http://www.bmets.com/news/index.asp?contentID=324
7:05 start time tonight for New Hampshire. Anyone up for BBRadio? It will be Rosario starting for the good guys.

Here's a sort-of preview from the B-Mets' official web site (COMN):

Once desperately clinging to life in this series, the Mets suddenly have new life as they force the best-of-five series to Game Four, to take place Saturday night at 7 p.m. from NYSEG Stadium. Ken Chenard (9-6, 4.45) will try and keep the Mets' season going, while Francisco Rosario (2-4, 3.41) takes the hill for the Fisher Cats.

NYSEG, by the way, is a "subsidiary of Energy East Corporation, a super-regional energy services and delivery company in the Northeast."
Now you know. ;)

I'll try to listen to the game, but I'll have to resist watching the World Cup of Hockey. Last night's Fisher Cat game was exciting, so I'll probably tune in to see if they can finish up the series tonight.

Hmm . . . apparently "I'll try to listen to the game" was an accurate comment, the RealPlayer link is broken, but the Windows Media Player one works.

Dominic Rich hit an easy groundout to second.
Aaron Hill hit a 2-0 pitch deep to center, but it was caught by Pagan on the warning track to end the top of the first with no score.

Rosario starts up in the bottom of the 1st. Announcers mentioned that his first start in AA came against the Mets, when he pitched 5 shutout innings, which might bode well tonight, but they then note that he's been wild, which might not bode so well.

Lydon leads off trying to bunt, and the ball is popped up and caught near the Binghamtom dugout in foul territory for the out.

Rosario hits 94 on a fastball to Pagan, then throws a slider for a strike (which hit "0" on the radar gun), Rosario then throws several balls, and loses Pagan with a walk, giving proof for the wildness comments.

Acuna hits a grounder, which goes for (fittingly) a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

6-4-3: I'm here and listening along, just to let you know.

I figure if Canada wins tonight, I can always watch on Tuesday.
If they lose...well, I wouldn't want to watch them lose anyway.

In any case, I'll be watching the Jays game at 8, so consider me a listener for 40 minutes.

John-Ford Griffin leads off the second against Chenard. He works the count full, then takes the next pitch for a walk.

The announcers mention that Chenard didn't beat the Fisher Cats this year, but that's common as only one Mets starter beat the Cats.

Hattig gets ahead 2-1, fouls a pitch off, and strikes out when he can't check his swing.

Jova grounds a 1-2 pitch and hits into another 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the second.

I figured that seeing Canada lose to the Czechs again would be too painful, and if they win, they'll probably beat the Finns, and that'll be more fun to watch. I haven't been too interested in the World Cup anyways, even if it is going to be the last hockey for a while.

I haven't been too interested in the World Cup anyways

Neither have I. If it's such an important tournament, how come it hasn't been held since 1996?

Oh...yeah, the Fisher Cats. If a Game 5 is needed (which it won't be, right?) it will be at 5:05. Interesting start time for a Sunday. I guess there are a lot of NFL/Red Sox fans in Manchester.

Yay, back-to-back K's for Rosario.

Mets clean-up hitter Brett Harper leads off the bottom of the second, looking for his first hit of the series, but he quickly strikes out swinging.

Josh Pressley misses a sinking pitch, then a 92 mile fastball, fouls off two pitches, avoids a cutter that runs in on him, fouls another pitch, and misses on the 2-2 fastball, which runs up at 96 miles per hour.

Chris Basak hits a hard grounder between the shortstop and third baseman to get the first hit of the night.

Aarom Baldiris, another Met in the seeminly endless line of Mets who are hitting .100 in the series comes up.

Basak takes off to steal second, and the throw hits him in the leg and bounces into center as he slides into second safe.

Baldiris gets Baldiris to pop-up, and Jova makes the catch in foul territory to end the inning.

Baldiris gets Baldiris to pop-up

I know you meant Rosario, but that's funny stuff anyway. ;)

Neither have I. If it's such an important tournament, how come it hasn't been held since 1996?

Because the NHL + NHLPA were looking for . . . er, the perfect moment for it to return. See, because it's on the eve of lockout 2004 - 2005 2006? 2009, it's much more powerful because A) It's the LAST HOCKEY for a long time, and B) THIS TIME it's for the BANK ACCOUNTS of the NHL and the NHLPA! And, uh, tradition or nationalism, if you prefer.

