NY Mets 2014

[sonny10305]

I am trying to figure out TinyPic soooooooooooooo hre we try again
If it dos not disappear I wil use that site again
Anyone else used TinyPic?

 

[sonny10305]

So since I am having so much fun with my new picture uploads thingies
HEY LOOK! The Murph pic it showed up on my original post
I am so confused I can throw strikes hit over .300 and make a mean Lasagna but posting pictures?? not so much sometimes
Anyways as you know KB has gone FOX and they gave him an office now, sweet huh? So proud of my boy

He is also a very sharp dresser except where it comes to his socks check this out and yeah that’s really him

 

[sonny10305]

Just to bring you guys up on the injuries Vic Black, who you know is dealing with a herniated disc in his neck, is thinking he will be able to play catch today which is really good news. Daniel Murphy did travel with the team last night to Miami but he is going to our spring training complex in Port St. Lucie Thursday to start his rehab. He is wearin that boot again which helps him keep pressure off that calf. Murph will spend much of the time in Lucie but he can take a quick drive to the Marlins stadium to give support to the team I have driven that route its only about an hour and a half maybe hour 40 so he can if he wants if someone else wants to go and drives to make that trip. Harvey is going back to Lucie and can also visit the Mets in Miami if he chooses to.

Now that St. Lucie has been eliminated from postseason contention some of the boys can now get promoted to playoff-bound clubs. L.J. Mazzilli is off to Vegas AAA, Gavin Cecchini, Cam Maron and Matt Koch and Tim Peterson are going to Binghamton. Just think Mazz already in AAA WOW! It’s times like this I wish the team was back in Buffalo so I could take a quick trip up there to see Mazz I So proud of him, and didn’t I tell you guys when he was with us in Brooklyn he was gonna move fast? Didn’t I huh, didn’t I?

The roster expands today and joining the Mets in Miami will be Josh Satin, Erik Goeddel, Juan Centeno and Dario Alvarez Best of luck to those guys. Josh is a good friend of Ike’s and mine and I am so happy to see him back playin in the majors

We are feeling the pressure in Brooklyn and it is awesome so much fun so much excitement I can’t tell you how pumped up I am now. Last night with our their season pretty much on the line the Cyclones beat the Staten Island Yankees and so we stay alive to ply again today and our postseason hopes stay good. But we ain’t there yet as we are still tied with the Connecticut Tigers for first in the wild card race, so we need the Tigers to loose today or we will be eliminated cause the Tigers own the tie-breaker.
Sooo today we gotta bring the A game to the New York-Penn finale at the Richmond County Ballpark, If both team win today there will have to be a tie breaker. Dono if my dad’s heart can take that pressure God love him.

So I am off big day today but I had to mention my boy Justin Turner who as I have been telling you is on fire in LA, ya know how his best friend Ike Davis used to make those awesome catches in NY and still does in Pittsburgh, well JT had his shot yesterday take a look at Justin dong his Ike imitation.

 

[sonny10305]

Sitting here with my tablet reading my last post and want to clear up some confusion. Murphy, as I wrote, did travel with the team to Miami and as will start his rehab in Lucie on Thursday. You may have thought reading my post that he was starting his rehab today and had thought about traveling back and forth. He might travel if someone else drives but not to Lucie he has others to see in Florida. Rehab begins on Thursday, be all better soon Murph.

 

[Sausy]

Really hoping Vic Black and Murph can play again before the end of the season, just gotta be so frustrating Murph of course being a Florida native will support the guys while the Mets play the Marlins in Miami but I wholeheartedly concur regarding getting Murph better soon with the rehab starting Thursday in Port St Lucie.

Proud of LJ Mazzilli to get such a fast call to Las Vegas .... Yeah Buffalo would have been a nice day trip for you to show young Maz support but alas we're stuck with AAA in Las Vegas for awhile. Why two more years there I have no idea.. there are NO relatively close affiliates with soon expiring deals the Mets could hook up with instead in a more geographically sensible move? Cecchini of the group of promoted still really hasn't played up to expectations but has really improved... once no power threat at all he's around the 10 home run mark if I'm correct?

