Worcester Tornadoes DH Jose Canseco

Friday night I went to my second Newark Bears game of the season. It was a much closer contest than the opening night game – this time, the Bears won 6-4, but Worcester sent the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning. It was also a quick game, finishing up in just 2 hours, 28 minutes.

Jose Canseco went 0-for-4 on the evening with two strikeouts, and he did not reach base at all during the game. He came close to getting his first hit of the season in his final at-bat of the game. Against lefty reliever Matt Fitton, Canseco drove a ball out to right field that Eric McGee caught about ten feet shy of the warning track. I have the feeling that if Canseco can get his timing down, he will still be an interesting player to watch.

Newark first baseman Daryle Ward hit his first home run of the year in the eighth inning, which turned out to provide the margin of victory.

I had hoped to get a few autographs before the game, and I did get Worcester Tornadoes infielder J.B. Brown to sign my 2010 Brooklyn Cyclones team set card after he finished his pre-game warmups. But I didn’t have a chance to ask any of the Newark Bears. There was some sort of problem in the ticket office, so it took almost 20 minutes for me to be able to buy one. I didn’t get inside the ballpark until after six o’clock for a 6:35 p.m. game. (For those who might be wondering, I didn’t see Canseco sign any autographs Friday but it’s quite likely that he could have before I arrived.)

The Bears are back in action tonight at 6:35 p.m. and tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. before opening a three-game road series against the Rockland Boulders. I probably won’t get to another Newark game until next Friday, when the Bears return home and host the Quebec Capitales.

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That’s almost certainly a good thing.

However, I didn’t get to watch a couple of late-game pitching performances that likely would have amused me. Catcher Rob Johnson ended up pitching the eighth inning, and he actually struck out Eric Thames. (I know I would have liked to have seen that, considering that Thames already had a major league attitude a couple of years ago when I saw him play for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.)

I also missed the major league debut of lefty reliever Robert Carson, who became the 929th player in New York Mets history. Carson came on in the seventh inning when the Mets were down 14-1. He pitched a scoreless frame, marred only by a walk to Colby Rasmus.

Carson signed a pair of minor league cards for me last year when I saw him playing for the Binghamton Mets. Hopefully Topps will include him in one of their later season sets.

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The Newark Bears defeated the Worcester Tornadoes 9-2 last night to open the Can-Am League’s 2012 season.

I enjoyed watching the Bears win. I was particularly impressed with new centerfielder Quentin Davis‘ speed – he had a pair of triples and scored two runs. Left fielder Bryce Lane also had a good night, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, four RBI and the Bears’ first home run of the season.

The highest-profile player on the field, Worcester Tornadoes DH Jose Canseco, did not have a good night. After fouling a few pitches off, he worked a walk in his first plate appearance. Newark’s pitcher didn’t give him anything to hit in his second plate appearance, resulting in another walk. The next two times around, the Bears’ pitchers challenged him and Canseco struck out both times.

As you can see from some of my photos (at the bottom of this post), the Bears drew a small crowd for their home opener. The box score gives an official figure of 814.

Despite the relatively small turnout, I ran into quite a few friends, acquaintances, and a few website readers. It helped make the night a fun experience. I hope that crowds pick up a bit once schools get out for the summer.

The Bears are back in action tonight at 6:35 p.m…. I haven’t decided if I’m going to go to the game or wait until the weekend.

This will be the first Can-Am League game for new Bears manager Ken Oberkfell and scheduled Bears starter Michael Ness.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker is scheduled to throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game, and there will be performances by a classic rock/Top 40 cover band and the Honey Bears dance team.

Yet the reason I’m really looking forward to the game is a former Newark Bears player who is now a member of the Worcester Tornadoes. I want to see if 47-year-old Jose Canseco can bring back any memories of the young Oakland Athletics superstar I enjoyed watching during my early years as a baseball fan.

I probably shouldn’t set my expectations too high – aside from Canseco’s age, he’s had very limited opportunity to get ready for the baseball season due to bad weather in the northeast last week and time away from the Worcester Tornadoes to participate in a charity event. “I think it’s going to be like that until the season starts, so it looks like spring training is going to be in Newark,” Canseco told Worcester Telegram reporter Rich Garven earlier this week. “It will probably take a week to get my rhythm and my technique going.”

Here’s hoping for a fun weekend of baseball in Newark.

If you’re in the area, are you planning to go to a Bears game this weekend? Do you think Canseco can still play professional baseball on a regular basis?

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signed 2010 St. Lucie Mets Robert Carson card from my collection

I’m sure all of the remaining relievers will have opportunities before the year is done, but at least Sandy Alderson finally made the decision to take D.J. Carrasco out of the picture after the Mets’ 6-3 loss to the Reds.

To take his place, Robert Carson was recalled from Binghamton. There are three reasons I’m happy about this:

1. Carson has got to be more productive than Carrasco – it simply isn’t possible to do a worse job.
2. Maybe Keith Hernandez will stop complaining about the bullpen’s lack of a second left-handed reliever.
3. Carson spent a few days on the roster earlier this year, but never made it into a game. Now he gets another chance to avoid becoming an “almost” Met.

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Richie Ashburn’s 1962 Topps baseball card

With all of the All-Star Game talk today, it seems like a good time to talk about the New York Mets first All-Star, Richie Ashburn.

In 1962, baseball had two All-Star Games. Ashburn was selected as a reserve, the only New York Mets representative named to the National League team. (Considering the Mets had a 23-59 record on July 10, 1962, they should probably be considered fortunate to have any All-Star representative.)