Singleton hits a shot over Acuna's head, it goes to the wall, and Singleton is in with a lead-off triple!

Chiaffredo takes a pitch to make the count 0-2, and misses the third pitch for a strikeout.

Snyder comes up trying to cash in Singleton. He hits another shot down the line, into the corner, and gets into second for a double and a RBI, and the Fisher Cats take the 1-0 lead.

Tyrell Godwin comes up hacking, and strikes out on two big homerun swings.

Dominic Rich takes a pitch to make the count 3-1, takes a big swing and miss, and Chenard strikes out the side to end the inning, with only 1 run in.

I know you meant Rosario, but that's funny stuff anyway. ;)

Wait, I'm confused. I thought that in AA ball, you self-pitch. So, Baldiris gets Baldiris to pop-out. Makes sense.

Ugh, if I retire the Joe Carter of BB Radio, I'll be a happy man. Heck, I'll even take Joe Morgan.

I'm here until 9. I'll take over colour from Rob when he leaves.

Thanks for the BB Radio guys, I can't seem to get any of the links to work, so I will be relying on you guys tonight.

Huh. So far, my contribution to Game 4 of AA BBRadio has been "Yay, back-to-back K's for Rosario" and a bunch of anti-WCH stuff.

So, here is some actual content:

- Altoona scored two in the top of the first, they lead the Erie Otters 2-0. I believe that is also the series score; so the Curve may finish off the sweep tonight.

- Did Rosario just hit 96, then 95? How true are the guns at NYSEG Stadium? If he can throw it in the high-90s, I suddenly feel a lot better about McGowan's chances.

Hietpas comes out swinging for a foul grounder and a miss, then grounds out to Rich.

Velazquez hitting .091 for the series wisely decides not to bother with the bat, and takes the first few pitches to make the count 3-1. then takes the 5th pitch for a walk.

Lydon hits one over a diving Hattig (who had taken a few steps up towards the plate), and the Mets have runners on first and second.

Pagan comes up against Rosario, who continues to mix his pitches well. Rosario gets Pagan to miss an off-speed pitch, take a 95 mile fastball, and miss the 0-2 pitch for the second out.

Ron Acuna comes up. The announcers ominously wonder how long the Mets' bats can stay silent. Acuna hit .300 in the regular series, and he's 0-10 now with 3 K's and 2 double plays for the series. He continues to remain silent, and Lydon is out on the fielder's choice.

End of 3, Fisher Cats still up 1-0.

Apparently he is hitting that, but the gun could be off (it did register 0 on a slider, as I mentioned before). IMO, the better news is that he's apparently pitching with confidence and mixing up his fastball, his sinker, and his slider to keep the Mets off-balance.

Hill leads off by bouncing a ball pack to the pitcher for the first out of the inning.

John-Ford Griffin takes strike 3 looking.

Hattig takes two low balls, then hits an easy grounder to second to end the top of the fourth.

Canada scored, by the way. According to the CBC site, 1-0 with 7:45 to play in the 2nd.

Wow - that one must have been whacked by Harper. He hardly got to second after it was hit off the RF wall.

Hey, Super Mario just scored! 2-0 Canada. (I didn't think he had anything left.)

Mike, you can take over here. I'm going to listen to the Jays pregame until 8, then go watch Dave Berg start at DH.

Thanks for the hockey update. It's great to see Mario become Super Mario again, at least for a while.

Brett Harper comes up, still looking for his first hit of the series. When you're clean-up guy hasn't connected for a single hit by game 4 of a playoff series, it's safe to say that you're going to struggle. My comments curse the Fisher Cats, as he hits a ball off the very top of the outfield wall for a slide-in double. Don't entirely blame me though, as the announcers were looking up Rosario's scoreless streak as the hit happened (now at 17 2/3 inning, the record for the Fisher Cats is 34 innings).

Pressley hits a foul ball to make his count 1-2, then pops a pitch up to Hattig, and Rosario has his first out.

The most dangerous Met of the series, Chris Basak, comes up looking to tie the game. He played 21 games at AAA this year. He takes a ball, a strike, swings and misses the 1-1 pitch, fouls two pitches off, and he grounds out to third, and Harper stays at second. The crowd boos the close call, but Basak is out at first.

