A Braves Fan’s Ode To Shea Stadium

The Atlanta Braves have now played their last game ever at Shea Stadium. I’ve heard a lot of people talking about the great rivalry of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. And it really was a great one. It’s lost some luster in recent years but I have a feeling it’ll be back in the very near future.

I have to give a plug to my friend JB from the Braves Launching Pad. In my mind, it’s the best Braves site out there. I try to keep up with enemy blogs as part of my research.

JB put together a list of his five best Braves-Mets games at Shea and it’s certainly worth a read. Check it out here.

I’ve made no bones on this site about my feeling that Shea is the worst stadium in baseball and the fact that we deserve better. But now that the final regular season games are nearly over, I am getting a little sentimental about the end of Shea especially when I read about the great games this stadium has seen since 1964.

Mets Fans Face Uncertainties Without Wagner

Coming off two games against the Braves in which the bullpen blew a late lead, Mets fans are realizing just how fragile our post-season hopes are. If the Mets can’t find a solution for the problems at the back of the bullpen we very well may end up watching another September division lead disappear before our eyes.

Billy Wagner wasn’t perfect this season, having blown seven saves before his season ended on August 3rd, but he sure would be a sight for sore eyes now. The Luis Ayala/closer by committee situation that we’re suffering through now is about as disturbing to watch as Jose Lima or Brian Lawrence starting a game.

At this late stage of the season there aren’t many options. There isn’t a guy in the bullpen that I trust to get three outs consistently. And I do think the Mets gave up on Eddie Kunz this season a little too early. He may have been able to make a contribution in September.

So we’re stuck in a closer-less purgatory and left to cross our fingers and toes every time it’s a late and close situation. I can’t even call the Mets the cardiac kids because that would imply they’re coming back for some late wins. I would say buckle your seat belts because the last two weeks of the season are going to be a wild ride.

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On Deck- September 15- Mets at Nationals [Game 1]

New York Mets (83-65 Road: 38-36) at Washington Nationals (56-93 Home: 31-40)7:10pm

Pedro Martinez (5-4 5.44) vs. John Lannan (8-13 4.09) 

TV: SNY  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Pedro was putrid in his last start eight days ago against the Phillies. This time he faces a dead Washington team that can’t get out it’s own way. Lannan’s last start was against the Mets and he got rocked for five runs in three innings.

Visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans.

Mets Bullpen Blows Another Game To Braves 7-4

The culprit was Luis Ayala today and Pedro Feliciano threw some gas on the fire in the ninth inning blown save.

The shame of it is that a monster game by David Wright was wasted. Wright was 4 for 5 with 3 RBI’s and 2 home runs.

Oliver Perez wasn’t terribly sharp early on, but he battled through to end up with a pretty good line of 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K.

I know this sounds like a broken record but Carlos Delgado continued mashing again today going 3 for 5.

The story of this game may very well end up being the downfall of the 2008 version of the Mets. Not having a stopper at the back of the bullpen is an extremely difficult problem to overcome. As the last two weeks of the season draw to a close the Mets need someone from the bullpen to prove that they can consistently handle the pressure of the ninth inning.

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On Deck- September 14- Braves at Mets [Game 3]

Atlanta Braves (65-83 Road: 25-49) at New York Mets (83-64 Home: 45-28) 1:10pm

Jorge Campillo (7-7 3.70) vs. Oliver Perez (10-7 4.15) 

TV: CW11  Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Perez was horrible in his last start against the Nationals. Campillo hasn’t pitched badly, but he hasn’t won a game since Aug. 8th. The Mets and Braves play the rubber game of the series today.

Visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans.

Rookie Niese Leads Mets Over Braves 5-0

Rookie starting pitcher Jon Niese threw eight shutout innings giving up six hits and two walks, along with seven strikeouts. He was clearly more comfortable than his last start against the Brewers. Niese even threw his season-high 116 pitches in the game.

The Mets used the long ball to get the win against the Braves in the nightcap. They had home runs from David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltran. Reyes, Beltran, and Fernando Tatis all three hits in the game as well.

The Mets increase their NL East lead tonight to 2.5 games.

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Mets Blow Lead Late, Lose To Braves 3-2

The Mets lost the first game of today’s single admission double header in the eighth inning. Johan Santana pitched into the eighth but left after giving up two straight singles to lead off the inning. He pitched a superb game through seven giving up no runs but ran out of gas in the eighth after throwing 113 pitches in the game.

Scott Schoenweiss and Brian Stokes were the problem in the eighth allowing three runs to score including the inherited runners from Santana. It’s incredible how many games that Santana has left with a lead only to end up as a Mets loss.

Carlos Delgado continued his torrid hitting going 2 for 4 with 1 run scored and one double. His average is up to .266 now.

The Phillies won today so the Mets lead is down to two games and the Mets magic number holds at 14.

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