Darren Ceceliani has had a quietly effective year at AA Binghamton, hitting .289 with some power and good speed, best showing since hit a dynamic .354 average at Brooklyn(which I KNOW sonny remembers!)


Mets played an essential stinker tonight losing 9-6 to the Marlins in Miami. Not pitching that badly but throwing way too many pitches, starter Zack Wheeler gave up only four hits in 4 and two thirds innings but three walks and was hurt by some really lousy defense. Only two earned runs but gave up four total and the usually reliable Jeurys Familia was really off tonight. A great night offensively for Dilson Herrera, an RBI triple and his first home run in the majors, a two run shot. However a couple of costly errors hurt, and the Mets made a ton of physical and mental errors in just what was a brutal game. Even TC was really disappointed after the game...the Mets have to play smart, inspired ball the rest of the year to give the fans something positive to take out of this yet another lost year(Mets set to receive the tenth pick in the draft if they stay on the current pace ) and this kind of throwaway, sloppy flat ball just doesn't set right.

 

[sonny10305]

Well we came close, ya know I told you guys we needed a win and a Connecticut loss to clinch a spot in the New York-Penn League Playoffs. The Cyclones with outstanding pitching (again) dominated the Yankees winning 3-1.But those pesky Tigers held on for a 9-8 win to take the tie-breaker. Remember I told you guys the Cyclones had to win and the Tigers had to loose for us to move on. But it was a heck of a year with some amazing pithing from guys like Shane Bay who threw a perfect ninth inning to get his 15th save of the season. So we finish the season 42-34, that’s the 14th consecutive season with a record of .500 or better, The Mets can’t say that. I got calls from quite a few Met payers last night after their loss to ask how we did and that felt really good nice of those guys to support the Cyclones the way they do. It is a question I get asked all year “How the Cyclones doin?” And as one Met said “you’ll get em next year.”

Looking forward to the Party tonight and the chance to see the guys one more time before they go off in all directions for the winter and look towards next year, I will miss those guys. Of course there are always phone calls but I will miss seeing em every day. Thanks to Tom Gamboa for being such a great leader, my boss Gary who in addition to his Cyclone duties is a heck of a scout for the New York Mets, and of course Guy who really is the Cyclones King Does he wear that crown to bed?

Ah Saucy ya know Darrell Ceciliani I love that kid. I have kept in touch and he has had a good season with Binghamton hitting .285 as of yesterday, not quite up to his time in Brooklyn however. The team is 83-59 and just completed the regular season with their second-highest win total in franchise history. Now they move on to open the best-of-five Eastern Division Championship Series on Wednesday. Michael Conforto who as of last night batted.331 got some great news he has been promoted to Single-A Savannah. I got pretty close to Mike the last few months he is my kind of player and a heck of a nice kid, with his talent just like Mazzilli I believe Mike for sure will have a shot at moving quickly through the rest of the Mets' minor league system.

Yup, Gavin Cecchini has been promoted to Double-A Binghamton he is basically shortstop who hit about .230 or so I think he had maybe only five homers but better than 30 RBIs. He takes over the spot given up by Dilson Herrera.