Aarom Baldiris takes some fastballs from Rosario (one hits 96 miles), and Baldiris strikes out to end the inning.

The Mets can't convert the lead-off double.

Thanks, Rob. Dave Berg at DH, huh? Perhaps, it's the platoon advantage. He's a .265/.305/.340 hitter roughly against lefties over the last 4 years. Oh, well.

Rosario continues to throw a consistent 95-96, along with a nice curve.

It's now 2-1, 6-4-3. Cajanek scored 42 seconds after Lemieux.

I'm about to leave the computer room for the TV room, but I thought I would let you know.

Mike: Yep -- his first start since before Menechino was pitching.

Quick update. A Tyrell Godwin single scores Maikel Jova. 2 on, 2 out for Dominic Rich. 6-4-3's coming with the details.

(that's probably the best thing about the new Gibbons regime: 90% less Berg sightings)

The 5th inning starts up, Rosario is cruising and the Cats still lead by one. The Cats starters have 2 earned runs in 25 innings this series, for an incredible 0.72 ERA.

Jova leads off. He hits a really sharp liner over a jumping Baldiris for a leadoff single.

Singleton comes up. The first pitch hits the dirt and bounces away, but Jova can't advance. Singleton takes another ball to make the count 2-1, hits a towering fly foul, then flies the 2-2 to Pagan, and Jova's stuck on first.

Chiaffredo hits a single between the shortstop and 3rd baseman, for his 5th hit of the series, Jova advances to second.

Chenard leads Snyder off with a ball, gets him to foul a pitch off, then Snyder hits a grounder that should go for a double play, but the Mets can only get Chiaffredo.

It's 1st and 3rd, two outs for Godwin. Godwin hits the first pitch for a single to right, Jova scores, and Snyder advances to second.

The pitching coach (I think) comes up to talk to Chenard, and it's 2-0 for the Fisher Cats, with 2 on, 2 outs.

Dominic Rich takes a ball, swings and misses on the second pitch, swings and misses again on the curve, takes an outside pitch, and Rich hits the 2-2 pitch foul. Rich hits a ball to left, Snyder goes in sliding at the plate, he scores, Lydon's throw home is wild and rolls to the wall, and the runners advance to second and third. 3-0 Cats.

Aaron Hill comes up and hits a high fly to Pagan to end the inning.

The top of the 5th is over, and it's 3-0 Fisher Cats.

Rosario went 7 innings in his last start 9 days ago. He might have 8 in him today.

Godwin makes a great diving catch to end a 3 up, 3 down 5th inning.

Rosario comes out with his new and improved lead facing off against Mets catcher Joe Hietpas. Hietpas takes two balls, then hits a grounder to Hill at short for the first out.

Gil Velazquez comes up taking. He misses a curve to make the count 1-1, takes a strike, and swings and misses for the K.

Wayne Lydon (1-2 for the game) hits a ball to left, Godwin makes a tremendous diving catch to end the quick inning, as the Mets can't respond.

Hill made his usual good throw from the hole on the Hietpas play.

I'm not sure how the Fisher Cats rotation goes, but if the lead continues, and the Mets bats continue to go cold, they might yank him after 7. The other playoff series looks to end tonight in a sweep.

The broadcast comes back as John-Ford Griffin taps a ball to the pitcher for a quick first out.

John Hattig takes the first two pitches for balls, misses the curve, and hits a roller to second for the second out of the inning.

The crowd gets back into the game, as Jova grounds out on a 2-2 pitch to end the inning.

The F-Cats have Houston, Banks, Arnold and DeJong available.

If the series goes 5 games, the F-Cats will probably come back with Chacin on 3 days rest.

A walk and nothing more for the Mets in the bottom of the sixth. 2 Ks for Rosario.

Pagan leads off the bottom of the 6th for the Mets. Pagan misses the 95 mile fastball to make the count full, and after fouling off the next pitch, Pagan takes ball four for another leadoff walk.

Problems in the booth as an accidentally kicked heater apparently nearly sets one of the broadcasters on fire.

The ice cold Acuna (.000 on the series still, after hitting .300 for the season) He hits a fly to Jova for the first out.

