A Storm's 'A-Brewing

To the left are our aces for this series, hard at work during spring training. After a disappointing rain-shortened series against the Phillies, where Aarons Rowand and Heilman stole wins from our grasp, the Mets square off against the Milwaukee Brewers in a series that is sneakily important. This series could put the Mets and Phillies perilously close in the NL East standings if the Mets can't get hot again. It is also worth noting that the Mets will face the Cardinals and Yankees in the two ensuing series. This makes this seemingly meaningless Wisconsin three-gamer 2003 Mo Vaughn-huge in terms of momentum. For the sake of the blue-'n-orange, this series will hopefully be something of an easy one. Here's why it won't.

Starters:
Game 1: Friday, 8:05 (EDT)
Jose Lima, RHP (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Dave Bush, RHP (2-4, 4.13 ERA)

Edge/Analysis: What did this guy do to earn another start? Wait... you can't be serious about John Maine, Victor Zambrano and Brian Bannister being injured? Holy cow. Well, ladies and gents, it's (reluctantly) that time again. It's Lima time! Dave Bush is an average pitcher in too many ways, though when he's on, he can be tough to hit. The Mets need to get to him early and often before he gets in a groove. But, wait, we're starting a batting practice pitcher. Something of a little hope, though? This batting practice pitcher has a career record of 10-0 against the Brew Crew in his career. How many of those wins came in the last 3 years? Just what you thought. 0. The Bush Man.

Game 2: Saturday, 7:05 (EDT)
Jeremi Gonzalez, RHP (0-0, -.-- ERA) vs. Dana Eveland, LHP (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Edge/Analysis: How dare you spell Jeremi with a y? It's unbearable! It's an I! And furthermore, sign me for spring training. J-Gon will make his first showing of the year for the Mets, which will allow me to plug a previous post. That being said, he will face another man making his season debut in Dana Eveland, a husky lefty replacing the injured Ben Sheets. I call this a push.

Game 3: Sunday, 2:05 (EDT)
Pedro Martinez, RHP (5-0, 2.89 ERA) vs. Doug Davis, LHP (2-2, 5.32 ERA)

Edge/Analysis: Step right up, bring your kids, and watch as the Mets look for more ways to deprive Pedro Martinez of his sixth win. I'm expecting a freak accident, rather than a Wagner blown save or an offensive slump for the first seven innings. I think maybe the ghost of Lyle Overbay from that series with the Brewers in early 2004 is more likely. You remember that game, the Sunday one? Overbay had murdered the Mets all series, but then on Sunday KazMat hit a heroic triple or ground-rule double to save the team. No? Well then, this game won't have anything to do with that. The Mets destroyed Doug Davis last year and his season hasn't exactly been phenomenal to this point. Pedro.

MIL Breakdown: Record- 17-18
This team is okay. They've been inconsistent and are streaky without a doubt. As of now, they're a squad buoyed by young production from Bill Hall, Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy. However, they would be nowhere without the 15 HR and 30 RBI of Carlos Lee. His production is the difference between a record of nearly .500 and a markedly worse one. This Brewers squad is not a pushover by any means. The only everyday players on the team below a .275 BA are J.J, Hardy and Brady Clark, two players with suberb defensive capabilities. And Clark, to his credit, has still managed a .331 OBP. The Mets saw this group earlier this year, in a series where viewers were treated to Glavine's brilliance, Trachsel's underwhelmingness (along with Jorge Julio pre-success) and Bannister's magic acts. This time around, the Brewers are long separated from their torrid start and are proving to be a team with a moderately good outlook for the ensuing years. Their pitching has been about average, considering their injury-prone ace Ben Sheets has done what he does best: get hurt. Chris Capuano, the left-hander with dirty changeups and pickoff moves, has been strong. Innings-eater Tomo Ohka has done exactly that and Dave Bush has held his own. While Doug Davis has been disappointing, his performance is offset by a dominant bullpen, spearheaded by closer Derrick Turnbow (11 SV, 1.38 ERA) and reclamation project Dan Kolb (2-0, 0.93 ERA). Change-up artist Matt Wise (2-2, 3.65 ERA) completes a tough triumverate in the endgame.

Players to Watch for:
MIL: Carlos Lee. El Caballo, a notoriously streaky hitter, has gotten off to a good and surprisingly consistent start. Watch for him to hit some balls really, really far.

NYM: Jose Reyes. No SB in the last 11 games. Killing my fantasy team? Yes. Hurting the Mets? Yes. Let's go, Jose.

Player of the Series: Carlos Lee

Picks: The Beermakers take two of three in this one, with the Mets salvaging the final start of the series on a strong show from Pedro. Pero no, they get swept.

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While I failed to write a series preview...

this team hanged itself.

