I'm Not Like Everybody Else

I won’t take all that they hand me down,
And make out a smile, though I wear a frown,
And I won’t take it all lying down,
’cause once I get started I go to town.
’cause I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.

King Pedro isn't like everybody else. We know that, and we love him for it. We know he's got a temper and we know he's got the fastball to back it up. We know what he can do. At this point, every start is an adventure, none more so than his outing last night. While it did not demonstrate the near perfection of his starts against the Astros and Dodgers last year, the strikeout proficiency of his outing on Opening Day against the Reds, or the comeback kid shutting down the Yankees for seven in Flushing. Or, dare I mention it, that thoroughly odd no-hit bid in Arizona where he had the great fastball, but no command whatsoever. But he's not like everybody else.

And I don’t want to ball about like everybody else,
And I don’t want to live my life like everybody else,
And I won’t say that I feel fine like everybody else,
’cause I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.

This start showed Pedro living dangerously, living inside, nailing Jose Guillen, great nemesis, twice. He made Ryan Zimmerman, highly touted prospect, look lost at the plate. He whipped a single off of Ramon "Small Papi" Ortiz with the bases chucked. And then he did his trademark Pedro salute to Victor Diaz in the dugout. And, while he gave up a homer to Nick Johnson in the next inning after a benches-clearing brawl, Pedro was still Pedro. Same menacing glare, same wicked stuff. Should we worry? Maybe. But the toe looked fine, and the king of inaccuracy, Joe Morgan even nailed this one. "Pedro just doesn't have that second phase on his fastball." But, get rid of that pitch to Nick Johnson and you have a start better than Opening Day 2005 runs-wise. Sure, those eight men that reached base without hits (5 BB, 3 HBP) are not exactly signs of pristine control. But he's not like everybody else.

If you all want me to settle down,
Slow up and stop all my running ’round,
Do everything like you want me to,
There’s one thing that I will say to you,
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.
And I don’t want to ball about like everybody else,
And I don’t want to live my life like everybody else,
And I won’t say that I feel fine like everybody else,
’cause I’m not like everybody else,
I’m not like everybody else.

I don't think it's time to sound the alarm on the talented righty just yet. There's still so much to love about him: his energy, his enigma. He'll be dominant. Just you wait. I have so much faith in this guy, as he has proved everyone wrong every time he takes to the hill. The Dodgers thought he could never be a starter. The Expos couldn't afford his services and dealt him for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas. The Red Sox thought he would never hold up and that a 38 year-old Curt Schilling was a better bet than the 33 year-old Martinez. But Omar believed in the hard-throwing Dominican enough to give him four years and a boatload of cash. He showed up last year. And now he'll show up this year. He'll be Pedro. He's not like everybody else.

Brian, King of Railings

The mini-Bannister takes his place on the hill for the first time in his career tonight. He will start what happens to be the second game of the New York Mets season and also the first of his career. Only one player has ever done that while wearing the orange and blue. He was a right-hander from Fresno, California who did some nice things for the Mets. His name was Tom Seaver. Did I forget anything? Yeah, he won that World Series in 1969, and sure, he received the highest balloting percentage ever in the history of the HOF. So Bannister has some pretty big shoes to fill. Sure, you can tell me he's a photographer and what not, but first and foremost he's a pitcher. A good pitcher.
Our good pitcher.

edit: nice show he put on. i thought he mighta been able to do it. no problem.

savoring the sweet smell of 2006

Well, ladies and gentlemen. It is apparent that this ball is about to get rolling and I haven't even thought enough about the Mets, our opening day lineup, bullpen, the whole shebang. I wonder, did anyone remember that last year's opener had favorite whipping boy Kaz Matsui go yard in his first AB of the season for the second straight season? Did anyone remember that disappointment Carlos Beltran went two-run jackalicious on Paul Wilson to tie it? And did anyone remember the collective groan we all uttered when Pedro allowed a mammoth shot against Adam Dunn?
Hell, I know you remember Pedro's twelve strikeouts in a mere six innings. And I know you know we had a lead and Looper blew it. If you share my degree of fanaticism you undoubtedly know that he allowed homers to both Adam Dunn and Joe Randa before even getting an out. Randa's was the walkoff. And, if you're a smart one, you probably know that Manny Aybar and Dae-Sung Koo both had holds in that game. And, you're a good reader, you'd know that of the nine pitchers who pitched in that game, seven of them would have donned a Mets uniform (the four Mets pitchers, Paul Wilson, David Weathers and Danny Graves) by the end of the season. But one thing I forgot in all the cursing out of Loopy was that it was opening day. The start of something new. A brand new season with brand new wins, brand new folk heroes, and, unfortunately, brand new unforseen problems. But as long as the Mets go out there, they'll be playing. I'll be watching/listening.

My prediction: Their first division title since 1988. Andruw and Larry will have none of it, I know. But I will. And my sweet sweet heart will succumb to nothing but bitter hatred and vindication against the two musclebound Bravos.

2006.

dare i say it?

The team. The time. The Mets.

I'll talk to you after the game, and Dyslexia and I will get into the swing of our season. Hope you'll join us.