Brett Harper comes up. He has the monster double tonight, and the broadcasters wonder what might've been had his double gone for a homer earlier. He misses the high heat, takes a ball, and Rosario gets him to bite again on the high heat. Rosario then gets Harper to miss the third high fastball (93 MPH). Rosario used a 90 miler, then the 93.

Rosario works to keep Pagan from running with several pickoffs.

Pressley takes a ball as Pagan fakes a steal.

The Fisher Cats pitching coach comes out to talk to Rosario. Someone's getting warmed up for the Cats (the announcers apparently can't see the bullpen from the booth, there's a high wall that blocks the view. They think Dan Jackson might be the set-up man tonight.

Apparently the message was go to the other pitches, as Rosario hits with a 2-0 slider, then a 2-1 curve. The 3-2 pitch goes in for strike three, to end the 6th inning.

Rosario has 7 K's, and it's 3-0 after 6 innings.

The 2-0 slider to Pressley was the first in a few innings for Rosario.

It's the top of the seventh-Homer for the Cruise inning.

Top of the 7th.
It's not just a cruise, Mike, it's a cruise *and* a Roast Beef buffet dinner.

Singleton leads off with another single.

Paul Chiaffredo is trying to bunt, but Chenard throws two pitches high. There's action in the Mets pen, but (apparently) nothing in the Fisher Cats pen. Chiaffredo gets the bunt down the first base line, and Singleton advances to second on the sacrifice.

Michael Snyder (1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, double) comes up trying to stretch the lead. He misses a fastball to make the count 0-2. The next pitch from Chenard is blocked in the dirt, and the 1-2 pitch is grounded to first for another out. Singleton advances to third on the out.

Godwin comes up. The pitching coach for the Mets goes back up to the mound for a chat.

Meanwhile, a bizzaro-world update leads to a comment that Orlando Hernandez is "the ace of that Yankees staff". Yikes.

Godwin misses the curve for a 1-2 count, fouls off the 2-2 pitch to stay alive, and swings and misses at ball four.

Middle of the 7th, 3 - 0 Fisher Cats.

I don't know why, but roast beef buffet on a cruise makes me think seriously about vegetarianism.

Hill makes another fine play. The Cats are playing great defence behind Rosario. One out in the bottom of the 7th.

Bottom of the 7th, and Rosario is still out there. The crowd is finally audible.

Chris Basak leads off. Rosario starts him with a 93 miler, and the second pitch is hit softly to Aaron Hill, who fires it to first for the out.

Aarom Baldiris hits the first pitch barely foul down the third baseline. He then hits the 1-1 pitch foul, then falls into the mystery zone as I step away from the radio. He apparently got with a single.

Hietpas goes down 0-2, takes two pitches for balls, then hits a ball into the left-field corner, and he is on with a double, to move runners to second and third.

The bullpen gets into the game, Rozario's game is over, Travis Thomson comes in, 1 out, second and third in the bottom of the seventh.

Altoona has put up consecutive 4 spots in the 4th and 5th innings to lead 11-3. The Curve look ready to finish off the Otters tonight.

The Mets have a threat going, runners on 2nd and 3rd, one out. The Fisher Cats are going to the bullpen with Travis Thompson. This puzzles me (Thompson had a 5.61 ERA during the season, and hasn't pitched in 5 days; he did end the season on a high note however).

This is Thomson's first post-season apparance, he had a 5.61 ERA in the regular season. His ERA vs the Mets was 13.5 in two innings pitched. If I can throw all illusion of objectivity away and descend into a "Hawk" Harrelson moment of homerism, I'm concerned.

Thomson starts Velazquez with two balls.

Thomson has allowed 2/5 inheirited runners to score.

Velazquez gets a hit to left to score the first run, and Hietpas is on third, Velazquez on first.

Thomson leads Lydon off with a ball, he hits a grounder to Rich, who makes the only avaliable play, and that's the out at first. Velazquez is on second, Hietpas scores, and it's 3-2 Fisher Cats.

The tying run is at second, and Thomson's (short) day is over. Ryan Houston is coming in to face Pagan, with a 10.80 ERA in the post-season.

