(Reyes and Wright : they’re going to Tad’s!)
Said 5-star comment generator Chuck Meehan earlier today, “I would like to think that Mets players are getting to pocket some of their per diem meal money by Billy Wagner treating them to steak dinners for pulling his nuts out of the fire all year long (todays game-saving defensive play by David Wright (above) being the latest example).” But if Wagner’s continuous feuding with former Phillies teammates is unseemly, that’s nothing compared to what Newsday’s Bob Herzog is hearing from the stands at Shea Stadium.
So much for that quaint notion about New York baseball fans being so knowledgeable and so respectful of the opposition. The vicious booing and chants of “No More Streak” at Shea Stadium Friday night directed towards Chase Utley showed a distinct lack of class.
What is baseball without its history, and wouldn’t have it been nice if Utley’s 35-game hitting streak lasted a little longer to generate more discussion and make us appreciate what Joe DiMaggio did even more? The Mets have such a huge lead in the NL East that games against the Phillies can hardly be considered critical right now. And the fans booed Utley right from the start, not just late in the game when a hit might have been damaging.
The Daily News’ Owen Moritz reported Saturday that Hispanics Across America are launching a campaign to stop the booing of Alex Rodriguez. Just in time, too, as A-Rod and his teammates, save for Bobby Abreu, were held hitless by the Hall Of Fame trio of Baltimore’s Adam Loewen, Todd Williams and LaTroy Hawkins yesterday.
Not to be outdone, I’m starting a website to encourage American Jews to step up their daily harrassment of Shawn Green. Not for any good reason, mind you. Just that I need to spend more time online. Houston’s Luke Scott had a huge night in Phoenix, proving yet again that good things happen when you shill in public for Jesus.
I have to admit, when I heard the words “Julio Lugo” and “tampering” mentioned alongside each other, I couldn’t help but assume the worst. The highly-coveted infielder was 2 for 5 with a pair of runs scored in the Dodgers’ 10-2 defeat of the Marlins, LA’s 8th consecutive win.
Billy Wags might also want to hook up Lastings Milledge with at least a sack of White Castle sliders for Milledges good jump and fleetness in cutting off the ball that Chase Utley stuck down the RF line in the ninth. Had that ball went to the corner, the surprisingly fast Ryan Howard would have likely have come around to score. Yesterdays game was a painful pissing away of the best outing we have seen from Jon Lieber all year and that despite the recent elevation in Phillies play, they are still capable of throwing away games due to poor field play and that the Mets are still a team that can smell blood and move in for the kill.
As far as the fans booing Utley stuff goes, look at it this way (and not that anyone at that game remembered this), it sure beat Pat Zachry giving up the hit that gave Pete Rose the NL hitting streak record in 1978. Zachry went on to kick the dugout step that night and break his toe.
It was Bob Herzog that wrote that silly thing about booing Utley, GC.
thanks Mike, you are indeed, correct. I guess I was so used to the entries at Newsday’s blog being from Lennon, I didn’t bother to read the name at the bottom….a foolish error.
My sincere apologies to David Lennon.
That said, I don’t know where either of us get off calling the director of “Fitzcarraldo”, “silly”. Booing is mean, nasty, and besides, not everyone can afford expensive 9 volt batteries to throw at the players. I’m with Herzog and the gang at cheerarod.com. Root for the hometown team and the opposition!
I should probably feel bad for what I wrote about him, then — but I guess I’m just too lacking in class…