Spring Training is supposed to be all about optimism, that is until the injury bug starts to hit. The Mets have had their first scare of the Spring, with Orlando El Duque Hernandez shipped up to New York for an examination. He reportedly has a pain in the neck, and he ain't talking about Jimmy Rollins. It turns out it's... arthritis. Yes, we know the Mets have some older guys on the team, but seriously, arthritis? Anyway, El Duque's headed back down to Florida, where he should resume workouts in a few days, and everyone's saying he's fine.
There's yet another Mets blog attempting to deliver all the news that your bandwidth can handle, it's called MetsHeads and you can find it at http://metsheads.blogharbor.com
Finally, since there's no real Mets news to talk about, I hope you'll excuse me for posting some non-Mets related news:
On February 15th, the Hershey Co. announced that they were cutting 1,500 jobs over three years as part of a plan to scale back production lines and move some manufacturing to Mexico. This really struck a chord with me because when I visited Hershey PA my wife and I learned that during The Great Depression, instead of laying off workers, founder Milton Hershey employed people to build such structures such as The Hotel Hershey, a community center, a theatre, a sports arena and a stadium in the chocolate factory's town in Pennsylvania.
My wife and I have now set up a website, www.kissesforhershey.com, where we've laid out our plans to help save the jobs at risk. We've set up a petition for people to sign, and we plan on sending one Hershey's Kiss to CEO Richard Lenny for every person who signs the petition by July 7th (Chocolate Day). Our goal is 3,000 signatures, one for each job at stake. We also hope to start a letter writing campaign, where people will send letters to Richard Lenny and ask him not to go forward with the layoffs.
Please check out the site, sign the petition, and tell five friends about this movement. It turns out 3,000 jobs are at stake!!
Thank you. We now resume our regularly scheduled Mets related blog.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Mets Non-News From Camp Notes: New Slogan Revealed
Have you visited Mets.com lately? The new banner reveals the new marketing slogan: Your Season Has Come. Last season it was "Our team, Our time," with us all celebrating together, but it seems the new slogan indicates that now it's "my" season. So there! Now I can feel better about saying things like "we" when I talk about Mets accomplishments. This also makes up for the intense guilt I felt for years when I learned that Only I Could Prevent Forest Fires. Only Me.
Jason at Hot Foot alerts us to an article reporting that MLB is introducing new caps for 2007. Instead of the old wool hats, the new caps are polyester blend to help keep sweat off players faces, as well as resisting odors and staining. This reminds me of that episode of Seinfeld when George Costanza convinced the Yankees to switch to cotton uniforms because they would breathe better. Anyway, here's a look at the new batting practice cap:
Speaking of the Yankees, is this issue with A-Rod and Jeter not being best friends forever anymore just about the lamest storyline in all of sports? Even Don Zimmer asks "What do you want [Jeter] to do, put his arm around him and kiss him?"
By the way, for us out-of-market and transplanted Mets fans who want to get a glimpse of how construction of Citi Field is coming along, the Mets have launched a webcam. Well, they are calling it a webcam, but really it's not a live camera but actually a time-lapse video of everything that's gone on since the groundbreaking. It's actually cooler than a webcam, though it would be nice if there were an actual webcam to go along with it.
Transplanted ex-Mets update: Although it was previously reported that Kris Benson would miss the entire 2007 season due to surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, he's now decided to try an aggressive rehabilitation program that could get him back on the field sometime this season. The Orioles were prepared to go without Benson in 2007, signing Steve Trachsel the day after the announcement about Benson was made.
Well, that's pretty much it for the non-news. Unless you count Jimmy Rollins attempts to ignite a feud with the Mets. He says his team is "the team to beat" in 2007. Oh, okay, Jimmy. Call me when the Fillies get a bullpen.
