Monday, July 27, 2009
I ask every Mets to think about the times over the past few years that Omar Minaya himself has said one thing to media one day and done something completely different the next. One only needs to look at the way he dealt with the eventual firing of Willie Randolph. Minaya has a way of avoiding the difficult issues when talk to the press that is more often than not pathetic. What I mean is that there are times where it has been so obvious that Minaya is not being completely straightforward with the media and the public for that matter. He often comes back to the excuse of how tough it is to work with an organization in New York because he is after all a real New Yorker and really understands the city (whatever that means in this day and age). The problem is that Minaya does not come off as being genuine about anything and has not for quite sometime. I trace the beginning of the end for Minaya as the Mets GM, all the way back to June 2007. Many may wonder why I would pick a time before both of the Mets end of season collapses and before this year's pitiful play. Well, if you remember it was on June 18TH of 2007 that Minaya appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated (along with Randolph and several members of the team) and was the center of an article about his tough beginnings and how they shaped him into the GM of the reigning NL East champions that he became. I personally feel that this was giving too much credit too soon to someone who had not won anything of any real significance. Sometimes being celebrated too soon becomes a hindrance in achieving future success. I am not saying that Minaya is bad person or that he does not know a lot about baseball. I am also in no way belittling the fact that he was the first Hispanic GM. What I am saying is that maybe he has not been the best GM that there ever was and that maybe a lot of the praise that was heaped upon him in the early part of his career went to his head (and eventually went to the Wilpon's heads also).
Now we come to issue of Bernazard. What else really needs to be said about this guy that has not been stated over and over again from the middle of the 2007 season till now? Minaya and the Wilpons obviously thought that Bernazard walked on water and could do no wrong. This blinded them to his overall lack of professionalism and the fact that he was not a good person to have around both major and minor league clubhouses. I still believe that Bernazard destroyed Willie Randolph's relationships with his players and therefore ruined the teams chances of reaching the post season in 2007. Nothing that I have ever heard about Bernazard's involvement with the Mets was ever even remotely positive. So when the Phillies win the NL East again this year (which they will) be thankful that at least Bernazard will no long be such a major influence on player development in future seasons. (Though keep in mind that it will take time to undo what he and others in the organization have done.)
In closing, it should be said that if Adam Rubin was lobbying for a job with the team that he is in the wrong for doing that. However, that is not something Minaya should have or needed to address in the press conference today. Minaya has now made himself look almost as unprofessional as Bernazard, which I guess shows that he is a loyal friend. (or that he has no common sense whatsoever).
Monday, July 6, 2009
Who thought it would be a good idea put Streets of Philadelphia over this montage? For those who are not aware or possibly have forgotten, this song was originally from the 1993 film Philadelphia, which starred Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. In the movie, Hanks plays a lawyer who is fired from his job because he is gay and dying of AIDS. As sad as I was about the Mets getting swept this weekend, I would not compare it in ANYWAY to being sick, dying, and facing harsh discrimination. I understand that it's not as though they showed scenes from the movie cut with the Mets playing the Phillies during this past weekend. But it almost felt like that was only slightly insensitive than what they actually did.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Hernandez also managed to rip into Ryan Braun last night after his base running "blunder" in the bottom of the 4th. The reason that I put "blunder" in quotes is because it was not Braun's base running (regardless of which, he still scored) that Keith should have been criticizing, it was the Mets almost comical defensive blunders. Even the golden boy (Johan Santana) could not resist getting in on the action. Hey, if they are going to suck, shouldn't they suck as a team rather than having one scapegoat? (By the way, I feel really bad for Fernando Martinez. Let's hope that this doesn't set back his career or even permanently ruin it).
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Gary Kisses Up to Keith Big Time!
Personally, I think that the Mets have been incredibly smart with not retiring too many numbers (Hello, Yankees). As far as Mets legends are concerned, there is Seaver and then there is everyone else. In all fairness, if you were going to retire Keith's number, you would have to do the same for Mike Piazza, Ed Kranepool, and maybe even Jerry Koosman. It's just not going to happen folks, I'm sorry to be the one to burst your bubble (and Keith's ego).
