Early Jump

Forgot to tell ya...

My 5th Grade Travel Team had game #1 this past Saturday, opening up with a win, something we didn't get until February 4 last season. We played pretty well with exceptional defense (100% zone). Beat a neighboring town by the score of 27-10. Game #2 is tonight with Game #3 on Friday. Let's see where we are then.

Juicer?

When the reigning NL MVP gets outed as failing a test for PEDs, no matter that a second test failed to confirm the first, it doesn't bode well for a certain Mr. Braun.

Machine = Angel

Whoa. AL West is stacking!!!

Desolation Boulevard

Reyes. Gone. No closer. Starting pitching is in disarray. Bullpen beyond help. An outfield of chaos. Catching? Who needs catching?

Welcome to the 2012 NY Mets.

I keep looking at the blogs, the papers, anywhere for a plan. No plan. Instead we get Sandy Alderson (Mr. Moneyball) telling us the team "lost" $70MM, from gate revenue. Well, Sandy-Boy, here's a clue. Nobody comes when the team FREAKIN' SUCKS!!!

Ponderous. I know David Wright says all the right things, but he's gotta want to get out of here, deep in his heart.

It's Tuesday, 5:30PM EST. Bet the next signing is Endy Chavez. Like that does anything.

My time as a Mets fan is wearing thin. Can't do it much longer.

Adios

One of the great strategies in baseball is to be "strong up the middle"; that means catcher, SS, 2B and CF.

Word is that Jose Reyes has signed with the Florida Miami Marlins for 2012 and beyond. You can read it here on Matt Cerrone's blog. Seems like the NY Mets never really tried. Kind of sad, Jose was a guy you loved to watch and play. He was a homegrown talent, now leaving for South Beach. No doubt he'll be hangin' with LeBron.

So where does that need the hapless (and hopeless) ones. AKA The Mets?

If you look at the middle right now - Thole and somebody else in a platoon behind the dish, Tejada at SS, Murphy or Turner or somebody at 2B and Pagan in CF. Inspiring.

And just wait, we might get to do this all over again with David Wright!

Awesome job.

Playoffs

Forgot to blab...fantasy playoffs began today. Top 6 teams make it with top 2 in each division getting a bye.

SoulSlam (also the name of my juggernaut team) is one of the few, playing a certain KISS fan today, who also runs league, as well as his mouth.

So about 1/3 way through the 4th qtr of the 4PM games, I am up by 20 points. I need the GB Packers to score a TD so my receivers on the Giants can get a couple of chances at more yardage and the endzone.

It's go big or go home time.

LIT UP

Spent yesterday hanging the outside Christmas lights...some new designs and the like. In the middle of all that we had an eval for our 6-7-8 grade boys league (in-town). Wow. I never realized how bad some kids were. We had about 45 boys show (10 no-shows) and I can count on two hands, with a finger or two left over, how many boys can actually play. Kind of depressing actually.

But that is the state of youth sports...you have the kids who excel, the kids who hang on, and the kids who just lag behind. Blame video games? Blame parents who don't encourage kids to get out and exercise and compete? Blame society? I wonder...

Anyway, teams got picked; mine is as strong as anybody else with OSSS and a couple of my baseball players on roster. Everybody has about 2-3 decent players, so I guess it's how the other boys grow and develop that will make the difference.