CLIFF LEE IS THROWING A NO HITTER!!! RIGHT NOW!

I'm not one for superstition... but just in case, I am going to scream the fact that CLIFF LEE IS THROWING A NO HITTER over and over again.

I will be happy to be the man who jinxed THIS one!!!

Texas Two-Step (Part I): Coop & Ed's Tex-cellent Adventure

Last year, the cast and crew of Studious Metsimus embarked on a world tour. No, we didn't tour with Weezer (although that would be super-sweet). Instead, we toured the country following the Mets to different ballparks. We attended games at Camden Yards (Baltimore), Nationals Park (Washington), AT&T Park (San Francisco) and PNC Park (Pittsburgh), cheering for the Mets every step of the way. (We also ventured to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, but that city doesn't need to be linked out to here.)

This year, we decided to pack our bags and take a trip to Texas. Who's "we"? Why, it's yours truly, along with correspondent Taryn (Coop) Cooper, culinary expert/investigative reporter Joey Beartran and his sister, Iggy. (Joey and Iggy's report will be featured in a separate piece.)

We followed the Mets to Texas, where we were told everything is bigger. Apparently, that statement was spot on, as our smiles and Mets' pride were never bigger than they were in Arlington.

Photo by Sharon Chapman, who joined us in Texas with her family. Thanks, Sharon!

Scheduling (and this thing called a "day job") prevented us from attending the finale of the three-game series between the Mets and the Rangers, but we were able to go to the first two games. We can skip over the first game, which was another off-day for Mike Pelfrey and the bullpen. Then again, the final result (an 8-1 loss by the Mets) was nothing new for Big Pelf, as his road woes are no longer a secret.

So let's move on to the middle game of the series. After the first loss, the Mets had sunk to two games under .500 for the millionth time this season. But Jonathon Niese was on the mound for the Mets against the Rangers. Unlike Pelfrey, Niese has had more success on the road (10-7) than at home (8-11) and it showed. Then again, even Victor Zambrano could have won the game with the fireworks supplied by the Mets' bats.

Who needs the long ball? Chicks dig singles as well.

The Mets pounded out 17 hits, with nary a home run in sight, en route to a 14-5 thrashing of the Rangers. The 14 runs represented a season-high for the Mets, who desperately needed a game in which the bullpen was either not used or used in a less stressful environment.

Unfortunately, with Jonathon Niese succumbing to the heat, it was up to Bobby Parnell and DJ Carrasco to finish the game. Jason Isringhausen was not called upon because he was too busy playing with his big red ball and Manny Acosta was on bathroom security duty (see photos below).



While we are the game in our Mets gear, we were actually heckled by four Rangers fans. That's right, not everyone in Texas is polite. The first three fans apparently got together before the game because all they could come up with was "BOOOOO" as we walked by.

The fourth fan was a little more original with his insult, as he showed his extensive knowledge of pronouns with his "BOO YOU" epithet. Then again, perhaps he wasn't being derisive to us at all and was just stating the college he was attending. (BOO U, anyone?)

We did have to give credit to one Rangers fan who actually was quite creative in expressing his love for his team, dressing as a masked Lucha Libre fighter called "El Rangerdoro". He posed for some photos with us, where he showed off his signature "chokehold while wearing batting gloves" move and his ability to point at the camera. (For those of you who still thinking wrestling is real, I regret to inform you that the pointing was indeed choreographed.)



Although we couldn't attend the final game of the series, we did go out to the ballpark that morning to take some exterior shots of the ballpark and its surroundings. We didn't run into any players entering the stadium, but we did run into long-time Mets' PR dude, Jay Horwitz. (I assure you he's in one of the photos below.)





To recap our trip to Texas...

It was hot. No, seriously. Just look at that wet stain on my Mets T-shirt in the collage of photos above. That didn't come from the guy who attended BOO U.

Jon Niese did wonderfully in his start, despite sweating through his uniform (perhaps nervous that El Rangerdoro was waiting for him outside the visitors' clubhouse).

Manny Acosta might have a new job in sanitation soon if he continues to give up runs at an alarming rate.

Arlington has a really great ballpark. No joke needed there. It's just a really sweet park.

From the tributes to Nolan Ryan (including the large statue in center field of the Ryan Express doffing his cap) to the frequent fireworks (not all of them came from the Mets' bats), our ballpark experience was one to remember. It was indeed (dare I say it) a Tex-cellent adventure!

The face Cleveland has been waiting for all of these years

No, not first base umpire Jim Reynolds.

I am talking about Lonnie Chisenhall.

That is the name of the man who will lead Cleveland to the promised land.
The title that has been eluding Cleveland since 1964.

There have been many false prophets. Many Cleveland sports figures who looked like they were going to deliver a championship parade up Superior Avenue but failed.

Herb Score, Gaylord Perry and his brother Jim, Sam McDowell, Len Barker, Joe Carter, Julio Franco and that Sports Illustrated cover in 1987 promised unfulfilled greatness for the Indians.

And the great Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Charles Nagy, Carlos Baerga, Jim Thome, Omar Vizquel and Kenny Lofton teams got as close as you could get. And the C. C. Sabathia, Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko team teased.

Mike Phipps, Jerry Sherk, Thom Darden, Brian Sipe, Ozzie Newsome, Webster Slaughter, Clay Matthews, Bernie Kosar and Eric Metcalf all came close with the Browns, but they were no Chisenhall.

And forget Cavs like Campy Russell, Craig Ehlo, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance, Hot Rod Williams and that fellow named LeBron.