Thompson faces 2 batters, gives up a single and a RBI groundout. It's 3-2, the Mets have a runner on 2nd with 2 outs. Ryan Houston is on to face Angel Pagan.

[apparently I'm missing quite the hockey game.]

Houston is in to try and preserve the precarious lead.

The crowd tries to lift Pagan to a game-tying hit.

Houston misses with his first pitch.

Houston's second pitch misses low and inside.

Houston's third pitch induces a swing and a miss.

Houston's fourth pitch goes inside, but it's called a strike.

The 2-2 pitch misses to make the count full.

Ryan Houston's 3-2 pitch misses for ball four, Pagan now has his third walk of the game.

Ron Acuna (who is, to quote the broadcasters, way overdue) comes up, and the pitching coach is back up to talk to Houston.

Houston strikes out Acuna.

[but, to be fair, I'm catching quite the baseball game]

Houston misses again with his first pitch to Acuna. The second pitch is outside, and Acuna's up 2-0. The next pitch is low, and Houston is suddenly unable to hit the strike zone. Acuna is taking all the way, and Houston gets the timely strike. Houston's next pitch is also taken for a strike, and the count's full. The next pitch is fouled off as the runners are going. Houston sets again, and the pitch is missed by Acuna, and Houston strikes him out to end the inning.

End of the 7th, 2 runs on 3 hits for the Mets, 3-2 Fisher Cast.

Rich, Hill and Griffin due up in the top of the eighth. Insurance would be sweet. And Rich reaches second base on an errant throw by the first baseman that ends up in the dugout to get it started.

The F-Cats get their insurance run on a wild pitch. Runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 out with Jova up.

And another run scores on another error. It's now 5-2, runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out with Singleton up.

Chenard's night is over, in comes Mika Mangrum (4.88 ERA in 31 innings during the regular season, no work in the playoffs)

Rich leads off (he's 1-3, with a RBI single). He takes a ball, fouls off the next pitch, takes two more pitches outside, and then hits a grounder to the first baseman, and Harper misses the pitcher with the throw to first, and Rich advances to second as the ball landed in the dugout. Harper is awarded an error. The announcers say that Harper just threw the ball over Mangrum's head, because he didn't settle down.

Hill takes ball one, and then hits a ball into the right-field gap, but it's caught by Angel Pagan on a diving play.

John-Ford Griffin takes a few pitches to go to 3-1, fouls off the next pitch, the 3-2 pitch is hit for a slow roller down the third baseline, Mangrum fielded the ball, but he had no play at first or at third.

Now there's runners on first and third. The Mets' pitching coach comes out to talk to Mangrum.

1st and 3rd, one out for John Hattig, who's oh for three on the game. He goes for the big swing on the first pitch, and he misses. Hattig takes three straight balls, a close pitch on the corner for strike 2, and then with the count full, Hattig fouls a pitch off, then takes ball four outside.

The bases are now loaded with one out for Jova. The announcers mention that the Fisher Cats have not hit a single grand slam during the season.

Jova fouls the first pitch off. The next pitch is thrown *behind* Jova for a wildpitch that goes to the back, and Rich scores an insurance run and the runners advance. The next pitch is fouled off,
then there's another grounder to the pitcher, and again it's booted, and Magrum cannot throw out Jova. Griffin scores, Hattig advances to third, and Jova's safe at first. 5-2 Cats, 1st and 3rd with only one out.

The two runs this inning have been scored without a single hit outside the infield.

Singleton comes out. He hits a hard grounder to the shortstop, and it's a 6-4-3 doubleplay to end the inning, with 2 runs scored on 2 hits and 2 errors.

Houston is on to pitch the bottom of the eighth. DeJong will most probably close. Houston has regained his control, as he strikes out the leadoff hitter Harper.

1-2-3 for Houston, and the F-Cats need 3 outs to win the series.

The bottom of the 8th begins, with some of the pressure off of the backs of the Fisher Cats' pitching staff.

Houston starts the inning by striking out Harper.

DeJong is (apparently) up and throwing in the Fisher Cats' bullpen.

Houston gets ahead 1-2 on Pressley, and gets him to swing and miss. After a shaky start, Houston has struck out three Mets in a row.

Basak comes up as Houston tries to make it four in a row. He's quickly retired by Houston, and the 8th inning is over.

