Before I begin
Writing for 8 people to read a blog is very disheartening, especially since two days earlier I had over 100 people visit (thanks to Mark Simon’s article on ESPN.com). What that tells me is the people who did visit, didn’t think to much of this and didn’t come back. To go from 104, 48 to 8 is absolutely humiliating and makes me feel like I’m wasting my time. Hopefully people will come back, but for those few of you who do read this, please let me know what you like or don’t like about this blog. To lose 96 viewers in 2 days is almost impossible, even for a moron like me. For those who do read, I appreciate you very much.
Mets win streak now at eight
Now that I got my whining and crying out of the way, the Mets won their 8th straight last night with a glorious 4-0 win over the Yankees. Hisanori Takahashi was outstanding throwing 6 scoreless innings and Pedro Feliciano followed with 2 scoreless innings of his own. Angel Pagan had a huge 2-run single in the 8th to give the Mets some breathing room. K-Rod survived a scare in the 9th to retire Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher with the bases loaded.
Ike Davis' 2-out single and David Wright's terrific slide, gave the Mets an early 1-0 lead.
With his second straight outing of 6 innings and no runs allowed, Hisanori Takahashi joined 3 other pitchers since 1920 to allow zero runs to the Yankees in their first 2 starts vs them while throwing at least 6 innings in each start.
1st 2 Career Starts vs NYY, 6+ IP, 0 R – Since 1920
Hisanori Takahashi NYM 2010
Sidney Ponson BAL 1998
Scott Sanderson OAK 1990
Ray Culp BOS 1968
Takahashi joined rare company with his 2nd outing of 6 innings of shutout baseball vs the Yankees.
The Mets win last night was only the second shutout by a visiting team at the new Yankee Stadium. The first one was also by a National League team, exactly one year earlier: Craig Stammen and four Washington relievers blanked the Yankees, 3-0, on June 18, 2009. (SOURCE: ELIAS SPORTS BUREAU/ESPN)
The Mets record now stands at 39-28 which is tied for the 2nd best record in the NL with the Padres. Considering where this team was just a month ago, this is remarkable. After a 2-1 loss to the Yankees on May 21st the Mets were 3 games under .500 at 20-23 and 7 games out of first place. Since then they are 19-5 and have moved to within a half-game of first place. If the Braves weren’t playing as well as they have been, the Mets would easily be in first right now.
Mets since May 22th
W-L 19-5 (best in majors)
BA .287
Runs PG 5.1
Starters W-L 17-2
ERA 3.32
WHIP 1.30
Sv-Sv Op. 11-12
The Mets have now won 8 straight games overall and 7 straight games on the road. This is the 4th time the Mets have had as many as two win streaks of 8 games or longer in a single season. The Mets 7 game road win streak is their longest since winning 9 straight in 2006.
Mets seasons with at least two separate win streaks of 8 or more games
1969 3 streaks (11, 10 and 9 game streaks)
2010 2 streaks (two 8 game streaks – one current)
1986 2 streaks (11 games and 8 games)
1985 2 streaks (both 9 games)
Longest road win streaks, team history
2006 9 games June 7-23
2001 8 games August 18-September 8
1988 8 games May 16-June 6
2010 7 games June 11-Current>>
>>Mets have won 7 straight road games 5 other times in their history
Jose Reyes recent play is a big reason the Mets have their longest road win streak since 2006.
Mets win streak vs Yankees
The Mets have now won 3 straight games vs the Yankees. Since interleague play began in 1997, the Mets have never won 4 straight games vs them. This is their 4th time winning 3 straight games vs them. The other times occurred in 1999, 2004 and 2008.
Big Pelf looks to win 10th game
This afternoon Mike Pelfrey will look to extend the Mets win streak to 9 games and his record to 10-1. Pelfrey will look to become the first Mets pitcher since Al Leiter in 2000 to start a season 10-1. Only Terry Leach started a season better than both Pelfrey and Leiter when he started 10-0 in 1987. Leiter and Leach are the only pitchers to start a season 10-1 or better for the Mets.
Al Leiter is one of two Mets pitchers to start the season 10-1 or better.
Top 10 New York Mets regular season moments – to see moments 8-10 visit Hopeisthebestofthings from June 16-18.
7. Mlicki shutouts the Yankees – In their first ever regular season meeting, the Mets traveled to the Bronx on June 16, 1997. Dave Mlicki wasn’t much of a Mets pitcher. Despite possessing tremendous stuff, Mlicki finished his career 24-30 with a 4.15 ERA with the Mets. However, this one night in the Bronx he was great. Mlicki (who entered the game with a 2-5 record) allowed 9 hits and 2 BB, but pitched out of trouble all night. When the final out was recorded via a Derek Jeter strikeout (Mlicki had 8 that night), Mets fans everywhere got to celebrate a win over the Yankees…and not JUST a win, but a shutout! No matter where he is or what he does with the rest of his life (Mlicki retired after the 2002 season with a career record of 66-80) he will always be remembered for that single moment in Mets history.
Todd Hundley congratulates Dave Mlicki after his 9-hit shutout of the Yankees.
Help Fund for Cancer Survivors
I might as well use this blog to educate people that cancer survivors out there need your help. Many of us (myself included) have suffered awful side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation. As a result of my treatment, I now suffer from Hemochromotosis, Crohn’s Disease and Lymphedema. I had to retire in April 2008 after being diagnosed with Hemochromotosis. Disability payments are not NEARLY enough to live on and many of us in situations like mine need help. PLEASE help me by donating to a fund to start a foundation for cancer survivors. If you want more information or are looking for something like this and want to become involved, check out our facebook page or email me.
The Intro - Hope is the best of things 