Turnpike Series

Jose Reyes Linked to Doctor Being Investigated for PEDs | Unathletic

  

 

Not too hard to believe that the team that brought steroids to baseball would still have players using. Reyes is a punk and now it turns out is as guilty as Barry Bonds. Another knock for the worst franchise in baseball!

After Mets shortstop Jose Reyes injured his right leg last May, his season deteriorated into a series of physical setbacks. As the frustrations mounted about the injury — first diagnosed as calf tendinitis and then as a torn hamstring tendon — Reyes’s agent, Peter Greenberg, approached the Mets with a proposal.

Greenberg urged the Mets to agree to send Reyes to Toronto to receive platelet-rich plasma therapy — a procedure that does not violate baseball’s performance-enhancing drug policies — from Dr. Anthony Galea, according to several people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Galea, who has also treated prominent athletes like Tiger Woods, the sprinter Donovan Bailey and the swimmer Dara Torres, is under investigation by the authorities in the United States and Canada who are seeking to determine if he distributed performance-enhancing drugs. Galea has acknowledged providing human growth hormone to clients over 40, and says he uses it, but he has denied providing professional athletes with banned substances.

Well I don’t know about you, but that’s more than enough information for me.  Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Jose Reyes used steroids.  Is it really that hard to believe?  I mean, ...

via www.unathleticmag.com

Kelly Ripa is a fraud!!

I just saw a story on Philly.com so infuriating it warranted a post.  So apparently this morning on Live with Regis and Kelly, a wager was placed on the World Series.  Regis, a well known die hard Yankees fan agreed to babysit Kelly's kids if the Phillies won the World Series.  The story went on to proclaim that Kelly was a life long Phillies fan who claimed that everyone else in her household was cheering for the Yankees.  I can't believe she would have the nerve to get on television and claimed loyalty to the Phillies!  For the past few years, all she could talk about was the Mets and how she was a Mets fan.  Many mornings she discussed how she had been at the Mets game the night before.  As a legitimate die hard Phillies fan, I have this to say.  Kelly Ripa the Phillies don't want your fake, bandwagon jumping loyalty.  Go cheer for another team!

Phillies Mets First Pitch: Mets vs. Phillies 9/13/09 Game 1 Lineup and Game Chat

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets face off twice today in a day night double header. John Maine takes the hill for the Mets as he returns from shoulder issues. The Phillies counter with Kyle Kendrick who spent most of the season at triple A trying to return to the form he had in 2007.

Game Time: 1:05pm

Television Broadcast: My Phl 17

Lineups are below. Game chat is in the comments section.

Game 1 Lineups 9/13/2009:

Mets:

1. Pagan CF
2. Hernandez 2B
3. Wright 3B
4. Murphy 1B
5. Francoeur RF
6. Sullivan LF
7. Thole C
8. Valdez SS
9. Maine P

Phillies:

1. Rollins SS
2. Victorino CF
3. Utley 2B
4. Howard 1B
5. Ibanez LF
6. Francisco RF
7. Feliz 3B
8. Bako C
9. Kendrick

Phillies Mets First Pitch: Mets vs. Phillies 9/12/09 Lineup and Game Chat

After winning the opener, the Philadelphia Phillies look to make it two in a row against the New York Mets. The Phillies gained a game in the division standings but the Mets want to change their fortunes.

Game Time: 4:05pm

Television Broadcast: Fox

Lineups are below. Game chat is in the comments section.

Lineups:

Mets:

1. Castillo 2B
2. Tatis LF
3. Wright 3B
4. Beltran CF
5. Francoeur RF
6. Santos C
7. Murphy 1B
8. Valdez SS
9. Pelfrey P

Phillies:

1. Rollins SS
2. Victorino CF
3. Utley 2B
4. Howard 1B
5. Ibanez LF
6. Werth RF
7. Feliz 3B
8. Ruiz C
9. Moyer P

Turnpike Series First Pitch: Mets vs. Phillies 9/11/09

The New York Mets (62-78) are at Citizens Bank Park to face the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies (79-59) in a National League East show down. It has been the tale of two seasons. The Mets acquired K-Rod who declared his new team "the team to beat". I guess he is not the prophet that Jimmy Rollins was.

The Mets have fallen on hard times and the only way now to salvage any part of their season is to play the role of spoiler against the hated Phillies. With a five game lead in the division and the Marlins gaining ground, a Mets sweep or even a series win could put the Phillies in a position to blow a big September lead. Something the Mets know about all too well.

The Phillies have had a strong season as defending World Champions. After a little bit of a slide in June, they have controlled the division. But September has been shaky as their starters have been inconsistent, their set up men injured, and Brad Lidge losing his confidence and perhaps his job as closer.

This weekend series could be a key to how the National League East is resolved. Don't miss a pitch!

Lineups 9/11/09:

Mets:

1. Pagan CF
2. Castillo 2B
3. Wright 3B
4. Francoeur RF
5. Tatis 1B
6. Evans LF
7. Santos C
8. Valdez SS
9. Figueroa P

Phillies:

1. Rollins SS
2. Victorino CF
3. Utley 2B
4. Howard 1B
5. Ibanez LF
6. Werth RF
7. Feliz 3B
8. Ruiz C
9. Hamels P

Be sure to check out Phightin' Phils Phorum and Mr Mets Daily for more on this series!