Another thing that I didn't mention from last week's series against the Phillies was Keith's response about his participation in this year's All Star Game festivities. The game will be held in St. Louis, Keith's other Major League home. When Gary asked whether or not he would be a part of All Star Game celebration, Keith quickly replied "I declined". First of all, even if he did decline, why would he say that? It makes him come off as snobby and shows his lack of love for the fans (both of which are probably not far from the truth). Second, why would he decline? Does it really take that much out of him to do the games that he does on SNY? He never is there when away games are played in places that are too far west (except when it's San Francisco because that's where he grew up or Colorado because his daughter lives there). Sometimes Hernandez's reactions to things just boggle my mind.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Uniforms
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Citi Field Opener
"When I kiss you, I feel a thousand different feelings
The color of chills all over my body
And when I feel them, I quickly try to decide which one
I should try to put into words, oh no
Try to put into words" - Chicago "Beginnings"
Don't get me wrong ,it's a good song. But its more appropriate for a something like a wedding than the openning of a new stadium. Anyway, as the game went on last night, Gary, Keith and Ron became increasingly sillier. At one point, Ron even asked if the SNY post game analysis would include analysis of their in game commentary. Well Ron, maybe SNY's page doesn't, but MTV (Mets TV) does! Also, how many times could Keith make the "Headley" Blazing Saddles
reference? I hope chase Headley is never traded to the Mets or to the another NL East team because we would be hearing that non-stop!
A final note that I wanted to make about the booth last night is how both Keith and Ron were so eager to give up their seats when Gary said that Tom Seaver was going to be joining them during the next half inning. Gary then said neither of them would have to that anymore because they have more room now! ( Actually though, it was kind of sad. When Seaver was in the booth, if you were watching the game on TV that wasn’t HD , Gary was cut out of the frame.) Also, how about when Keith tried to make it like Rusty Staub's grief over the sudden death of former Tigers pitcher Mark "the bird" Fidrych was greater than Ron's own grief? (If you watched and listen to game last night, you learned that Ron grew up in the same area as Fidrych and that his brother went to college with him).
Monday, April 13, 2009
Welcome to Citi Field, Keith!
As far as the TV game coverage in 2009, I must be honest and say that I am a little disappointed in SNY. First of all, Bob Ojeda has no idea what he doing at all! This is exactly what I was trying to say in previous blog post where I said that SNY had made a mistake getting rid of Lee Mazzilli. At least Mazzilli seemed to understand what a camera was and how act when in front of one. So far, Ojeda looks like a deer caught in the headlights and he contribute nothing to the broadcast. I will give him a fair chance to make it right, but it does not look good so far.
On Friday night I did not understand why Ron Darling was in the studio and not with the Gary and Keith in Florida. Keith cleared up this mystery for me during yesterdays game when he said that Ron was actually at that game, but he was doing the TV broadcast for TBS instead of SNY. Shouldn't it be in Ron's contract that he CAN do games for TBS but NOT Mets games? Isn't that a conflict of interest? Also, why does TBS even bother showing game on a Sunday afternoon? They basically show only Mets, Yankees, or Red Sox, all of which are on a lot on other channels throughout the season. It's just a waste of time. I can't believe that I am going to say this, but TBS needs to go back to just showing the Braves. I am completely serious about this! I would rather keep an eye on a game where one of the Mets NL East rivals are playing because even if the Mets are on TBS, I would never watch them on there if they were also on SNY.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Joe Buck as Bob Costas: Are You Kidding Me?
Why didn’t HBO consider Dan Patrick to replace Costas? He would have been far better and he is not shoved in our faces on a constant basis the way that Joe Buck is at point and time. Now that would have been worth my time (then again, anyone other than Buck would have been worth my time).
Monday, March 16, 2009
What Happened to SNY's Afternoon Shows?
