Team Breakdown 17/30: New York Mets

(Mr. Met could be one of the best mascots in sports

The Mets have always played second fiddle to the Yankees and in recent years have been in the charity game of blowing a perfectly good season in the last month of the season (Sorry Jon Stewart). The Mets have always relied on charity when it comes to the World Series. Since they joined the league in 1962 the Mets rallied as the Amazin' Mets to win it all in 1969 and of course have Bill Buckner to thank for their 1986 World Series. They do however have a great mascot, who can not only fire up a crowd, but can also act.

Team breakdown

WS Wins: 2 (69,86)

Favorite Moment: The Mets are founded in 1962 thus lowering the number of Yankee fans.

Least Favorite: The same Mets lose more fans than ever after a disaterous W.S. in 2000 against the Yankees.

Franchise Player: David Wright? Doc Gooden? Cleon Jones?

Forgot he played:Matt Lawton

Never Knew:Willie Mays

2010 Mid Season Movie Review

While I'll admit, I've been catching up on some 2009 releases I have had a chance to watch 11 new releases from this year and anticipate some movies that I'd really like to see in theaters or on DVD. Here's my mid-year review

From Best to Worst
1. Shutter Island (Good thriller, but a surprisingly unsurpring ending make it just short of a 4 3.5/5)
2. Iron Man 2 (I liked it better than the first, but I could be crazy...plus I really have always liked War Machine better 3.5/5)
3. Hot Tub Time Machine (full of some good laughs, but never enough to make it into my favorites 3/5)
4. She's Out of My League (Totally surprised by this one. Funny and what would have been a good date movie if I hadn't watched it alone :-( 3/5)
5. Edge of Darkness (A movie that got better as it went on. Some good twists, but now seems tainted by Mel's recent remarks 3/5)
6.Cop Out (Kevin Smith's goes in a new direction with his buddy cop hit and miss action comedy. Funny in parts, dull in others 2.5/5)
7. A Nightmare on Elm Street (Nowhere near the original, but it does some good things differently and others not so much in order to scare a new crowd 2.5/5)
8. The Crazies (Another horror remake. This time it's George A Romero's turn for an update, but it never had the feel of a Romero film and just became another run of the mill zombie flick 2.5/5)
9.From Paris With Love (John Travolta is a spy and apparently everyone you know is a terrorist using you for information. Good popcorn movie with little depth 2.5/5)
10. Alice in Wonderland (Alice's return to Wonderland was only slightly better than Dorothy's Return to Oz, but are ill fated and nowhere near as good as the first time...although I did really like the Cheshire Cat. 2/5)
11. The Wolfman (Benicio Del Torro is Anthony Hopkins son? This movie goes slowly, is hampered by bad effects and makes me wish Van Helsing was somewhere near to kill the beast. Even Hugo Weaving couldn't save it for me. 1.5/5)

Movie wish list (2010)

1.Inception (This trailer had the same affect on me as Eclipse did on thirteen year old girls)
2.Kick Ass
3.The Expendables
4.Machete
5.Red
6.Get Him to the Greek
7.Toy Story 3
8.The Book of Eli
9.Repo Men
10.Date Night
11.The A-Team
12.Harry Brown
13.Robin Hood
14.Predators
15.True Grit (Remake)

The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field is the fourth baseball venue for baseball that I've been to and with the Pirates in town, it made things very special. The park is like going back in time with the scoreboard (which I love) and some of the more modern necessities (such as video screens that show the players name who is up to bat)

The trip itself was hyped as a very long and difficult journey through Chicago from the East Side. As we drove down the Skyway we could see U.S. Cellular Field and the Sears Tower. The traffic wasn't as bad as I thought (and was told) although I could have done without the three different tolls I had to pay.

Once there we walked about ten blocks to get to the field. I considered stopping at one of the vendors and grabbing a Cardinals Suck or one with a Chicago White Sox logo from the 80's that simply read "Sux"

We walked around to Waveland Ave and Sheffield and made our way to the Harry Caray statue (hear a probably drunk Cubs fan informs me that the "Pirates Fucking Suck" all while showcasing her middle fingers in my face. After this adventure it was time to get in the park where we watched batting practice (a first for me). I would also like to say that Brendan Donnelly is a jerk unlike Pirates bullpen coach Heberto Andrade who was willing to sign autographs.

The pre-game activities included a drum line/tumbler group which really should have been called things people can jump and tumble over. The creepy old man Six Flags guy showed up with some kids which I feel violates some restraining order of some kind.

The first pitch and take me out to the ballgame were done by none other than Thomas Ian Nicholas aka the Rookie of the Year. Needless to say I was excited.

No fouls balls came our way on the right field side, but I did see some action in front of me as seven girls were escorted out of the game (3 for buying alcohol for the 4 underage teens)

As for the game the score was disappointing as Brad Lincoln entered the game with an ERA over 6 and the Cubs were throwing former Pirate Tom Gorzelanny (who may or may not look like Sloth from the Goonies) Both pitchers threw shutouts through five innings before Gorzelanny who taken out for pinch hitter Tyler Colvin, who promptly struck out. The Pirates who add two in the 8th thanks to an Aramis Ramirez error(also a former Pirate) and a bases loaded walk by Lastings Milledge.

Thank goodness the Windy City lived up to its name as both Derrek Lee and Alfonso Soriano nearly put the Cubs on the board as their fly balls stopped just short of the wall.

The Pirates won to improve them to 1-2 in games that I've seen.

Best Records in games I've attended
Indians 2-0
Red Sox 2-0
Reds 3-1
Tigers 7-5 (six game win streak, seven of last eight)
Cardinals 1-0
Rays 1-0
Angels 1-0
Pirates 1-2
Braves 0-1
Orioles 0-1
Athletics 0-1
Royals 0-1
Giants 0-1
Yankees 0-1
Cubs 0-2
White Sox 0-2


Lowest Scoring Games in Person

Pirates @ Cubs (2)
Giants @ Reds (3)
Red Sox @ Tigers (5)


Highest Scoring Games in Person

A's @ Tigers (17)
Rays @ Tigers (15)
Tigers @ Indians (15)