[EmpireWF]

20 Years since that amazing World Series, the Mets are in Fenway for a three game set against the Red Sox. The local pre-game in NYC, the talk is generally about 86 with Mookie, Darling and Hernandez.

This series is going to be as close to a playoff atmosphere as October. Today's match-up is of rookies with Soler and Lester.

[ThePundit]

The Red Sox honored the '86 team and Buckner refused to come.

[EmpireWF]

Soler did not look well at all last night giving up 8 earned runs in 4.1 innings. He didn't strike out a single batter. He seems as if he gets rattled sometimes and has trouble keeping his stuff in the zone.

I was a little worried watching Reyes "crash" into Varitek in the 5th inning. Manny throwing surprised me so I place no blame on Manny Acta (3rd base coach). Still, you gotta make an effort to knock Varitek over, which isn't what Reyes did. Thankfully, he seemed alright for the rest of the game.

Lester really showed some guts striking out Wright on a 3-2, 2 outs count with the bases loaded in the 5th with a great curve. He's got a lot of potential with that cool curve he has.

Tomorrow it's Pedro (who received a great ovation during the game) versus Beckett.

[ThePundit]

Reyes looked like he was goanna knock him over and then decided to slide at the last second. Result: Shoulder into Varitek's shinguard. he's lucky he didn't really get hurt And you're right about Acta, Empire. With 1 out and Delgado and Wright due up - there's no way he should have been sent.

[legend]

Being a Yankee fan, I thought maybe the Mets could help us out, but I now realize the Mets are the Mets. David Wright for MVP? Please. Bases loaded last night in a big spot against a kid who had no idea where the ball was going and he strikes out on a hanging curveball. Beltran gets picked off, Reyes gets thrown out at the plate on a ball Manny had before he had even reached third, and then I finally get to see Lastings Milledge play. Top prospect in baseball? Oh my God, he is a clown. Bobbles a ball off the wall, which is understandable first time in Fenway, but then has the guy at second and throws a five hopper to SHORTSTOP. Manny hits a routine fly ball 15 feet from the wall and he is running around under it like a chicken with his head cut off. It falls for a "double" and that's the game. At the plate, he is undisciplined and swings at anything he can reach as hard as he can.His average is now at .250 and falling fast. Looks to me to be another of the Mets great farm system guys, you know, like Paul Wilson, Bill Pulsipher, and Alex Ochoa. I will be flabbergasted if the Mets win one of these games in Boston. About a month ago I put on a post that I thought if the Red Sox played in the NL they would win 120 games. Of course that was stupid-they would win more like 135 or 140.

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by legend

Being a Yankee fan...

LOL, that's all that needed to be said

[MJHMarc]

Correct, EmpireWF.

Most of the Yankees fans out there have low expectations for the Mets. They still consider them the third or last-place team in their division, even if they are the team with the better record than them and in the whole National League. If the Mets win the World Series (which finally looks possible this year) it would be a shock for Yankee fans and create hatred against those Mets.

Truth be told, the Mets have acquired better players over the past five years than the Yankees.

[MLBNY]

Well the series is over and the Sox took all three. Over the past couple years we have realized that the AL is running the MLB. Though the Cardinals being still a NL powerhouse despite recent struggles got roughed up by the Tigers and White Sox (granted they're the two best teams in the league). And we all know how bad the All-Star game has been for NL in recent years with the exception of 2002 (the infamous tie). Anybody think the NL has a chance in the All-Star game or World Series?

[EmpireWF]

Wow, this series went exactly against all possible expectations. The Red Sox completely dominated the Mets in just about every portion of the game. Hopefully this doesn't kick a slump of any kind in. With the Yankees up this weekend, the Mets need to win that series to salvage this road trip.

[legend]

I thing this kid's name is Lasthing Milledge, because he would be the last thing I would want to see out in left field. Dropped another routine fly ball on Wednesday night, and went 0 for 3 Thursday, 0 for 9 for Boston. National League "MVP" David Wright went 1 for 11. Jose Reyes, who had three four hit games in his previous five before arriving in Beantown, went 1 for 13. At least Beltran had a pair of two hit games and Delgado homered twice. Pedro pitched like he had told the Red Sox what was coming. He didn't realize it, but now he has two "daddies", the Yankees AND the Red Sox. Note to Pedro- the Red Sox didn't want you! How about coming back with a little of that attitude that you used to bring out to the mound? Looks like he escaped to the Triple A National League just in time, because if he had remained in the AL, look out.

[Sports Fan]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

The Red Sox honored the '86 team and Buckner refused to come.

I don't blame him for not coming, they all blame that World Series loss on him. If I remember correctly that was only the 6th game so instead of blaming him they should have gone out there and won game 7.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

"Wow, this series went exactly against all possible expectations."

Well, not if you aked Red Sox fans.

Also, for the last time, NO ONE on the Red Sox, or any real Red Sox fans, blame Buckner for 1986. That's the media. Do you have any actual quotes of his teammates blaming him? Of course you don't, because such things have never been said. Buckner received a standing ovation in 1987 at Fenway. If you really want to understand why the Sox lost that series, perhaps you should read about it. And while you're at it, google the name Calvin Schiraldi - he's the guy who gets most of the blame in Boston.

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by CityofBrotherlyShove

If you really want to understand why the Sox lost that series, perhaps you should read about it. And while you're at it, google the name Calvin Schiraldi - he's the guy who gets most of the blame in Boston.

May be a bit OT but the blame for that fiasco should be on the shoulders of the Manager. Buckner should not have been in the game, he should've been out as a defensive replacement. The Manager left him in there presumeably so he would be on the field if they won.

Also, ask Mookie Wilson and he says even if Buckner fields the ball, he would've beaten him to the bag.

[MJHMarc]

Yesterday, I was speaking to a brilliant Mets' fan who told me his thoughts, along with his predictions. He believed that the Mets will demote Lastings Milledge (who is struggling in the majors) as soon as Cliff Floyd comes off the Disabled List. Cliff Floyd, as he predicts, will start hitting the ball over the outfield fence when he comes back. Floyd will return from his early-slump as the Mets qualify for the Playoffs.

I thought this was a wild prediction, but then I realized that he was being honest and truthful. The Mets actually do have a giant chance of making the Playoffs, even though I doubt that Cliff Floyd stuff. Floyd will have a decent season with low-homeruns and low-RBIs. I expect him to do well next year, even though I believe he will become a free-agent this off-season.

The Mets will probably decide to sign back Cliff Floyd, but probably for a less amount of money. He is a stunning outfielder with a great arm, and even a better bat. See him next year in Flushing!

I can hardly wait for tonight's game. I already put a timer on my Tivo for this game, so I can look back at it a few year's from now. The main match-up is David Wright against Alex Rodriguez. I would say they are the team leaders, even though one could debate that Jason Giambi and Carlos Delgado/Beltran are. It should be a close match-up since both teams are suffering from injuries and have troubles in their pitching-staff. However, the Mets have better prospects in their farm-system.

Sorry, about the rambling!

[EmpireWF]

Rambles are great Marc...

However, there's not a chance Cliff Floyd is offered a contract by the Mets. The general consensus is they will have a mutual break with Floyd leaving via free agency. You'll probably hear a lot of trade talk involing Cliff's name but Omar has said he won't trade him. Floyd is a great guy in the clubhouse.

Milledge is likely to be demoted back to Norfolk once Cliff comes off the DL.

Don't be surprised if Mike Pelfrey is up before the end of July...an early date. If all goes well, he could move into the rotation. Look for the Mets to make a serious push for Livan Hernandez...as long as the Nats price comes way down.