Six Comments1. Yankees lose. Rangers win. Mets win. Islanders lose.
Thursdays don't get much better than that.
2. There was a bit of a domestic dispute in my household last night.
While I intended to watch Game 2 of the NLDS and check in on the Rangers between innings, another party was insistent on watching Curious George.
Long ago, I too was a fan of Curious George (in my case, the books, not the television program), so was inclined to offer a compromise. We would flip back and forth, watching Curious George between pitches.
Alas, that did not suffice.
The dispute was never fully resolved, and appears likely to recur quite frequently.
3. Yesterday I e-mailed MoC. He responded, matter of factly, by writing, "I'm at the Yankee game."
"Next you will inform me that you're fasting during Ramadan," I wrote back.
Turns out that a Yankees fan couldn't make it to the day game and gave MoC a pair of $206 seats a few rows from the field. Can't blame MoC for going.
At Wednesday's Mets game - also a day game - I couldn't help but notice at the start of the game that while the upper deck was just about full, there were a fair number of empty seats on the field level.
One of the ironies of life, I suppose, is that those who can afford to pay for the very expensive seats can't afford the time to watch the game from those seats.
4. For the second time, Carlos Beltran looks uncomfortable at the plate. His legs are clearly not nearly 100 percent.
If the Mets can win tomorrow, that will get their starting staff back in order, and give Beltran a few days off before the NLCS. A loss and the Dodgers are right back in it, with Oliver Perez probably starting Game 4.
If the Mets lose Game 3, Willie Randolph has indicated that they might start John Maine in Game 4 on three days rest. Maine only threw 80 pitches on Wednesday, but I hope they don't start him on Sunday. Pitchers these days rarely do well on three days rest, and a Game 4 loss would require Tom Glavine to pitch Game 5 on 3 days rest.
5. Clearly the double play that wasn't was the key play in last night's game. Instead of getting out of a bases loaded nobody out jam, the Dodgers ultimately gave up two more runs. The Mets still need to do a better job of taking advantage of opportunities for big innings.
6. Sunday's Jets game against the Jacksonville Jaguars will be a key test on the road for them and for Chad Pennington.
The knock on Pennington has been his performance against good defenses. The Jags have the best defense of the teams the Jets have played this season, and there's little reason to think the Jets will be able to run on Sunday. Last week, the Redskins, playing at home, were able to throw the ball against Jacksonville. For the Jets to win, they will have to score early to quiet the crowd. While the Jets have insisted on running the ball early, they should use the pass to set up the run on Sunday. Pennington will face a tough defensive line and constant blitzes against the defense that ended his and Jay Fiedler's season in Week 3 last year. He'll need solid pass protection and for his teammates to pick up blitzes, and to beat those blitzes by getting the ball to his receivers, who have demonstrated a propensity for picking up solid yardage after the catch.
On defense, the Jets will have to at least contain Fred Taylor and Byron Leftwich, and do a better job of holding Jaguar drives to field goals rather than touchdowns. I'd like to see Derrick Strait get a chance at cornerback. Justin Miller simply looks lost on coverage.
posted on 10/06/2006
