Skip to search.

Trending Now:

  1. Bryce Harper
  2. Ted Lilly
  3. LA Dodgers
  4. Rays
  5. Oakland A's

Mets Blogs

Big League Stew on the Mets

  • Giancarlo Stanton busts Marlins Park scoreboard with tape-measure grand slam (VIDEO)

    Earlier this month, we expressed concern for the poor souls who found themselves on the receiving end of a blast by Giancarlo Stanton. But on Monday night, the young Miami Marlins slugger proved that neither man nor machine are safe from the consequences of his prodigious tape-measure homers.

    Watch as Stanton sends Marlins Park up for grabs as he turns a 72 mph pitch from Colorado's Jamie Moyer into a fourth-inning grand slam and a busted left-field scoreboard during Miami's 7-4 victory:

    The good news is that the Marlins may have paid just as much attention to making sure that scoreboard was Stanton-proof as they did ensuring the aquariums behind home plate were shatterproof. The scoreboard somehow repaired itself and was functional just a few minutes later.

    Stanton's grand slam traveled an estimated 438 feet and, as was noted more than a few times, came off a pitcher who started his career in 1986, three years before the 22-year-old Stanton was even born.

    But despite being nearly 50 years old and having 25 major-league seasons to his name, Moyer really hasn't been victimized for that many grand slams. He didn't give up his first grand slam until 1997 (to Craig Paquette) and hadn't surrendered one since 2004 (to Abraham Nunez).

    Stanton, meanwhile, already has four career grand slams under his belt. His last one came on Sunday, May 13 and was of the walk-off variety, sealing an 8-4 win over the New York Mets.

    Want more baseball fun all season long?
    Follow @bigleaguestew, @KevinKaduk and the BLS Facebook page!

  • The Juice: Andy Pettitte dominates in first win since 2010, Papelbon closes door on Red Sox

    The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday (and now on Saturdays) for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.

    Andy is dandy: Andy Pettitte felt he was a little too "uptight" while taking the loss in his return start last Sunday afternoon. On Friday night, the 39-year-old left-hander looked nothing of the sort, allowing the Cincinnati Reds only four hits and striking out nine over eight scoreless innings in the Yankees 4-0 victory.

    It was the first time Pettitte had tossed eight scoreless innings since July 8, 2008, and the victory attached to this marvelous outing was his first since July 8, 2010. Love that symmetry.

    ''I felt like I could do this, and now it's just like I feel like the mind's getting back there,'' a beaming Pettitte said after his 241st win. ''I'm just hoping and praying the body holds up.''

    I'm sure Yankees fans are doing the same, all the while wondering what might have been had Pettitte returned in 2011.

    Just another save: Or at least that's how Jonathan Papelbon played it off after his scoreless ninth preserved a 6-4 victory for Cole Hamels and Phillies over his former employer, the Boston Red Sox.

    His real motivation? Simple.

    'I want to go out there and try to preserve all the wins I can for my starters,'' Papelbon said. ''I think for me I take a little extra pride in that. That's basically kind of what it boiled down to for me.''

    Papelbon earned saves 219 over his six seasons in Boston. His twelve this season lead the National League.

    Niese cries uncle: Well, actually, Mets skipper Terry Collins waved the white flag for Jonathan Niese after the left-hander surrendered four of the Blue Jays five home runs en route to New York's ugly 14-5 loss.

    J.P. Arencibia did the bulk of the damage against Niese, connecting on a three-run blast in the first and a solo shot in the third. He later added a two-run single to give him a career-high six RBIs. Rajai Davis also hit a pair of homers, while Brazilian outfielder Yan Gomes rounded out Toronto's barrage with the first round-tripper of his career.

    Kid K's grand finale: We knew Kerry Wood knew how to make an entrance after striking out 20 Houston Astros in only his fifth major league start back on May 6, 1998. Fourteen years later, Wood answered the call one last time and showed us he could make an equally thrilling exit, striking out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches to record the 1,582nd and final strikeout of his career.

    Viciedo was the only batter Wood faced in the Cubs 3-2 loss to the crosstown rival White Sox. After getting his man, Wood walked slowly off the mound to a rousing standing ovation and was soon greeted by his son Justin, whom he promptly hoisted in the air for an emotional embrace at the top step of the Cubs dugout.

    * * *

    Quote of the Day: ''Carlos has been there for me. I heard all the stories, but what is past is past. I met him in spring training and all I know is a good teammate and a good guy.'' — Marlins closer Heath Bell after picking up the save for Carlos Zambrano in Miami's 3-2 win over the Indians. Prior to Friday's save, Bell had blown his first two opportunities in relief of Big Z.

    * * *

    Photo of the Day: Headlocks are the new helmet slaps.

    Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon grabs a headlock on teammate A.J. Ellis after Ellis' ninth inning bases loaded walk clinched a 6-5 win over the Cardinals. It almost makes you wonder how Gordon handles losses. Perhaps he breaks out the slightly more uncomfortable abdominal stretch or even the crossface chicken wing under those circumstances.

    * * *

    Three Facts for the Water Cooler:

    • The Orioles improved to 6-2 in extra inning games with a 2-1 victory over the Nationals. All six of those wins have come on the road.

    • With their 7-2 win over the Padres, the Los Angeles Angels improved their interleague record to 63-28 since 2007. That's tops in baseball. Meanwhile, the Padres still hold the second worst overall interleague record at 103-137.

    • The Texas Rangers became the first team in major league history to open their schedule with 14 different opponents in their first 14 series. Or maybe we should call them victims, as the Rangers cruised past Houston, 4-1.

    * * *

    Looking for more baseball chatter?
    Follow @bigleaguestew, @Townie813 and check out the BLS Facebook Page

More Big League Stew »

Amazin' Avenue Amazin' Avenue

from
More Amazin' Avenue »

Mets Fans on

  • Mets Fans on Flickr
  • Mets Fans on Flickr
  • Mets Fans on Flickr
Go to Mets Flickr Group »

MLB Video Spotlight

More MLB Videos »