Phillies vs. Mets 6/11/2009: Lineups and Game Chat

When the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets play you can expect a great game. This series has been no exception as both games have been decided by one run including last night's extra inning affair. The rubber game is tonight and Jamie Moyer will toe the rubber for the Phillies while the Mets counter with Tim Redding. Look for another tight game!

Lineups are below. Game chat is in the comments section! For full coverage of the series check out Phightin' Phils Phorum and Mr Mets Daily.

Lineups 6/11/09:

Phillies:

1. Rollins SS
2. Victorino CF
3. Utley 2B
4. Howard 1B
5. Ibanez LF
6. Werth RF
7. Feliz 3B
8. Coste C
9. Moyer P

Mets:

1. Castillo 2B
2. Cora SS
3. Beltran CF
4. Sheffield LF
5. Wright 3B
6. Tatis 1B
7. Martinez RF
8. Santos C
9. Redding P

Phillies vs. Mets 6/9/2009: Lineups and Game Chat

The Turnpike Series is on and MyTeamRivals.com has full coverage! Johan Santana takes the hill for the Mets tonight while the Philadelphia Phillies counter with rookie J.A. Happ. Lineups are below. Game chat is in the comments section. For full coverage of the series check out Phightin' Phils Phorum and Mr Mets Daily.

Lineups 6/9/09:

Phillies:

1. Victorino CF
2. Utley 2B
3. Werth RF
4. Howard 1B
5. Ibanez LF
6. Rollins SS
7. Feliz 3B
8. Ruiz C
9. Happ P

Mets:

1. Castillo 2B
2. Cora SS
3. Beltran CF
4. Sheffield LF
5. Wright 3B
6. Tatis 1B
7. Church RF
8. Santos C
9. Santana P

Show Down In Flushing, Phillies vs. Mets For Three

The Turnpike Series resumes tonight as the Philadelphia Phillies face off with the New York Mets at Citi Field. The Phillies come into the series with a three game lead in the division so they only need one win remain two games ahead in the standings. The Mets come in with an injury plagued roster but they have managed to hold their own in the division race.

Both team's will have their aces on the mound as Johan Santana is slated to pitch the opener for New York and Cole Hamels is penciled in a the game two starter. Look for a heated series again where the lead will change and the momentum will shift throughout the series.

The key to this series will be pitching. While Santana and Hamels will be expected to be solid, the performances of J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, Mike Pelfrey, and Tim Redding will be critical for their team's success. A big key for Philadelphia will be the bat of Jimmy Rollins. J-Roll has had a tough time of it so far in 2009 and needs a big series like this to launch his season. Will this be the catalyst for Rollins? On the Mets side, their key will be the set up role. With J.J. Putz on the disabled list, they hope that their supporting cast of Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano can safely protect a lead and get the ball to K-Rod in the ninth.

Expect a fun action packed series and be sure to check out MyTeamRivals.com's sites covering the series including Phightin' Phils Phorum,  Mr Mets Daily, and The Curse of Billy Penn.

The Anatomy of a Loser: The New York Mets

Good teams have good leadership. In baseball more than most sports, good leadership is essential to winning championships. 162 games is a long grind and team chemistry and an unwavering belief in yourself and your teammates is needed to win a division championship. Much of this leadership needs to be fostered by the manager.

The New York Mets just do not have that type of leadership and have once again watched the Philadelphia Phillies pass them by in the standings. True it is early in the season and I am sure we will see the standings in the National League East change hands at least a few more times, but what happened in last nights game shows what ails the Mets worse then their lack of bench, true corner outfielders, depth in pitching, or in their minor league system. They have a lack of leadership.

Ryan Church made a giant base running gaffe. It was ugly, but hey it happens. It is what happened after that shows why the Mets are in trouble. Jerry Manuel turned his back on Church giving him the cold shoulder. He then said, “A guy missed third base. That’s unbelievable! I can’t explain why, how or anything. But he actually missed the base. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone miss third base like that.” What kind of leadership is that? What happened to dealing with a situation head on then moving on? What happened to keeping it behind closed doors and dealing with it as a team? When a manager ignores a player for poor play, it condones holding a grudge, a lack of trust, and a situation that can fester.

Players will also follow the lead of their manager. This was evident in Carlos Beltran's quote after the game. “I never seen anything like that. I don’t know what happened. I didn’t ask Church what happened. It’s bad.” I didn't ask Church what happened? Beltran is supposed to be a leader on this team! Leaders hold teammates accountable. They don't ignore them or give them the cold shoulder. They question and make it known that on their team this type of play is unacceptable.

What does this type of leadership (or lack there of) foster? Tight play with contention in the clubhouse. Is there a question of why the Mets makes so many boneheaded mistakes? No. They are afraid to make an error lest their manager get angry with them and they get shunned in the clubhouse.

The New York Mets have a lot of talent, but with leadership like this, they are destined to come up short in the big game. Need another example, just look at 2007 and 2008!

Mets chase "Father Time" in third!!!

Phillies starter Jamie Moyer----originally recruited sometime in the late 1800's, was slapped around rudely by the Mets tonight at Citi Field. 

The ancient one gave up homeruns to Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Jose Reyes. The Mets tagged the senior citizen for seven runs in three innings.

Jamie has had a great career but perhaps it is time to consider shuffle board....