As for Mazzilli he was pretty calm and collected yesterday took his promotion like a pro the kid has a great attitude and is as I have told you guys gonna make it big, He is sooo focused in fact so much so that he just gave up all his social media stuff he felt it became a distraction, at first he thought it was a good idea cause so many players were on there but all of a sudden he realized hey wait I’m spending way too much time on the phone and not staying focused on baseball and that had to stop, sine he stopped pending so much time o the phone he actually feels more free with that distraction gone Maz is also unfazed by the attention he gets having a famous father yet fully embracing his legacy. Going back to when he played for us in Brooklyn I recall how he was constantly looking for ways on how he could improve. The Maz has good speed and defense when you get to see him hit right away you will notice his smooth and well balanced compact swing which of course allows him to make solid contact, he has been working on his plate discipline and make more consistent contact, he seems to still be a bit of a free swinger. His power is a tad above average could still develop a bit more. Gosh I treasure those nights talking baseball with him he is just one of those guys you want nothing but the best for ya know. Noah Syndergaard pitched in LJ’s first game yesterday and pitched two scoreless innings in last night’s regular-season finale getting set up or the postseason. He was one of the four pitchers completing a four-hit shutout. L.J. started at second base and went 1-for-5 I am sure LJ’s dad Lee will as he did in Brooklyn be keeping a close eye on his son in Vegas but not to worry he is in great hands with Wally Backman.

I am hearing the SNY boys had a blast taking KB out for his first goodbye steak dinner it will be a month long good bye to him from his second family at SNY. I will attend the next one which is less private and will tell you guys more about it then. It is almost impossible for me to accept the fact that he is leaving us but as Dwight said “He’s a big NFL star now”

 

[syam24]

Well, the Mets got some more hitting last nite without the errors to give the runs back to the Fish, and won 8-6. Lagares with his first 4 hit nite, and 2 steals was a star, along with DWright (welcome back) three hits, 2 doubles. Niese pitched effectively enough to win with a save from Mejia.
Nice pic of Murph from a few posts ago, very well done! Always great when the Mets win a series from the Phils, too.
Lets go Mets!!

 

[Sausy]

Sorry sonny about Brooklyn's elimination...you guys did what they to do but unfortunately so did the Tigers winning their game. Still you guys always seem talented, well coached and in the hunt so hopefully the Cyclones indeed can get em next year! I know sonny has been so positive about Michael Conforto's season and potential, and he was promoted which this late in the season is a rare honor to help with the next level playoffs and hope to see Michael keep quickly going through the minors and arrive at CitiField asap!

Jon Niese was kinda subpar last night in the Mets 8-6 win in Miami but the Mets scored runs and had his back for a change as he had to work hard and rarely see that kind of run support in his most successful stretch before the nagging injury woes. So good to see David Wright being back in form ripping two doubles and driving in three runs and Juan Lagares being star of the game with the hits , steals and runs scored. Rubber game of the Marlins series tonight and tomorrow Murph begins his therapy, hopefully for a quick enough recovery to play the last week or so of the season. Let's take the series tonight, as syam says "Let's go, Mets!"

It's going to be so strange not hearing KB's friendly golden voice or seeing the ease and comfort players have around him when he's interviewing. Will look forward sonny to all the details about the next of the well deserved KB good bye tour dinners... yep sonny he'll be missed especially to all you guys who got the chance to get to know him but the good thing is that he'll gain a nationwide set of new fans because he's not only a golden voice but from sonny and everything I hear about him a golden person!

 

[Sausy]

Jacob de Grom continues to impress as he went six innings allowing just one run but did have a little trouble with command early. Of course Jake's been incredible at adapting and adjusting and has such a high baseball IQ and such an even keeled temperament he made it work yet again for him. Jake's probably the favorite for Rookie of the Year just simply because he's shown such toughness, talent and determination. Had six strikeouts and just gave up a couple of walks despite the early struggles despite some shaky relief work getting to the ninth Mets held on 4-3. Biggest hit was Travis d'Arnaud's RBI double scoring Matt den Dekker who led off the eighth with a surprise bunt hit, Den Dekker had three hits for the day. Another big player was Kirk Nieuwenhuis ho earlier in the game sparked the Mets with a tremendous two run homer, and also walked three times(once intentionally). On the negative side after such a good game the previous night David Wright went 0-5 with four strikeouts... fortunately the Mets had just enough that it wasn't a problem.

