Mets unveil 2013 All-Star logo, then lose to Miami

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

On Tuesday afternoon, the Mets showed to the world the logo of the first All-Star Game to be played in Queens since 1964. As you can see, there is a “Mets” version of the logo with the team script in front of the New York skyline. There’s also a version with the “Mets” script absent.

The “Mets” version is now prominently on display below the Citi Field scoreboard.

I think it looks really cool. The skyline at the top of the logo is a definite Mets distinction, even without the “Mets” script. It looks like the “All-Star Game” text is inspired by New York’s road uniforms, which is fine. Most importantly, the logo is entirely blue and orange, with respect to the toning down of the black era of team uniform history. I wouldn’t change the logo a bit.

Continue reading →

Posted in Major League Baseball, New York Mets | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Penn State changes uniforms to include player names

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

Rumors had been circling in the past week, but today changes to Penn State’s 2012 uniforms were finally announced. In addition to a blue ribbon that represents support for child abuse victims, player names will be added to Penn State jerseys this season for the first time in school history.

“We want our fans to know and recognize these young men,” O’Brien said. “They have stuck together during tough times, and I commend them for the leadership they have shown. Moving forward, I’m deeply committed to honoring Penn State’s traditions, while building a bright future for our football program.”

The blue ribbon is a nice gesture, but I don’t really see the purpose of putting names on the jerseys after they’ve been blank for so long. Is this something O’Brien and company would have done even if the Sandusky scandal never happened? Or is it an attempt to distance the school from Paterno? One also has to wonder if the names will eventually be removed from the jerseys again or if this is just step one of a complete overhaul of the PSU uniforms.

Also, where exactly is the ribbon going to be located on the jersey? Above the nameplate like on an NBA uniform or on the shoulder like with a bowl badge? Maybe the ribbon will end up on the helmet. Hopefully we’ll find out soon so that the stores of downtown State College can start selling these puppies.

Right now, all we know for sure is that we’ll be able to more easily tell Paul Jones from Stephen Obeng-Agyapong this fall.

Posted in Big Ten Football, Penn State, Penn State Football | Tagged | Leave a comment

Penn State Football opens practice

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

On Monday morning, Penn State held its first of 29 football practices in advance of the September 1 season opener. While speaking with reporters, head coach Bill O’Brien said he was so jacked up for the start of practice that he couldn’t sleep on Sunday night. Even better, he arrived at practice at 4:45 a.m., which was somehow 15 minutes later than most of his staff got there.

Here’s some more from O’Brien’s little meeting with the media:

  • A reporter asked O’Brien how many players he has on scholarship right now. O’Brien says he doesn’t know
  • True freshman won’t actually start practicing until tomorrow. Today was an “acclimation period” for them.
  • With Silas Redd gone, there will be opportunities for tailbacks Bill Belton, Derek Day, Zach Zwinak and Curtis Dukes
  • O’Brien and his staff decided to make Belton a tailback because of his good feet, hands and instincts.
  • O’Brien is confident that the football team will continue to have a positive impact on the State College community and its children. “We know why we’re here,” he said.
  • O’Brien feels very good about team camaraderie
  • Just because Redd left doesn’t mean the whole offense is out the window. “We’re not retooling everything because one player left.
  • Bill Belton is the top back right now. He would have seen playing time even if Redd has stayed.

As far as the actual practice went, it was pretty ugly for the passing game. Bob Flounders of PennLive.com reports that Matt McGloin and Paul Jones combined to throw four interceptions within the first 10 minutes of practice. Two of the picks were made by projected reserve safety Stephen Obeng-Agyapong, and projected starters Malcolm Willis (safety) and Adrian Amos (probably cornerback) had one pick each.

Projected starting safety Jacob Fagnano and projected starting tackle Donovan Smith both sat out with hamstring issues, but O’Brien said the injuries were minor.

Penn State will practice once a day on Tuesday and Wednesday before media day on Thursday, so look for more reports in the future. Follow me on Twitter @apy5000

Posted in Big Ten Football, Penn State, Penn State Football | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Douglas, Hill, Thomas and big news at Giants training camp

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

David Douglas making noise at wide receiver position

With Hakeem Nicks and Victory Cruz being the only two significant contributors returning from last season, the wide receiver position is considered pretty wide open. Rueben Randle was just drafted in the second round out of LSU, so you have to figure he makes the team, but after that there are a lot of question marks.

Jerrel Jernigan was a third round pick out of Troy in 2011, but despite a career year from Eli Manning and an early season injury to Domenik Hixon, he failed to record even a single catch last season. He also struggled when asked to return punts, so it’s hard to see where Jernigan fits in right now if he doesn’t improve as a receiver.

Meanwhile, Hixon somehow still has a shot to make the team despite ACL tears in back-to-back seasons. It’s very admirable the way Hixon continues to come back and fight for a roster spot, but you have to wonder if at some point he gets beaten out by a younger, healthier option.

