HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!

Today, Michael James Jacobs turns 30 years old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHY!!!!!

Today, Joshua Michael Thole turns 24 years old!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHY JOSH JOSH!

It Was A Pretty Cool Season

The World Series starts tomorrow night but my personal baseball season ended a little while ago.  Despite losing seasons by both the Mets and Indians, this season was a lot of fun.

I saw the brief return of one of my favorite players in Mike Jacobs.  The Mets played and won a 20-inning game which ended with Mikey P. getting a save.  I saw Josh Thole and Bobby Parnell play significant roles on the Mets showing they can be a big part of the team's future.  Mike Nickeas became a major leaguer.

I saw Josh Thole's second career home run in person.  I got autographs from Chris Carter, Pedro Feliciano, Hisanori Takahashi, Pat Misch, and Manny Acosta.  I saw Dustin Pedroia at dinner when I was in Boston.  I went to an absolutely amazing minor league game featuring Mike Nickeas.  I fell in love with MiLB.

I saw the Indians play twice in one weekend.  I saw Lou Marson get multiple hits.  I saw Trevor Crowe make an unreal catch.

Sure, a few more wins would have made the entire season more enjoyable, but there is not much more that could've made this season better.  A Joe Smith appearance definitely would've helped.


The greatest part of the season was probably yesterday.  After all of my games were over, my season was not.  In a season where anything seemed able to happen, anything did.

Let's Go Mets!
Let's Go Indians!
Let's Go Baseball!

THE AWESOMENESS

As for what Mike Nickeas actually sent me, I have pictures.

Have I mentioned how cool this is?

THIS IS AWESOME

By now you all know about Mike Nickeas.  What you may not know is that in September I sent him a letter telling him that I'm a big fan.  Yup, I sent him fan-mail.  It's now towards the end of October and I was starting to think I wouldn't get a response.

Well, my wait ended today.  I found an envelope addressed to me and I wasn't really expecting anything in the mail.  I start to think this might be the picture I sent him to sign, but it's in a bigger envelope so I'm wondering what else is there.

I open it.

Mike Nickeas signed his batting practice cap and sent it to me.  I'm not kidding.  It says, "Ellie - Thanks for being an AWESOME fan!"  Awesome is actually underlined twice.  And his autograph is on the hat, too.

He also autographed and sent back the picture.

I really cannot stop smiling right now.  This is so cool.  Thank you, Mike.

LET'S GO METS!

I'm Jealous

The Texas Rangers are going to the World Series.  I am rooting for them.  I am happy for them.  I really like a lot of their players.  But it's an empty feeling.  Yes, I have liked those players for a while.  But, I haven't been a Rangers fan.  My heart hasn't been with them for any significant period of time.

I want to see the Mets or Indians reach the World Series.  I want to be able to enjoy the celebration when I know I was with the team through everything.  I really want my team to be there.

There is nothing wrong with rooting for a different team in the playoffs.  If your team didn't make it, then go ahead, root for somebody else.  If you can do that and still feel satisfied when that team wins, that's great.  I just can't.  Seeing the Rangers win just made me miss the Mets and Indians even more.  I've watched those teams.  Both of them happen to suck right now which just makes me feel closer to them.  When they finally make it, the celebration will be so much better because I'll have been there when it was so easy to leave.

Congrats to the Texas Rangers and their fans.  Enjoy the celebration.  I can't wait for mine.

Mike Jacobs Was On The Mets This Year

I was just randomly thinking that Mike Jacobs was on the Mets this year.  He was the first player I ever really liked, simply because we wore the same number and played the same position.  He was the first player that ever left me upset after a trade.  And he was the first of my departed Mets favorites to return.  Now he's a minor-leaguer for the Blue Jays.

I don't really know what will happen with him.  I'm always going to root for him even though I know he'll probably never be a great, or even good, player.  He's probably going to toil in the minors for a while and maybe get a brief call-up.  He can hit the ball a long way . . . if he makes contact.  I'm not sure of his contract situation for the offseason but I see him staying in the Toronto system anyway.

I guess I'll be happy if he stays in anybody's system.  He'll continue to crush minor league pitching and just never quite figure it out in the big leagues.  Mike will always be my first favorite so of course I'll always be rooting for him.

Let's Go Mets!

The Inner-workings Of My Brain

Well, not really.

It's October.  It's playoff baseball.  The Mets were out of the playoffs by mid-July.  So, you have all probably been furiously refreshing this page looking for any clues to which teams I'm rooting for in the playoffs.  Never fear!  I will tell you!

The first step is rooting against the Phillies and Yankees.  That's the easy part.  I was rooting for the Redss and Twins.  Easy, but the Reds and Twins both lost.  As for the Giants-Braves and Rangers-Rays I didn't really have a preference in the NL and the Rangers had the edge over the Rays in the AL.