 

[syam24]

Mets explode for 14 runs and 5 HRs!! d'Arnaud and Grandy with 3 run bombs, and each driving in 4runs, DWright rebounds from his golden sombrero of 4 k's with 4 hits, and Colon throws another effective game. The young boys Flores and Herrera chip in with solo HRs in the big victory. Hope the hitting continues, let's go Mets!!

 

[sonny10305]

up Syam that was a joy to watch so great to se our offense come to life like that again

I Wanted to share some good news I got last night from Murphy down in Florida, he said he is feeling really good took batting practice and even tried a few “Murph moves” on the field and most important is that he is having no problem running. As of now Murph sees no reason if he continues to improve and suffer no setbacks why he can’t come of the DL as early as Monday. Let’s all wish Daniel continued success in his rehab and see him at Citi next week when the Mets return home.

 

[syam24]

Glad to hear Murph is healing, will be good to see him back in uniform. Will be interesting to see what that means for Dilson Herrera, he's shown a good stick, while still adjusting in the field. Good effort by Zach on Sunday, and some shoddy Reds defense, which our Mmets took advantage of. Recker and Grandy slammed HRs to support the Mets good pitching, although Mejia struggled in the ninth. He did get a big K to end the game, however. Time to rock the Rockies, let's go Mets!!

 

[Sausy]

Murph will be the second baseman the rest of the season when he returns according to Sandy Alderson, despite the solid play of Dilson Herrera filling in after has Binghamton promotion. Mets win 2 of 3 over the Reds and both wins were driven by Mets home runs... 5 in the first game Friday and the two homers by Grandy and Recker last night. Good starting efforts in the Mets wins by Bartolo Colon on Friday and Zack Wheeler yesterday... best thing about Wheeler is that even though he still needs to become more efficient in his pitching he gets the outs when he needs to and is very tough in situations where he could if not focusing really get in trouble. He has a cool demeanor and is a passionate competitor even though less outwardly fiery and demonstrative than Matt Harvey who is as passionate a competitor anywhere. Seeing both growing together next year even further once Harvey returns next spring from Tommy John surgery will be fun.

Not sure I'm happy with not calling up Noah Syndegaard for a couple of starts, know his tenure in AAA Las Vegas was erratic and in some ways Alderson indicated he still was happy about how Syndegaard finished up. Still had a high strikeout rate and his stuff still was very good but injuries and other reasons caused him to be very erratic, kind of disappointing after all the buildup. Especially when he did pretty well in camp last spring..... Rafael Montero was recalled from AAA with Las Vegas winding down play however to make a couple of starts despite a fairly disappointing AAA season as well, especially with an inexplicable loss of command and control of his pitching repertoire which was once regarded his biggest strength.


Great comeback win tonight against the Rockies home at Citi. Jon Niese pitched very well just giving up one home run and eight hits in six and two thirds innings. Just gave up one walk and added seven strikeouts. Vic Black came in and gave up a homer in the eighth breaking a 1-1 tie but Mets made a great lightning comeback in their bottom of the ninth. Travis d'Arnaud continues to show great potential at the plate leading off with a double rolling down the left field line and was tripled home by Curtis Granderson who finally has become red hot again recently after a total August drought . Wilmer Flores lofted a fly ball to fairly shallow center but the Rockies' Center fielder uncorked a terrible throw home and Granderson scored easily for a thrilling 3-2 Mets win over the Rockies to open this 9 game homestand. Interesting fun fact all of the Mets hits tonight were doubles and triples...only six hits but our boys made em all count!