Push all those names to the side. Cleveland is Chisenhall-ville now! Lonnie drove in a run and got a pair of hits in his first game last night against a good Arizona team. The Indians won in the 9th inning and kept pace with the Tigers.

And all the while Cleveland is doing a unique strategy to keep contending in 2011. Instead of trading away young players to make a run, they are bringing up the young players to have a run this year and beyond.

The season is about 1/2 way through and the Indians are competing now and maybe for the next few years.

Jump on the Lonnie Chisenhall bandwagon NOW!
He could be the star you have been waiting for.

Either way, the NBA Prediction of My Message for Cleveland Fans might have been wrong, but the sentiment is correct. This Indians team is worth watching.

Let the Lonnie Chisenhall era begin! (Kind of rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?)

Adam Wade joins the Sully Baseball Show

Adam Wade, a wonderful comic and storyteller originally from New Hampshire, joins the Sully Baseball Show tonight.

A fellow Red Sox fan, he makes an analogy for his love of Adrian Gonzalez that I must say caught me off guard.

Listen below.

Listen to internet radio with Seamheads on Blog Talk Radio

Dodgers file for Bankruptcy... nice job

I can't claim to be a financial wiz, but I have a feeling if I ran the Dodgers they might be profitable. I mean it isn't like the Dodgers are an obscure team... a team in a run down stadium... a team in a small market... a team whose fan base is indifferent to baseball... a team with no history... a team overwhelmed by the local NFL team.

They are the f*cking DODGERS!

How can you go BANKRUPT running the Dodgers?

Frank McCourt found a way.
The fire sale should begin soon.

Soon the Dodgers will be in worse financial shape than the characters in the OTHER Frank McCourt's book, Angela's Ashes.

(Yeah that was a stretch, but how often can you connect two Frank McCourts?)

THE SULLY BASEBALL ALL STAR BALLOT FOR 2011

Well it is time for me to reveal my All Star ballot for the three of you who care. And as always, I have two ballots:

The roster that I think should be the actual All Star Team based on their 2011 performances.
And the roster that I think would be the worst possible All Star Team using players who for whatever reason are on the ballot.

Let's vote.

Actual All Star Team

American League

First Base
ADRIAN GONZALEZ, Red Sox

Second Base
ROBINSON CANO, Yankees

Shortstop
ELVIS ANDRUS, Rangers

Third Base
ALEX RODRIGUEZ, Yankees

Catcher
ALEX AVILA, Tigers

Designated Hitter
DAVID ORTIZ, Red Sox

Outfield
CURTIS GRANDERSON, Yankees
JOSE BAUTISTA, Blue Jays
ADAM JONES, Orioles


National League

First Base
PRINCE FIELDER, Brewers

Second Base
RICKIE WEEKS, Brewers

Shortstop
JOSE REYES, Mets

Third Base
PLACIDO POLANCO, Phillies

Catcher
BRIAN McCANN, Braves

Outfield
MATT KEMP, Dodgers
RYAN BRAUN, Brewers
JAY BRUCE, Reds

You can't accuse me of being Red Sox partisan. I have three Yankees starting! And roll up the barrels! I have three starting Brewers!

OK, let's take a look at the Anti All Star team!

The Worst Possible All Star Team

American League

First Base
DAN JOHNSON, Rays

Second Base
WILL RHYMES, Tigers

Shortstop
REID BRIGNAC, Rays

Third Base
CHONE FIGGINS, Mariners

Catcher
JEFF MATHIS, Angels

Designated Hitter
JACK CUST, Mariners

Outfield
MILTON BRADLEY, Mariners
TRAVIS SNIDER, Blue Jays
FRANKLIN GUTIERREZ, Mariners

National League

First Base
BRANDON BELT, Giants

Second Base
BRAD EMAUS, Mets

Shortstop
RAFAEL FURCAL, Dodgers

Third Base
IAN STEWART, Rockies

Catcher
J. R. TOWLES, Astros

Outfield
RICK ANKIEL, Nationals
CHRIS COGHLAN, Marlins
JASON BAY, Mets

The fact that there are so many Mariners on the Worst Possible American League All Star Team and yet are only a few games out of first place is the best possible argument for Eric Wedges' Manager of the Year campaign!

So there you have it. My ballot.
Take it for what it is worth.

If not Miami then Seattle... that makes sense

So the Marlins had to abandon their own stadium for the weekend because U2 needed time to set up their concert.

Actually that's not a true. The Marlins stadium isn't ready until next year. So they are just borrowing the Dolphins' stadium as they have every year since 1993.

(I can't keep track of what it is called. Is it Joe Robbie? Pro Player? Landshark? Sun Life? Chico Bail Bonds Park?)

I admit the economics make sense. U2 is going to draw a hell of a lot more people than the Mariners/Marlins game, so Bono, the Edge and company need the time to set up. (I really hope they aren't doing any of that Spider-Man stuff.)

But does the location shift make sense?
Sure they can't play in Miami, but did they HAVE to go 3,287 miles to find another venue?

After all, they are the FLORIDA Marlins!
Couldn't they play a weekend in a smaller Florida city?

The Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando is available.

There is no game in Bradenton, Clearwater, Jupiter, Fort Myers or Dunedin today.
The Jacksonville Suns are out of town this weekend.

Perhaps there could be a novelty of a Major League game being played in a smaller town. Maybe instead of a 2/3 empty Safeco Field in Seattle hosting an impromptu game where the Mariners wear their road grays, maybe have a smaller Florida town become a big league city for a day.

Wouldn't that make more sense?
Of course it would... that's why it isn't happening.