Then, back at the beginning of the year DNL got even worse when host (and form Kevin Burkhardt) Chris Cotter decided to leave SNY for the obscure (and useless) Fox Business News.(Do we really need another Fox news network?). Jonas Schwartz is the replacement and has not done an awful job, but he does not have the same rapport that Cotter had with co-host Joe Benigno. The guests on DNL range from great to odd (why the hell do they have to have Bill Bellamy on what feels like every other month?). Why do they even need guests at all when the show is only a half hour anyway? I understand that SNY is trying to keep up with and be like a mini-ESPN. But they are doing it at expense of quality and instead going for only quantity.
The other latest casualty of the ever changing regime at SNY is Scott Ferrall. Ferrall had regularly appeared on DNL and in the spring of 2008 was put on The Wheelhouse. For some reason, SNY chose not keep Ferrall around. In my opinion, this was a mistake. Now The Wheelhouse is Brandon Tierney debating another guy who we don't care about. I know that many people out there may not like Ferrall, but he is a personality that cannot and will not be ignored. That is what SNY needs, not just some stiffs in suits talking for 90 minutes straight. Come on already SNY! Stop trying to be ESPN and just be SNY.
Another ridiculous change that I would like to point out again is the replacement of Matt Yallof with Chris (I have 10 jobs in this bad economy) Carlin for Mets Pre and Post game shows. Are you kidding me? A half hour a day of Carlin on Loudmouths is too much already. Oh so I see, SNY can have the "Carlin Hour" but an hour of DNL was too much!! Another thing, how can Bobby Ojeda replace Lee Mazzilli? Mazzilli was just starting to come into his own as an in studio analyst and now we have to accept someone else all over again? Let's get real, was Ojeda EVER even close to as popular as Mazzilli was as a Met? Not on your life.
Friday, March 13, 2009
It Feels Like September Already!
These are the thoughts that I keep trying to tell myself. However, after watching the Marlins beat the Mets last night 16 to 8 in what was Johan Santana's spring debut, I cannot help but worry. These are the Marlins, who in my mind are even more annoying than the Phillies. Why? Because they are not a spectacular team, not to mention a team that can barely draw a crowd to their games. Yet they have lived for the fact that they have been able to stick it to the Mets the past two years. I honestly can say that as much as I hate the Phillies, they at least have a right to gloat. They are reigning champs and the Mets have to swallow their pride this season whenever the Phillies are concerned because at this point they are better than the Mets. The Marlins are not and that is why it pissed me off last night to see Dan Ugly hit two home runs off Johan. I am not saying that Uggla is not a talented player and that he shouldn't give it his all. But what I am saying is that I hate having to be reminded of September before the fraking (all of you Battlestar Galactica fans out there) even begins. So basically I am just being a sore loser of a game that is meaningless.
Kevin Burkhardt has been doing a really nice job, along with Ron Darling (of course, Keith cannot be bothered with doing that many of these games). Gary Cohen is obviously doing some big east basketball games right now that are real thing and Kevin obviously could not take Gary's place permanently. However, he is an great substitute and has really grown into his role within the SNY Mets broadcasts. Also in the booth last night was the great Mr. Kiner, who always manages to add a sense realness to a game just with his very presence.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Just Get Over Manny Already!!!
Anyway, I am getting Torre's book next week (and for those who think I'm jumping on the bandwagon, I ready many books about sports and other subjects throughout the course of an average year). This book is getting a lot of good buzz and I am really looking forward to reading it. I'll get back to you on that next week.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Johan Phones “Mets Hot Stove”
Last night on SNY's "Mets Hot Stove", Kevin Burkhardt was joined via phone by Mets ace Johan Santana. Even though it was a brief conversation, Santana once again showed that he is a class act who puts the team's interests before his own. When asked if would be playing for Venezuela in this year's World Baseball Classic, Santana said it was possible. However, he made it clear that the Mets doctors would have to approve it first and that of course winning with the Mets is more important than playing in the World Baseball Classic at this point in his career. Though one might not think that this is so remarkable, it is because Santana understands that the Mets are paying his salary. If he were to be injured playing in a game that wasn't a Mets game, that would be a real problem. I do not have a problem with A-Rod playing for the Dominican Republic in the WBC, even though he was born and raised in the United States. What I do have problem with is how the highest paid player in Major League Baseball would have the nerve to even think about playing in games and risking injury that are not Yankee games. I know that it may seem like I am picking on A-Rod, so let me also say that I don't think David Wright should be participating in the WBC. So there Yankee fans, I am not just singling out your precious A-Rod.