One of those options might be undrafted rookie David Douglas, who has raised some eyebrows in camp so far.

This might have been the crown jewel, but the undrafted free agent wide receiver from Arizona has been making plays ever since the Giants invited him to rookie camp. He has made enough in fact that on Wednesday Giants coach Tom Coughlin went out of his way to offer Douglas some unsolicited praise, saying “David Douglas has had a heck of a preseason.”

Douglas caught 66 passes for 666 yards at the University of Arizona last season. That doesn’t make him out to be much of a deep threat, but with Nicks and Cruz (and possibly Randle) the Giants aren’t really in need of another one. If Douglas can continue to outshine Jernigan, Hixon and the perpetually disappointing Ramses Barden, he might just have a shot of breaking camp with the Giants.

Continue reading →

Posted in National Football League, New York Giants, NFC East | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Padres unload on Harvey, defeat Mets 7-3

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

You had to figure that rookie Matt Harvey would eventually have a rough major league start. The surprising part is that the first lousy start of Harvey’s big league career came in the pitcher’s haven of Petco Park.

Harvey’s outing got ugly right away as Chase Headley drove a lazy change-up up and over the right field wall. With Everth Cabrera already on base with a double, Headley’s blast gave the Padres a 2-0 first inning lead. Harvey settled down to nicely pitch around Will Venable’s triple in the second, but he got into trouble once again in the third.

With the bases empty and two outs, Harvey issued his first walk of the afternoon to Headley. The next batter, Carlos Quentin, ripped a double up the right-center field gap that scored Headley all the way from first. Yonder Alonso came up next and smashed a Harvey fastball over the center field wall for a home run to give San Diego a 5-0 lead.

“He has a power fastball. … We knew he was going to throw it,” Alonso said. “We knew he was a guy that liked his fastball and he was going to be around the plate. We were hopeful that he was going to leave them up and [we could] put good swings on them.”

After the game, Harvey said he was having issues with locating his pitches.

“When I tried to go away, it was either six inches away or six inches middle,” Harvey said. “It was one of those days where I couldn’t find the strike zone. And when I did, it was not quality. I wasn’t executing the way I had the last two starts. It’s just one of those days.”

Harvey ended up getting through two more innings without allowing another run. He ended his day with four doubles and two home runs allowed in five innings pitched. However, Harvey’s five strikeouts and just one walk allowed are a nice little silver lining to hang onto.

Continue reading →

Posted in Major League Baseball, New York Mets | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mets vs. Padres lineups and stuff

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

The Mets face an old friend today in Jason Marquis. In his travels throughout the National League, Marquis has started 18 games (plus seven relief appearances) against the Mets and pitched 110 total innings. His 4.58 ERA and 1.51 WHIP against New York and pretty much in line with his career total versus everyone, so it’s not like Marquis has been particularly vexing (or not) for the Mets.

This season, Marquis made seven starts for the Twins and was horrible (8.47 ERA in 34 innings), but then he was released and picked up by the Padres at the end of May. With San Diego, Marquis has played with a passable 4.08 ERA in 68.1 innings. Most surprsing, though, is the 61 strikeouts logged by Marquis in those innings (and only 19 walks). Over a full season, that’s around 180 punch outs, a mark that Marquis hasn’t even come close to in his career.

While a pitcher finding success by moving to PetCo is not a new thing, Marquis’ increased strikeout numbers suggest that he may be at least a little bit for real. Plus, it’s not like Minnesota’s Target Field is a bandbox.

Hopefully Matt Harvey will get a bunch of groundballs in his third career MLB start, because Valdespin in center field makes me queasy. Even though Andres Torres was terrible last night, playing Bay over him against the righty isn’t likely much of an improvement.

San Diego manager Bud Black has moved Everth Cabrera up in the order, which could be a response to him reaching base four times in the past two games. He’s pretty much put up the same offensive profile as Logan Forsythe this season, anyway. Forsythe, by the way, is sitting again to make room for 23-year-old Alexi Amarista.

Remember to enjoy today’s game, everyone. Follow me @apy5000 and let’s hope Matt Harvey has an awesome day.

Posted in Major League Baseball, New York Mets | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Baxter walks into history, Mets down Padres 6-2

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

Last night in New York’s 6-2 win over the San Diego Padres, Mike Baxter became the first Mets player to walk five times in a nine-inning game. He’s the first major league player to walk five times in a nine-inning game since Ryan Howard did so in 2006.

“Sometimes you foul off some pitches. When you miss a fastball that you usually put in play, it extends the at-bat. And sometimes you get ahead in the count and you try to work it a little bit,” Baxter said after the Mets beat the Padres 6-2 Saturday night. “It was just kind of a strange night.”