Jason at Hot Foot alerts us to an article reporting that MLB is introducing new caps for 2007. Instead of the old wool hats, the new caps are polyester blend to help keep sweat off players faces, as well as resisting odors and staining. This reminds me of that episode of Seinfeld when George Costanza convinced the Yankees to switch to cotton uniforms because they would breathe better. Anyway, here's a look at the new batting practice cap:
Speaking of the Yankees, is this issue with A-Rod and Jeter not being best friends forever anymore just about the lamest storyline in all of sports? Even Don Zimmer asks "What do you want [Jeter] to do, put his arm around him and kiss him?"
By the way, for us out-of-market and transplanted Mets fans who want to get a glimpse of how construction of Citi Field is coming along, the Mets have launched a webcam. Well, they are calling it a webcam, but really it's not a live camera but actually a time-lapse video of everything that's gone on since the groundbreaking. It's actually cooler than a webcam, though it would be nice if there were an actual webcam to go along with it.
Transplanted ex-Mets update: Although it was previously reported that Kris Benson would miss the entire 2007 season due to surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, he's now decided to try an aggressive rehabilitation program that could get him back on the field sometime this season. The Orioles were prepared to go without Benson in 2007, signing Steve Trachsel the day after the announcement about Benson was made.
Well, that's pretty much it for the non-news. Unless you count Jimmy Rollins attempts to ignite a feud with the Mets. He says his team is "the team to beat" in 2007. Oh, okay, Jimmy. Call me when the Fillies get a bullpen.
Shawn Green's New Swing
Shawn Green, who underwhelmed Mets fans with his bat and his glove when he was acquired late last season, said yesterday in the Post that over the winter he found a mechanical issue in his swing, "a hand hitch," that he's corrected which should increase his power. He wants to show he is still the same hitter L.A. had in 2001 and 2002. I would LOVE to see the Mets have the 2001 Shawn Green! Can we also get the 1998 versions of Aaron Sele, Chan Ho Park, Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernanez and Pedro Martinez while we're at it?
Monday, February 19, 2007
Goings On At Mets Camp
Here's a summary of the latest non-news at Mets camp in Port St. Lucie:
Lastings Milledge showed up to camp a day earlier than requires, but not still early enough for some reporters to speculate that he should have been there even earlier.
For reasons as yet unexplained, the Mets have signed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr to a minor league deal. Remember, his dad is the Mets bench coach. As long as his brother stays away from Shea, I couldn't care less.
Fred Wilpon says the "goal is to win the World Series," the Mets are good enough to win, and facing the Junkees in another Subway Series "would be the greatest." he also says Minaya's got room in the budget to make another acquisition if necessary. I should hope so, especially after reading that Freddy Skill Sets just gave a cool $12 million to the University of Michigan.
Here's a news item for you: Ever wonder about some of the music that players strut up to the plate with? well, we know David Wright was soliciting ideas for some new theme music, but it seems Jose Reyes has taken matters into his own hands. Some of the music heard during Reyes' at bats during the second half of last season was recorded by... Jose Reyes. Reyes recorded two reggaeton tracks last year at a New York studio, called "La Rompe Discoteca" and "Encen." Jose would sometimes walk to the plate to the former, but the latter can be heard on myspace at www.myspace.com/rickycash.
On Friday, the Mets claimed ex-Devil Ray RHP Marcos Caravajal off waivers, and designated Steve Schmoll. Schmoll cleared waivers, and will start the season at AAA New Orleans. 22 year old Caraval was 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 39 appearances for the Rockies in 2005, but was 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 38 games last season with the Rays' Double-A team, striking out 70 in 72 1/3 innings.
Pehaps the most intriguing quote of the spring, so far, is from Willie Randolph who said, of his tenure in the Bronx, "The things I'm doing now I was doing seven, eight years ago. I didn't get a lot of credit for it with the Yankees. I say that now because it's true and no one else said it, " Randolph said, "I feel like I was managing without the title," In the article, reporter Dave Buscema gave Willie a chance to retract his statements, and Randolph takes the opportunity. Buscema believes Randolph when he says he didn't really mean what he said, but I'm not so sure... Chew on that for awhile.
Lastings Milledge showed up to camp a day earlier than requires, but not still early enough for some reporters to speculate that he should have been there even earlier.