 

[sonny10305]

This morning Murphy woke up feeling great went for a run had breakfast and declared himself ready to return to the team. He will be in the lineup tonight back at 2nd base and batting second. Murph got home Sunday was the first to get off the plane, seriously the first one, and then Monday he did some serious running at Citi took BP and performed some moves on the field and felt no discomfort at all. Actually he has felt really good from day one at rehab and he knew the first day that he would be back after just the 15 days. There had been some speculation that it might take longer but then he started feeling better and better. I warned, no make that begged, not to overdo it and follow the trainer’s instructions which is what he did. But DWright is out again with that shoulder which needs to be examined again. Soup in to play third, Herrera on bench

Kevin Burkhardt's last Mets game on SNY is Sept. 25 he will skip the last couple of games of the Mets season. Kevin as I have written before he is leaving after being promoted by Fox to the #2 NFL play-by-play man. Obviously this is a big loss to the Mets broadcast staff, I will have more on Kevin in the next few weeks as we say goodbye with dinners and parties, if we up to me there would be a Kevin Burkhardt day at Citi. No official word yet on who will replace Kevin on Mets Hot Stove in November but I should have some news on that soon. Kevin will be moving to LA which Just gives me one more road trip to make over the winter, Good thing I have my miles Kevin, Ike and Daniel will all make trips to NY this winter so plenty of opportunities to see them.

 

[syam24]

Last nite was a bit of a disappointment after a pretty good string of games, including the sweep of the Rockies. Good pitching has been the hallmark during this run. Last nite, colon didn't have much, perhaps the long season is taking its toll on the 41 yr old. Need to try a and stop this Nats nonsense at Citi Field, and beat their ass. Let's go Mets!!

 

[sonny10305]

Just about every day there is an event surrounding the leaving of Kevin Burkhardt from SNY. As Mets baseball for 2014 comes to an end this year I won’t be teary eyed over the end of Mets baseball for the season but the end of the SNY career of my great friend Kevin Burkhardt. Kevin wrote about it today after he was presented with his Field reporters chair for him to keep.



I am so very blessed to have had the privilege of knowing him and calling him my friend
This is the letter he jut sent out top his friends and fans

 

[sonny10305]

So allow me to continue the Kevin Burkhardt tribute I started in yesterday’s post; there are no words to properly escribe the thrill of being at Citi Field last night for KBs last broadcast at the park. Kevin will travel with team for 6 more games but as I wrote a few weeks ago will broadcast his last game on Thursday from Washington and will not be with the team when they return home for the final three games of the season. In addition last night was the last time all the boys Gary, Keith, Ron and Kevin will be broadcasting together. I understand there were about twenty four thousand fans in attendance last night many many of them came just to say goodbye and good luck to Kevin. Few spent much time paying attention to the game, it was a very crowded Shea Bridge full of fans saying bye to KB, I was sorry Ebb did not send a live camera out for you to see it all play out cause it was really special. We did have a still photo guy thou so you guys got to see the reaction to KB on the bridge. We also had a nice video tribute to Kevin on the scoreboard; with the song "Kind and Generous." playing which of course describes Kevin quite well. Then KB sat with the boys in the booth for a couple pf innings talking old times which he said was very touching So if you are thinking wasn’t it unusual for the fans to care more about a TV announcer than the actual action on the field ya gotta remember not to many fans care about the Mets now after another crappy year and they care more about Burkhardt last night than most of the players at this point. I still cannot wrap my head around the idea that KB will not be with the Mets next year it’s just to depressing to me I am not handling that well at all. But he will be on FOX all the rest of the year doing football witch is actually were it all began for Kev doing some of the calls on radio He will also be a part of some playoff baseball games and perhaps the WS as well. It was a very emotional day for Kevin he is a very humble kid and all that attention all those signs and out pour of love was very moving for him, He got a bit choked up talking about it later with his eyes weepy he just did not expect all that love and appreciation. But then that’s Kevin for ya.