Johan also talked about how happy he is with number 75 (The Closer Formerly Known as 57) joining the Mets. How could he not be? You mean Johan didn't want Luis Ayala or Aaron Heilman closing his games again in 2009? There's a shocker! Johan was also asked by Burkhardt about the "choker" comment that Cole Hamels made a few weeks ago. Santana responded appropriately, basically saying that the Phillies are the champs going into this season and that the Mets have to go out and prove them selves. He is 100 percent right. The beginning of the season is going to be tough because the Mets really need to be humble and not act as though they are entitled to anything. Just let your playing do the talking guys! You can not go wrong with that.
"Hot Stove" also included another in depth piece last night on Daniel Murphy. This is second time that Murphy has been profiled on the "Mets Hot Stove" this off season (which means, the show only has to do about 3 months worth of shows once a week). Was there no other Mets player available that they could possible go and do a profile on? Don't get me wrong, I like Daniel Murphy a lot. But was no one else available, really?
Next week Gary Cohen will be joining Kevin on "Mets Hot Stove".
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Yanks Shopping Spree
Off course, the Yanks biggest (literally) acquisition of the off season was C.C. Sabathia. Sabathia is a good pitcher who has had moments of greatness during his career. But is he really worth $161 Million dollars for 7 years? Yes, I know that the Mets gave Johan Santana $137.5 million dollars for 6 years a little less than a year ago. I think over time that Santana will prove to be the more durable pitcher than Sabathia and therefore the better investment. I mean not for nothing, but Sabathia isn't exactly in the greatest shape. Not that I am one to throw stones. But I am not a professional athlete. I wonder how Sabathia is going to deal with Girardi's "no candy rule" in the Yankees club house. Something tells me that at $161 million dollars, Sabathia will be able to have all of Snickers bars that he wants regardless of what Drill Sergeant Joe says.
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Year, New Hopes
Happy 2009 to all of you devoted Mets fans out there! Let's hope that this year can have a better ending than the past two did. I am excited about K-Rod and Putz, but I know that more is needed. If the Mets can land either Lowe or Perez, they seriously need to think about bringing Pedro back for another year. I know that many may not agree with this. However, I feel that Pedro can go out there, get some wins, and will always try his best to put the team in a position to win. Plus, I think that Pedro really likes being a Met and would like to stay with the organization until he retires if possible. It's just something to think about.
As far as other acquisitions are concerned, Orlando Hudson would be great if Castillo can be traded somewhere. Realistically, that doesn't look too promising. But you never know. I can't wait to see Gary, Keith, and Ron again! One really misses them during the winter months. I do think that SNY is making a mistake getting rid of Lee Mazzilli and adding Chris Carlin in place of Matt Yalloff for the pre and post game shows. I mean come on. Am I the only one who is a little bit tired of Carlin? How many shows does he have to be on? Also, can you believe that Chris Cotter left SNY to go to the unsuccessful Fox Business News? They must have offered him a lot of money because I can't think of any other reason why he would go to a network that is barely on the radar. I will miss him on "Daily News Live", but Jonas Schwartz is not bad. It looks to be an interesting time though on many fronts, a time of transition and new possibilities. Here's hoping for all of the best.
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- Mets TV is a blog that is dedicated to the television broadcasts of the baseball team the New York Mets. It's purpose is to review, analyze, and sometime even criticize Mets game broadcasts. Whether the game is on the Mets TV home SNY, Fox, or ESPN, the objective remains the same. While differences in opinion are highly encouraged on Mets TV, deliberate cruelty is not. Be constructive and mature with your response.