Baxter is now batting .310/.425/.493 in 87 plate appearances this season. Also notable was Daniel Murphy going 4-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored. Jeremy Hefner struck out two batters and walked none in six innings while allowing just one run. Josh Edgin pitched a pair of scoreless innings and Frank Francisco earned the save after Bobby Parnell allowed a Chase Headley home run in the ninth inning.

Here’s the complete box score.

The Mets did most of their offensive work in the second inning, when they scored four runs against Edinson Volquez. Ike Davis led off with a single and Volquez then loaded the bases with walks to Murphy and Baxter. After Andres Torres struck out for the first of three times, Josh Thole was walked to break the scoreless tie. Volquez recovered by striking out Hefner, but then Tejada walked to drive in a second run. The ball was finally put into play again on Jordanny Valdespin’s two-RBI double that broke open the game.

For Padres fans, the game marked the MLB debut of reliever Cory Burns. In 65 innings with triple-A Tucsco this season, Burns has 77 strikeouts and 16 walks with a 0.94 WHIP, so as a Mets fan, I’m pretty jealous. Although Burns struggled with his control (three walks) he showed some nasty off-speed stuff and got through his 1.2 innings without allowing a run.

Today, the Mets and Padres play the rubber game of their three-game series. Matt Harvey will make his third career MLB start while Staten Island native Jason Marquis takes the hill for San Diego.

Posted in Major League Baseball, New York Mets | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thole gets railroaded, Mets lose to Padres 3-1

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

Ugh what happened last night? R.A. Dickey was rolling along and didn’t even allow a base hit until Yonder Alonso ripped off a single in the fifth inning. Dickey was able to keep Alonso from scoring, but in the next inning, the Padres tied the game at 1-1 without even recording a hit.

Dickey started the inning with a walk of Cabrera, who is hitting .231/.318/.325 for the season. After a sacrifice bunt by starting pitcher Clayton Richard, Cabrera swiped third base on a sneaky delayed steal. Lead-off hitter Chris Denorfia took advantage of the heist by driving in Cabrera with a sac fly.

The real drama hit in the seventh inning, though. With Carlos Quentin on first base and one out, Alonso lifted a fly ball to medium-deep right field that Scott Hairston somehow didn’t have enough time to get under. Hairston dove and missed, prompting Quentin to chug around third and try to score.

Continue reading →

Posted in Major League Baseball, New York Mets | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mets to wear sweet 1989 throwbacks tonight in San Diego

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

19…19…1989

Check it out! It’s Metro gone retro. The Padres are holding a throwback party, and as their costumes, the Mets are wearing road jerseys from the 1989 season.


Unfortunately, from 1988 through 1992, the Mets wore boring Yankees-style “New York” across their chests on the road. I don’t think anyone in San Diego would be upset if the Mets wore their cool script 1987 roadies instead.

Oh, well. Here’s what the Padres will be wearing:

I’m too young to remember those brown jerseys (humble brag?), so this should be fun. Also, here’s a view of the back of the shirts, courtesy of the Padres official Twitter feed.

Continue reading →

Posted in Major League Baseball, New York Mets | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mets win wild one in San Francisco, back at it tonight

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Aaron Yorke

Last night the Mets won a crazy game in which they fell behind the San Francisco Giants 4-2, came back to take a 6-4 lead in the eighth, blew that 6-4 lead in the ninth, and finally won 8-7 in the 10th inning.

Scott Hairston was instrumental in the victory. He was in the starting lineup because San Francisco’s starter was outstanding lefty Madison Bumgarner, but Hairston stayed in the game to hit two crucial home runs against right-handed relief pitchers.

In the top of the eighth, Hairston hit a two-run blast off of Sergio Romo to tie the game at 4-4. After Bobby Parnell and Josh Edgin allowed the Giants to tie the game in the ninth inning, Hairston struck again in the 10th with a lead-off homer off of Santiago Casilla.

It’s a good thing the Mets were able to score an eighth run on Rob Johnson’s safety squeeze, because Manny Acosta was very shaky in his half of the 10th. He allowed San Francisco to score on a Nate Schierholtz RBI single before getting Brandon Belt to fly out to deep center field for the third out.

Here’s the box from Monday night.

  • Jeremy Hefner actually looked pretty good, but was hurt by a lot of soft contact getting through.
  • The game probably would have been more relaxing if Jon Rauch had been allowed to stay on for the ninth after he got through the eighth with just seven pitches. Rauch is actually starting to grow on me because, despite his inability to miss many bats, he just doesn’t walk anybody at all.
  • Bumgarner looked almost unhittable early on, but he strangely unraveled in the fourth inning when, with two outs, he walked Jason Bay on four pitches. He then fell behind Ronny Cedeno before surrendering the two-RBI double that gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.
  • After Hairston tied the game in the eighth, Justin Turner hit a huge RBI double to give the Mets a 5-4 advantage. The newest Giant, Marco Scutaro, then misplayed Rob Johnson’s groundball to allow Turner to score from second.

Continue reading →

Posted in Major League Baseball, New York Mets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment