I told the Mets not to sign Francisco Rodriguez

There is a tale of two closers in New York.

Both are from Latin America… both are slight… both have World Series rings… both have experienced the thrill of being the pitcher on the mound when their team wins a post season series.

One, Mariano Rivera, is stoic, clutch, doesn’t let the rare blown save get on his nerves and is one of the classiest and easy to like Hall of Fame legends in Yankee history.

The other, Francisco Rodriguez, beats the crap out of his elderly father in law.

See the difference? It is subtle.

Seriously… I said back in 2008 the winner of the Francisco Rodriguez sweepstakes was the team that DIDN’T sign him.

I’ve felt he was overrated, coasting on the reputation earned in the 2002 post season when nobody had a scouting report on him. (Yet when Bonds figured him out, he launched a homer in the 2002 World Series that I don’t think has landed yet.)

Yeah he piled up tons of regular season saves. So did Armando Benitez. As a Red Sox fan, there were fewer more welcomed sights than seeing Rodriguez coming out of the bullpen in the playoffs. (His 0-3 record with a 7.36 ERA in 3 playoff series against Boston can attest for that… as can Manny Ramirez standing and admiring his walk off homer in the 2007 Division Series.)

But, like Manny, I never anticipated “beating up the elderly” to be on his debit column.

He’s got baggage now… along with a HUGE paycheck. Good luck dealing him. And this is coming of course at a time when, even with Santana’s complete game shutout today, the Mets are floundering at .500 in August.

And while it not seem fair, but this sort of crazy distraction coupled with the season slipping away, could be the nail in Jerry Manuel’s coffin.

Now I’m not saying the Angels are world beaters since Rodriguez left.
But with all their problems, Los Angeles of Anaheim is above .500.

And they drafted Randal Grichuk and Garrett Richards in Rodriguez’s place.

And oh yeah, when Brian Feuntes faced the Red Sox in a playoff situation last year… he came through!

Why don’t teams LISTEN TO ME?

The Rays have a no hitter... the Mets and Padres don't. Odd isn't it?

Off the top of my head I can think of a bunch of pitchers who at one point in their careers played for the Mets who also threw a no hitter.

Without looking it up I can list Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Doc Gooden, David Cone, Hideo Nomo, Al Leiter and Mike Scott all threw no hitters and I am sure I am missing one or two.

None of them pitched a no hitter in a Mets uniform.
Despite a great tradition of dominating pitchers and consistently playing in a pitchers Ballpark (whether it be Shea or CitiField) the Mets have oddly never had a no hitter.

And with several Cy Young winners to their teams checkered history, the Padres also have never had a no hitter. Like the Mets they have always played in a pitchers park... yet could never even slap together a combined no hitter.

The Rockies have.
The Diamondbacks have a few.
So do the Marlins.

The expansion team Mariners, Blue Jays, Astros, Rangers, Angels, Expos, Royals and Brewers all have no no hitters on their docket.

And with Matt Garza, so do the Rays.

Only the Mets and Padres stand alone.

I would say the safe money is on the Padres to throw a no hitter next. They are having a charmed season... and the term "no hits" will be often used to describe a Mets game this year, but they would be referring to New York's offense.

The Giants won today's game

The Giants scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th today against the Mets for a dramatic 4-3 victory and completed a 4 game sweep.

That's what actually happened. Anyone who saw the game today saw Mets third baseman throw high in a play at the plate, scoring Ishikawa for the winning run.

It was that way with the naked eye.
It was that way with the replay.

But like Jim Joyce and Armando Galaragga's complete game, reality doesn't matter... only the opinion of the umpire.

Phil Cuzzi, who already unnecessarily delayed the game by jawing with K-Rod, called him out at home.

Even the Mets announcers were saying as it happened "The Mets caught a HUGE break."

And that was BEFORE they looked at the instant replay.

And the replay was shown on the New York station while Bruce Bochy was still arguing... which spits in the face of the insane "Well, it will slow down the game" argument against instant replay.

He was safe. The Giants won the game... except they didn't.

If the Giants miss the playoffs by a single game this year, remember that play.
And know that the entire television audience saw the call was wrong in less than 1 minute.

I guess you can't waste a minute in determining who won or lost a game.

It's bonkers.
Just bring in instant replay!!!

The latest insult to the Mets... Kenley Jansen

Joe Torre let someone named Kenley Jansen pitch the 9th inning of a 1-0 game that L.A. desperately needed to win.

If you never saw Jansen pitch in the majors, it is because he only had one appearance before today.

If you don't remember him climbing up the Dodger farm system, it is because a little more than a year ago he was a catcher in the Dodger farm system.

Today, he got a 1-2-3 inning and the save.

Now he could turn around and be the next Rich Gossage and #74 could be retired at Chavez Ravine.

But right now the Mets bats are so flacid, that a pitcher making his second appearance EVER can get an effortless save.

Don't wear out his arm, Joe.
His name isn't Scott Procter.

Up is down... Black is white... The Mets are contending

Here is a series of possible and not improbable events that could happen tomorrow.

Mets rookie Jonathon Niese, coming off a 1 hit shut out in his last start, beats the Indians, one of the worst teams in the American League.

Tampa Bay and the Yankees, the teams with the best records in baseball, win their respective games against Atlanta and Philadelphia.

What would happen if that not exactly outlandish collection of results come true?

The Mets would be alone in First Place in mid June.
And the Phillies would be only 1 game over .500.

I still don't understand how this is happening. And call me crazy, but I'm still not buying the Mets nor would I sell the Phillies.

But holy cow! It's not April anymore... It's not May. We're a month from the All Star break and the team that I compared to a car wreck and two girls one cup has a punchers chance of being in first place in July.

I've been screaming for this team to dismantle. I kind of still think they should.

But then there are the group of imposters wearing Phillies uniforms who can't even win on Roy Halladay' starts anymore.

The one team I thought for sure was going to the playoffs, the Phils, are barely holding their nose above break even while the Mets and the Padres, two teams that I thought had no chance, are in the thick of it.

I have no clue how the Mets are doing it which is why I still think they'll collapse and the Phillies when the dust all settles, will be playing in October.

Then again I thought Tampa was going to fold in 2008.

The world is upside down.