On the 3rd out, Basak grounded the ball to Hill, who bobbled the ball but used his strong arm to throw Basak out.

Top of the 9th, and the Fisher Cats are trying to stretch the lead a bit more, as Lavigne's in to pitch for the Mets.

Chiaffredo leads off and hammers a ball to center, but it's caught by Pagan.

Snyder hits a few fouls to make the count 1-2, and then takes called strike three.

Tyrell Godwin grounds out to second, to end the top of the 9th quickly.

Fisher Cats leading 5-2, with three outs to go.

I seriously think you should change your name to man-strength when the FCats are batting. Then switch back to 6-4-3 whenever the opposing team looks poised for a rally.

Jordan DeJong on to pitch the ninth. He's been an effective closer during the second half of the season after inheriting the job when Adam Peterson was promoted.

DeJong is throwing bullets. He strikes out Baldiris for the first out and gets ahead of Hietpas.

Hietpas grounds out to Aaron Hill. Gil Velasquez up and pops up to Rich. F-CATS WIN.

Ah, thanks for that, I missed that third out as I was temporarily distracted by ice cream. Sawkiw never has these problems.

Baldiris leads off the bottom of the 9th, it'll be the Mets 7-8-9 hitters, but they've done the damage today.

DeJong into the game, he had 14 saves and a 2.86 ERA as he took over for Adam Peterson when he was called up to the Jays.

Baldiris is taking all the way, and the count goes to 2-1, before he gets jammed and hits the ball foul. Baldiris swings and misses at the curve, and DeJong has his first out.

Hietpas looks at the curve for strike one and ball one. With the count 2-2 after a foul, a grounder to Hill retires Hietpas.

Velazquez comes up with the Mets' season in his hands. He has a RBI tonight, and had the game winning RBI last night . He pops up the first pitch, and he's out.

The fisher cats win!

The Fisher Cats win the series, and unless Erie makes a miraculous comeback in the last 2 innings, will face the Altoona Curve in the opener of the Eastern League final on Tuesday night.

The Cats played a fine game tonight. Francisco Rosario is back.

The key to the series, in my mind, was the depth of the Cats pitching. Hattig has been a fine addition to the team, giving them an additional big bat in the middle of the lineup that they were missing early in the season.

It's been fun working with you, 6-4-3.

Damn, I missed the fun. Sounded like you guys had a good time.

Faulds told the TV viewers that the F-Cats won, so I already knew, but good job, guys! Is it presumptious of me to suggest the two of you cover the Eastern League finals next week?

Altoona won 14-4 and swept away the Otters.
Bring it on, Curve.

Chacin in game 1?

So Rosario and Chacin obviously have thrown their last regular season innings for New Hampshire, right?

(reposted from game thread)

I see no reason why Chacin should pitch in AA again. I hope Rosario starts in AAA because I truly think he can handle it, but Ricciardi may disagree with me.

Rosario may go to the AFL to get more innings. If he's fine there the Jays might let him start AAA next year. If they're not able to get him to the AFL or if he struggles then it's hard to say what they would do; I think in that case both Rosario and Banks would get a handful of AA starts and might be moved quickly as soon as they show dominance.

I was at the New Hampshire game in Binghamton last night. I have to admit, Rosario was very impressive. He did regularly hit 95-96 on the outfield radar tracking, but some of the Binghamton season ticket holders sitting in my section said they were faily certain the gun has been off by as much as 5 mph all season. Who knows - all I heard was "pop - pop - pop" in Chia's mit all night - a lot of swinging and missing.

How would the season ticket holders know how much the gun has been off unless they have their own radar guns? Just curious how they might come to that conclusion.

I think pitcher velocity is a difficult thing to get a handle on. In a recent column Gammons was saying Percival is now a 91-92 pitcher but he was hitting 96 high in the zone against the Jays. One scout said that League is not a mid-to-high 90s pitcher and he's more of a consistent low 90s guy.

At the end of the day I just want to know if hitters are missing him and if he's getting outs, not walking people, and avoiding a lot of hard hit balls. Sounds like Rosario is doing at least least a couple of those things but in listening to some games he does have the ball tagged off him pretty well occasionally. That might still be him recovering his command.

I don't know - just relaying what I heard.