So, the second round of the playoffs were about to begin and I had to root for somebody.  This was easy.  The Giants over the Phillies and the Rangers over the Yankees.

You see, making the choice may have been simple, but rooting against certain teams was not the only factor that went into my decision.  After all, I'd be rooting for the Rangers against any AL team except the Indians.  With Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Cliff Lee, and C.J. Wilson they already have my rooting interest.  The Giants have Buster Posey and Brian Wilson, making for one heck of a closing battery.  I do have real reasons to root.

At this moment, the Phillies are winning and the Yankees already won.  It could be a dreary day in playoff-land if this game doesn't turn around.

Let's Go Rangers!
Let's Go Giants!

I Wonder If They Still Play

This is from over a year ago but I still find it highly amusing.

Mike Pelfrey and Alex Cora were at the Nintendo World Store and briefly talked about video games.  Well, Pelf did.

It's good to know my brother isn't the only one to play the 'Nazi Zombies' on COD.

Let's Go Mets!

P.S.
Smitty would totally be in that group if he was still a Met.  He loves playing video games.

What I Haven't Done

The offseason has begun.  The Mets aren't playing.  That means there have been some changes to my schedule and daily life.  

Since the end of the regular season, I haven't:

• Watched SNY on a weekday at 7 pm or on the weekend at 1 pm.
• Checked an Indians box score to see if Joe Smith pitched.
• Angrily changed the channel to MLB Network not wanting to see the highlights of a loss.
• Been afraid I will jinx Lou Marson by watching GameDay while he's at bat, even though I know he won't get a hit anyway.
• Checked to see if any sites have cool pictures of Mike Nickeas batting.  Because there can be so many from the five games he appeared in.
• Watched all the highlights of the suckish teams on MLB At-bat before I go to bed.

It's been a boring couple of weeks.  Hockey season has started but I don't know it as well as I know baseball.  So much is missing from my everyday routine.

Let's Go Mets!

That's It

The Mets lost today.  It was their last game of 2010.  A loss was fitting.

I watched the entire game.  All 14 innings.  I was not going to give my life to something for seven months and then miss the ending.  At the beginning of the season I wanted the Mets to have a winning record.  There were virtually no expectations coming into the season.  Their start wasn't great, but they played well through June and gave us hope.  Then it all came crashing down.  Jose Reyes came back only to get injured again in San Juan.  Johan Santana didn't survive a full season, yet again.  Jason Bay didn't perform like he has and was lost to a concussion.  And there was too much riding on the return of Carlos Beltran.

David Wright couldn't carry the team all year.  Ike Davis provided a spark, but the rookie could only provide for so long.  Josh Thole hit all year, but still only has a little bit of power.  Angel Pagan had a better season than could be imagined.  Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese showed they can be winners.  Bobby Parnell grew into the future closer.  R.A. Dickey was perhaps the MVP.

It wasn't all disappointing for me.  The best thing to ever happen to me as a baseball fan happened on September 1.  Mike Nickeas was called up.  Mike Nickeas made his Major League debut and got his first and second MLB hits.  My favorite player and the one I'll probably miss the most during the off-season.

2011 will be here.  When it comes it will feel like we have only been waiting a day.  While we are waiting it will feel like longer than ever.  The Mets will be different but they will still be the Mets.  I will still give them seven months of the year.  I will fall in love and they will break my heart.  I will enjoy every minute of it.

Until next season,
Let's Go Mets!

Why Do Mets Fans Like Him So Much?

Xavier Nady became a favorite of mine in 2006.  His half season with the Mets felt like it was so much longer.  However, I was 12 years old and any time spent watching my favorite player was awesome.  I was also heartbroken when he was traded.  I didn't really have a reason to like Xavier, but I did and I still follow his career now.  What I find surprising is that other Mets fans have continued to follow him as well.

Every offseason since Xavier has left somebody has asked for the Mets to go after him.  It's completely unsolicited and I love it.  Mets fans have seemed to look for reasons to defend Xavier Nady.  If the Mets are looking for an outfielder somebody mentions Xavier.  If the Mets need a back-up for 1st base somebody mentions Xavier.  Whenever Xavier's teams play against the Mets Gary Cohen identifies him as a "fan favorite."  The few Mets that are left from 2006 remember playing with him.  For absolutely no reason at all he left a great impression on the Mets and their fans.  He may never be back with the Mets but he will always be a Met.

Xavier will be a free agent this year.  His season with the Cubs got off to a rough start but the recent chance to play everyday has shown he's still a good player.  He probably won't fit on the 2011 Mets but wherever he goes, I'll be rooting for him.

Let's Go Xavier!