Asburn didn’t play in the first game on July 10, which the National League won 3-1. He did appear as a pinch hitter in the second game on July 30, singling off of Detroit Tigers pitcher Hank Aguirre and later scoring a run. The American League claimed a 9-4 victory in the rematch.

Even though he hit .306 with 7 home runs, 28 RBI and 12 stolen bases for the hapless 1962 New York Mets, Ashburn retired at the end of the season when he was 35.

Ashburn’s 1962 Topps baseball card shows a photo that was taken while he was still a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, but he has that kind of lost look you’d expect from a player if he knew he’d be going to a 120-loss team.

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Will you be buying tickets for the 2013 All-Star Game? (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)

Emperor for Life Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon are expected to announce today what everyone has known for quite some time: Citi Field will host the 2013 All-Star Game.

The Mets have only hosted the All-Star Game once before: in 1964, the first year of Shea Stadium’s existence. The All-Star Game last came to New York in 2008 when the New York Yankees hosted it.

I didn’t go to the All-Star Game in 2008 – tickets were out of my price range, and the contest has lost a lot of the luster it once had as rosters keep getting bigger and managers keep wanting to play everybody. But I regret not going to any of the events – I’m sure I would have had fun at the Futures Game, and I might have enjoyed the All-Star Fan Fest.

So next year I’ll have another chance. (I suppose I’d better take advantage – I imagine it will be quite a while before New York gets another crack at the All-Star Game.)

What do you think? Are you looking forward to the All-Star Game’s return to New York? If you’ve been to one (or any of the associated events), was it a good experience?

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D.J. Carrasco is 1-3 with a 6.45 ERA since signing with the New York Mets before last season began. (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)

Dillon Gee pitched about as well as I expected Miguel Batista to yesterday, allowing seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. Travis Ishikawa, a backup first baseman known mainly for his glove, hit two home runs – it was the first multi-home run game of his career.

The high point of the game for the Mets was David Wright going 2-for-2 to raise his batting average to a National League-leading .408.

The Brewers’ third home run of the evening prevented this game from being another forgettable loss. Or rather, it was what happened after Rickie Weeks crushed a pitch from D.J. Carrasco to put Milwaukee up 8-0.

On the very next pitch, Carrasco plunked Ryan Braun and home plate umpire Gary Darling ejected him. Carrasco says that it was unintentional… I suppose I believe him, but I’m not sure that makes it better.

If Carrasco hit Braun on purpose, it means he let his temper get the better of him. He put his teammates at risk for retaliation and he forced Terry Collins to turn to another relief pitcher he would have preferred to rest. If Carrasco hit Braun by accident, it means he has no idea where the baseball is going once it leaves his hand. Either way, I’m left to wonder why Carrasco is still employed by the New York Mets.

Is Terry Collins a bit too honest with the media at times? (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)

Wright was due to lead off the next inning, but Collins pulled him out of the game for pinch hitter Jordany Valdespin. Wright was visibly upset, and SNY cameras caught him in energetic discussions with Collins at various points throughout the rest of the game.

During his post-game news conference, Collins was a bit too honest with reporters.

“They’re not hitting my guy tonight,” the Mets manager said when asked why he pulled Wright out of the game. “I’m not exposing him to being hit.”

I understand Collins’ desire to protect David Wright – the Mets’ lineup has been sputtering along with their best hitter. It would be completely sunk without him. But is that really the message to send to the rest of the guys on the team? What does it say to the other teams?

The safe answer – which is probably even partially true – would have been: “I wanted to get Jordany an at-bat or two so he’ll stay fresh.”

Collins has done a good job managing the Mets for the past year plus. But sometimes, I don’t think he quite understands the whole New York media thing.

What do you think? Did Collins do the right thing by pulling Wright from the game? Did you like his honest answers in the post-game news conference? And can anyone explain what Sandy Alderson sees in Carrasco?

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I never got around to writing an “In the mailbox this week” post this weekend. It’s a quick one, too, since I only got one signed card back recently from my autograph requests.

Solly Hemus was a solid, if not spectacular, infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies from 1949 to 1959. During his final season, he was a player-manager for the Cardinals. In two and a half seasons as a big league skipper, Hemus’ Cardinals teams never finished higher than third place. He later went on to become part of Casey Stengel‘s original New York Mets coaching staff.

Have you gotten back any interesting signed items lately?

Children play near a statue of Roberto Clemente outside PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo credit: daveynin)

State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex County) wants Major League Baseball to retire Roberto Clemente‘s uniform number. She has sponsored a resolution that “Respectfully requests that Major League Baseball retire the number 21 in honor of the life and career of Roberto Clemente.”

“Roberto Clemente was not only an outstanding major league baseball player, he was a role model for children in the Latino community, for people across the country and around the globe,” said Ruiz. “Retiring his number is a fitting honor for a man who made such tremendous contributions both to the world of baseball and to the world as a whole.”

On Monday, the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee unanimously approved Ruiz’s resolution, allowing it to move forward. Should both houses of the New Jersey Legislature pass it, duly authenticated copies would be transmitted to Major League Baseball and to the Commissioner of Baseball.

Ruiz tried to get the Legislature to pass this resolution twice before. In 2010, it was approved in the state Senate by a 35-0-4 vote. However, the Assembly did not take a vote. In the following legislative term, the resolution failed to make it out of committee.

While Roberto Clemente was a great ballplayer and a humanitarian who should be remembered and honored, I’m not convinced of the need to retire his number throughout baseball.

What do you think? Should all 30 teams retire #21 in honor of Roberto Clemente? And should local politicians be spending time focusing on concerns like this?