The catcher position in baseball is the equivalent of the twelfth man in basketball or the left guard in the NFL. It is a mostly glamor-free position because of all the equipment that the player must wear.
In the case of Mets’ catcher Henry Blanco the facemask is really to save the rest of us from looking at his mug. He got to take the mask off last night as he extended the Mets’ home winning streak to 9 games.
I’m sure Jerry Manuel doesn’t mind the look of his face either as he gets to keep his job for a few more days. I’m sure as soon as the home crowd boos Manuel he will be told to clean out his office. That can’t come soon enough. But maybe I’m wrong about these Mets. When the pressure was mounting to oust Willie Randolph this team wilted faster than Brooklyn sidewalk lettuce. As soon as the murmurs for Manuel’s scalp start circulating the team manages to pull out a victory.
Rod Barajas’ walk off homer on Friday was especially gratifying since it looked like he could have had his hand broken on a pitchout play. Pelfrey didn’t throw the ball outside enough and the Giants batter swung on the pitch hitting the ball out of Barajas’ mitt. The MLB.com microphones registered the sound of bat on ball, or was that bat on bone on ball [ll].
Sports are hell’a ghey but when the Mets are winning I am happy. Does that make me ghey?
