a sixth inning rally...Ryan McKeon with a deep shot to center for the winning run...
Mets coaching continues to be questionable, as the creative outfield alignments evoke skepticism from the Mets followers!
But in the end - a well played game, and deserved congrats to the Cardinals....
Postscript - the commissioner's office chairs an after game meeting with Cardinal ownership, and Coach Lund is denied credit for the elusive 500th win....violation of his non-compete - something to do with his moonlighting for Chuckles Moving Company.....
Game 5 - May 13 - Mets v Rangers
Think last year's Patriots v Giants.....Georgetown v Villanova circa 1985....NC State v Houston....the Rangers come in undefeated, and crushing opponents....key free agent signings in the off season....early season favorite to run away from the league....
But good pitching....ah, now there's an equalizer....and so it was, on a beautiful afternoon - for the men in blue, orange and black anyway....Tommy the Gun O'B brought his A game to this B game.....A perfect game through 3, with 4 K's, some nice fielding behind him by Mark ("my hands are softer than Mark Belanger's AND Ozzie Smith's") behind him, and only 40 pitches to boot....but the vaunted Mets coaching trust, earning groans from the Shea (ah, Barnes) throng, pull the Mets Young Gun, denying him a chance at history....like a chance to throw a perfect game against your buddies matters, huh?....
Well....why dwell on the negative...Let's talk offense...."Keith Hernandez - nah, not me, says young Liam Burke - me the Big Papi!....none of the 1986 stuff!".....this writer concedes the point, as Keith, a great hitter, never hit em like that - for you old timers - it was Dave Kingmanesq!...not one, but two HRs! they are still looking for the second one up on Fairoaks.....the other guys did well too....O'C with another 2 for 2, Cobin walks twice, and scores both times, Rattenbury draws three walks, Geyer two, Craven has a nice hit.....the beat goes on.... But this night (offensively) belongs to the Big Papi.
After the sterling coaching move by the Mets Brain (Huh? Duh?) Trust, the Rangers - it must be said - a very good team - rally....in the end though, our Tug, O'C, closes the door, saving his coaches' (that's plural folks!) jobs for another week.....great win ....
Hey - we're 4-1!
Game 4 - Sunday May 11th....
"Let's play Two!".....the Metropolitans take on the defending champion Pirates in an A and B doubleheader!
Mets take the first game 8-3...keys to the win - a team win in every sense of the word....Rookie Brett ("he's a gamer") Dooley - he of the mischievous (I just ate the canary) grin takes the hill against the vaunted Pirates lineup......and dazzled the men in black for three - only one run allowed....The Mets line up grinds it out...the big four at the top (Cobin, O'C, O'B and Burke) bang it around...but game one belongs to the TEAM....Ryan McElhinney, continuing to make like a young Strawberry - 1 for 2 and a walk....Our George Foster - Mark Rattenbury - grinding out two big walks (they won't pitch to the big stick!)....Julien Geyer and Mark McKenna- same thing - two base on balls....Ryan Gillis (game ball recipient) - hard hit shots in two at bats....McElhinney makes his debut on the hill too - and closes out the sixth in one scoreless frame...
Game three of year...Game two of day - an A game - and Big Mark Rattenbury on the hill....four innings, only two runs...great defense behind Mark, smart play by the Metropolitans....
Joe Buckley pitches a strong game for the Pirates....Mets make the most out of 7 hits...O'C (Gary Carter) goes 2 for 2, Cobin (Mookie) has a big double, Gillis (maybe our Kevin Mitchell - ever see his bare hand catch in left?) continues his hot hitting with a 2 for 2 effort, and that amazing rook Dools goes 1 for 1 with a walk....It IS Wally Backman!
In the end - another nice TEAM effort - Mets win again, 5-3.
May 10th - Second Game of the year: The Big Bad Dodger Blue await....
This one was a nail biter - well played on both sides. Brandon Winn (our own Bobby Ojeda.... look that up boys, a crafty lefty) was spectacular - a strong 4 innings, and as he departed to a thunderous ovation from the Shea (ah Chase) throng, we lead 2-1. Winn's only blemish, a lead off HR by Max Montgomery of the Dodgers - congrats to Monty!
Sam Asnault hurled a gem for the Dodgers, yielding two first inning runs to our boys in blue, orange and black, and then shutting the door...In the sixth, the Dodgers rallied for two to win ...Justin Cobin, in relief of our Ojeda, deserved better - a few seeing eye grounders, and one hard luck deflection off a glove...but such is baseball. A well deserved 3-2 win by the Dodgers....but a well played game by the Metropolitans.
2008 Mets
In honor of our coach O'Brien, a true Mets fan from way back....a little history to start....
1986....a heartbreaking year for Sox fans....but not for the Metropolitans, as they walked off with the hardware....
2008....this year's Metropolitans....so alike....a magical mix of youth and veterans....
Opening day 2008...May 6, 2008...and against the Sox to boot!...anyone sense an omen????
It starts on the hill...
The 86 Amazins had the Doc...the flamethrowing righthander from the city (Tampa) by the shore....following his magnificent rookie season....We'll match that and raise you....our Doc...Tommy O'Brien, the flamethrowing righthander from the Cohasset town by the shore....following his magnificent rookie year....Our Doc does not disappoint...3 ks in the first, three solid innings....GAS, GAS and more GAS...7 Ks in three...But it's much more than a one man band...the veterans lead the way...our ‘Mookie'...fleet of foot - Justin Cobin starts the season with a solid smash to left...our Gary Carter - starting catcher Brendan O'Connell follows with his own line shot up the middle....next up, our Doc, he smacks his own liner ...remember Keith Hernandez? - our own gold glove first baseman Liam Burke follows with a wicked double down the line - 4 up, 4 hits.....can you hear them?...the Metropolitans bats speak loudly!
By the second inning, these 4 veterans are 5-6, and by game end, 9-14! But the youth...oh the youth... let's start with our Wally Backman - second too - the Dirt Dog Supreme - Brett Dooley - Dools goes 1-2 with a walk, and makes a super diving stab at second...runs off, grinning widely, dust and dirt billowing from his jersey...the original Wally has nothing on this rook! Ryan McElhinney....our young Strawberry...every bit the athlete...his first big league hit a smash double to left, and a walk to boot....can anyone say .1000 OBP! Speaking of which...Julien Geyer...great at bat...fouls em off...then smacks a base hit to the outfield....Teddy Craven - our own Ray Knight...this rookie cool beyond his years....solid at third, smooth...another great at bat - works a walk...Ryan Gillis, same for him...fouls em off, works the walk, and keeps the rally alive....all contribute...
You may not remember...but the 86 Metropolitans had the feared Gorge Foster, he of the old Big Red Machine...the menacing stance, waving that black bat.....hey - whose that? Why it's our own George - big Mark Rattenbury, same menacing stance, same power....same gun in the outfield....Two of the younger vets not to be overlooked....our own Lenny Dykstra (minus the juice) - NAILS!...tough, unrelenting, versatile....Brandon Winn, with a solid hit. And let's go all the way back to 69....Buddy Harrelson - need that slick fielding infielder...we have one too - sweet fielding Mark McKenna....and by the way....a .666 OBP too!
Brendan O'Connell played our Tug McGraw...YA GOTTA BELIEVE!...and closed out the win in style - three strong frames.....and as the sun set, the final fly dropped softly into the glove of our Doc (now in center - he's more versatile than Gooden!) Tommy O'Brien .........Mets win 9-5!
Next up - Dodgers at 6 on Saturday, and a doubleheader against the Pirates (4 and 6) on Sunday! ...Happy Mothers Day to all our moms!