The First One's the Sweetest

For the longest time, I've wanted to air my frustrations and adulations of my favorite sports teams from Long Island, NY. With the help of my friend, I've created this blog to blow off steam and help keep my blood pressure to a some-what normal level as I try to live with the ups and downs of being a fan whose teams have not won any championships in what seems like an eternity. Mets manager Willie Randolph continues to boggle the mind with his bullpen choices in close games. Last night starting pitcher John Maine had another win snatched away (he could easily have 18 wins) as reliever Guillermo Mota failed to hold a 3-1 eighth inning lead. Why is Randolph still bringing Mota in (5.79 era), in close games. Every Mets fan knows that if it's a close game, Mota, Aaron Sele and Scott Schoeneweis should never be close to entering the game at that point. These guys are automatic, like kicking extra points after a touchdown, to give up runs. What I can't understand is Willie's BLATANT reasoning that he will keep marching these guys out there until "they fix themselves." Isn't it the managers job to try to win every game? What if they really suck and CAN'T be fixed? What's the point of expanding the 40-man roster in Sept., if you don't use the extra arms that are available? If I stuck my finger in the light socket 5 times and got shocked 5 times, I'd eventually stop sticking my finger IN THE SOCKET! I really feel bad for guys like Maine and Tom Glavine, who have lost numerous wins to blown saves/bad bullpen desicions. It has to be really disheartening to pitch a great game, sit in the dugout and watch Willie parade any of those 3 schmucks out there to try to hold your lead. Publicly you've got to say the right things, but I wonder what Maine, Glavine and any other starter must think TO THEMSELVES when Willie keeps sending them in.