Team is off today in Atlanta with Wheeler happy to be back home to see his family DWright traveled with the team Harvey styed here

 

[Sausy]

Sonny so many things in my head right now but right now first among them is how really glad I am for Kevin to see and get all the love and support...from the crew, from the club, from the fans. Not even the regular broadcaster for the Mets but so well regarded, so beloved and talented I bet he'll be a legend in broadcasting and will have a long legacy with some club before his career is done. His personality, character and professionalism is the key.. he also makes people so comfortable it's easy bringing out the best of them in interviews, he's such a gentleman and you know he really loves people and what he is doing. THat you've got to know him as a good friend is such a cool thing, so glad for ya.. but lol remembering how a few years back you were telling me about getting the nerve to talk to him at a Shea Stadium men's room break was so funny..lol what Kevin must have thought of you initially compared to how really great your friendship has developed over the years!

Thanks sonny for all the KB love, and thanks KB for making this time you've grown in your broadcasting career so well worth it and so enjoyable for Mets fans. The best to you at FOX, and who knows maybe 10 years from now we'll be seeing you regularly here back in the booth calling SNY games and returning as the local legend. Wherever your career takes you, it surely will be an "AMAZING" journey and you'll bring the same enjoyment and incredible talent and dedication, passion, and warmth to everyone you work for, work with and who will be watching your work.

More about the Mets later but I wanted to keep this post another show the love for KB one!

 

[sonny10305]

Saucy thanks so much for the KB love I appreciate it so very much and I am sure Kev will as well. That bathroom thing was where it all began, and just so no one gets the wrong idea it was all very innocent. I simply introduced myself told him how much I liked his work as I recall I walked up to him put out my hand and said “Kevin how the Hell are ya” and it went from there. But my recollection is that it happened in Brooklyn at a Cyclones game but it could have been Shea It was a while ago. Kev was dong the Cyclones play by play as he often did whenever the Mets had the day off and the Cyclone’s played SNY would carry the game live. We all knew he was going to be something special which as we all now is true.

I am super pumped over Wally Backman coming to join the Mets I am big fan going back to our day together in Brooklyn when he managed he Cyclones in 2010.i was not officially working for the team back then but Wally was friendly and welcoming to me whenever I came around he knew of my friendships with he plyers an embraced it. There is also the possibility that he may join the team in a more permanent role next year on Collins’ staff. His passion for the game is infectious if you know or have ever worked with him can’t help but be affected by him. He is a teacher who always gets to knows his players and he communicates well with all of them I saw that first hand many times and a lotta guys will tell you he’s fun to play for. Already spoke with a couple of the guys and they are looking forward to his being here, Nieuwenhuis said Wally will be a great help to him and Terry and he could not be happier about it. That was the sort of response I received from just about everyone. Yup the Mets need Wally on the staff next year

 

[Sausy]

You're very welcome, sonny... I was jus teasing about the first meeting between you and KB, even when you mentioned it first you said it was innocent but kinda funny in an awkward way, you weren't sure if KB might have thought you were a stalker at first but quickly you both developed a friendship from that moment. I wasn't sure where specifically it was but you mentioned it was during a game, maybe it was a Cyclones game he was calling instead of Shea. Anyway the most important thing is that it lead to a nice friendship and that even though KB will be far away most of the time that friendship will still remain strong, as do the other friendships you have with guys no longer on the Mets like Nick Evans, Ike Davis, Justin Turner(who had a nice article written about him recently here about how vital he's been to the success of the LA Dodgers this year.. of all the Mets let go JT was the worst decision of all by the Mets front office).

Very glad for Wally being called up to coach the remainder of the season and very likely being added to Terry Collin's coaching staff. Like you mentioned the guys know him and love him and he can really motivate and teach. The nice thing is that as I read in an ESPN New York article TC actually is very good friends with Wally and values his knowledge and talents tremendously. Unlike those who think TC would be against Wally because so may fans believe he should be the next Mets manager there is no jealousy or rivalry in TC'S mind at all about adding Wally..in fact it would be his call to do so, if anyone's. I really hope he does add Wally to his staff, it can only help with the Mets development on the field and we know he'll be a great motivator to work along with TC. I LOVE this move too!