Pedro was lethal except when he wasn't.
Ex-Nady was hustle half the time, lazy the other half.
Carlos Delgado, how I love you.
Aaron Heilman, why is it you who has taken over the miniBenitez role? Not even Armandogeddon threw one like that away.
Kaz Matsui staved off the boo-birds with that double over the weekend, but, please, is it too much to ask for a little clutch?
Julio Franco, I love you too.
I hate Brett Myers' curveball and his ability to throw those pitches.

But after all, we have to look at this season and say,

"What about you, beauty? Aren't you going to grow up to be so pretty?"

Yes. Yes, she will.

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A Massachusetts Sized Matchup Or Something

And it's here. They've already started playing over in the Bronx, knotted up at nothing in the first.

So the everraging debate is whether or not Joe made the right choice throwing Melky into this bloodbath in his first game up. If Beckett beans him and gets inside his head, he'll be ineffective. And we need every bat we can get. Personally, I like Bubba in RF. But hey, that's why I'm not managing. Go get em Melky. Make a name for yourself.
Damon struck out.

Game 1:
Randy Johnson vs. Josh Beckett:
Edge: Beckett. As overrated as Beckett is, no one as seen the real Randy Johnson of late. His 5-2 start is not a barometer of how he's been pitching. Their ERA's are nearly identical, but it's clear who's the better pitcher. In any case, wherever Randy is, we need him now more than ever. If he steps up his A-game here that would go a long way to a little more acceptance than this easy truce he seems to have established with the fans. Look for Beckett to go deep into the night. 7 or 8, giving up 2 or 3. Randy can perform, but it most likely won't be pretty.

Game 2:
Mike Mussina vs. Curt Schilling
Edge: Moose. As I have previously said, Mussina is the best pitcher in the AL except for Santana. And no, it's not Contreras, sorry. Curt Schilling is a very good pitcher, but when Moose is on top his game, he is actually impossible to hit. The Red Sox will be shut down, and whatever we can muster against Schill will be enough.

J-Giam just went YARD!!! 2 run shot. God! I love him. And they say he isn't clutch. BITE ME!

Game 3:
Shawn Chacon vs. Tim Wakefield
Chacon. Shawn Chacon is very good. Ha. Stupid Wakefield wth his stupid 2-4 record. He's not as bad as that suggests, but he hasn't been Timmy of late. He's been good against the Yanks in recent years, but just in case you need one more person to tell you, Shawn Chacon is very good. Wakefield will try to stymie this lineup, but we've seen that goofy pitch one too many time. Shawn will hold strong and solid, although as usual, not spectacular.

Randy's making quick of em through 2. No-no in the making?
Oh, and how's Pedro doing in Philly? How you say... no so good. 3 ER in 2+. Gotta love those underachieving Phils.

Boston Breakdown: Record: 18-12: 2nd, (yes that's right, 2nd) AL East
Yes, they're a pretty good team with some rock solid pitching. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Their right fielder is Wily Mo Pena. Just thought you'd like to be reminded. Don't forget the incomparable Dustan Mohr in center and the inflappaple Kevin Youkilis at 1st. Granted, the Sox are better than they look on paper, they've gelled. But ultimately, they're not dangerous. If they beat us tonight, and they might, don't get up at arms. As intimidating as Schill and Beck are, they're not as good as Randy(I'm still holding out for the real thing) and Moose when they're clicking on all cylinders. Manny has, unfortunately, not been bein Manny. The only thing that seems a constant is that David Ortiz is on steroids. (the views of Dyslexia do not represent the views of Crosstown Rivals, or its host, blogspot.com) I picked them to win the card, but they've still got a rookie (devilish maybe, but still a rookie) at closer and in October, he will be a non-factor. The Red Sox are not a worry. Trust me on this one. Let's just sit back, enjoy an entertaining series, and remember that they have Alex Gonzalez at short. See if that doesn't make that you laugh, maybe breathe a little easier.

No-no gone.

Players to Watch For:
Mike Mussina- He will be masterful. And this start will finally put him on the map. Look out, Schilling fans, your boy is about to get outclassed in a battle of cy contenders.
Jason Varitek- Why does it seem like every time I look over at a Sox-Yanks game Varitek's blasting a 400 footer. Why? Look for him to be big against Randy and Chacon. 5-6 hits, 4 RBI

2nd and 3rd 2 gone for big papi. Strike 2 foul. 1-2. Ball, 2-2. And the pitch.... A ROD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! GOD DAMN IT!!! Wow! Bench him! That's the just the confidence booster Randy needs, you goddamn idiot! WOW!

A-Rod: Maybe I'm biased by recent events, but he'll dissappear in the series we need him most. Won't you Gay-Rod?

Player of the Series: Jason Varitek. He'll be good enough to win 1 game on his own. However..
Picks: That'll be all the Sox get. Look for Moose and one of either Unit or Chacon to hold their ground.

No predictions, you people know what I think. I'm tired of gamecast, I'm gonna go see the real thing.


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