For reasons as yet unexplained, the Mets have signed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr to a minor league deal. Remember, his dad is the Mets bench coach. As long as his brother stays away from Shea, I couldn't care less.
Fred Wilpon says the "goal is to win the World Series," the Mets are good enough to win, and facing the Junkees in another Subway Series "would be the greatest." he also says Minaya's got room in the budget to make another acquisition if necessary. I should hope so, especially after reading that Freddy Skill Sets just gave a cool $12 million to the University of Michigan.
Here's a news item for you: Ever wonder about some of the music that players strut up to the plate with? well, we know David Wright was soliciting ideas for some new theme music, but it seems Jose Reyes has taken matters into his own hands. Some of the music heard during Reyes' at bats during the second half of last season was recorded by... Jose Reyes. Reyes recorded two reggaeton tracks last year at a New York studio, called "La Rompe Discoteca" and "Encen." Jose would sometimes walk to the plate to the former, but the latter can be heard on myspace at www.myspace.com/rickycash.
On Friday, the Mets claimed ex-Devil Ray RHP Marcos Caravajal off waivers, and designated Steve Schmoll. Schmoll cleared waivers, and will start the season at AAA New Orleans. 22 year old Caraval was 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 39 appearances for the Rockies in 2005, but was 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 38 games last season with the Rays' Double-A team, striking out 70 in 72 1/3 innings.
Pehaps the most intriguing quote of the spring, so far, is from Willie Randolph who said, of his tenure in the Bronx, "The things I'm doing now I was doing seven, eight years ago. I didn't get a lot of credit for it with the Yankees. I say that now because it's true and no one else said it, " Randolph said, "I feel like I was managing without the title," In the article, reporter Dave Buscema gave Willie a chance to retract his statements, and Randolph takes the opportunity. Buscema believes Randolph when he says he didn't really mean what he said, but I'm not so sure... Chew on that for awhile.
Want To Get Excited?
Spring Training is all about hype, especially about young pitchers, but if you are willing to get yourself excited by a young fireballer in the Mets system, look no further than new Met Ambiorix Burgos. Acquired from the Royals for Brian Bannister, Burgos is a 22 year old who regularly hurls fastballs clocked at 100mph+. Read Ben Shpigel's profile in the NY Times for 854 words that will have you believing the Mets have a potential superstar in the making.
Inundated
This was always my favorite time of year. After months of sports pages featuring barely a mention of baseball news, finally camp would break and we'd start to get some real nuggets of Mets knowledge. Newsday, The Daily News, and even The NY Post all did a fine job of reporting the goings on at Port St. Lucie. Not much really was ever going on down in Florida, mind you. A new acquisition would make his first appearance in a Mets uniform, or someone who had a lousy season the year prior would predict big things in the upcoming months. New batting practice uni's might debut, and the up and coming pitching prospects would be hyped beyond sufficiently.
Now, suddenly, it's different. Now every newspaper has a blogger to accompany their articles, posting photos, and then there's the full-time bloggers (who do an outstanding, tireless job), keeping us up to the minute on what's happening. And suddenly it seems there is so much happening! Even though nothing is really happening. That's a downfall of teh information age - too much information. It's the same plague that causes 24 hour news networks to analayze poll results 24 months before an election! How do I sort through the clutter. A big to-do was made about Lastings Milledge not showing up to camp early! Not late, but not early! Finally, he does report, a day early, but we wonder if it's early enough. I am exhausted!
I have felt a little bad about not posting much here lately, but really, what do I have to offer amidst the clutter? So, at least from now until Opening Day, my resolve for this space is to try and sort through the clutter for you. If you want every tidbit of news that comes through, the links on the right side of this page will get you started nicely. Otherwise, I'll do my best to post the most newsworthy of the items, along with my trademarked sardonic commentary where appropriate.
Happy Spring!
Now, suddenly, it's different. Now every newspaper has a blogger to accompany their articles, posting photos, and then there's the full-time bloggers (who do an outstanding, tireless job), keeping us up to the minute on what's happening. And suddenly it seems there is so much happening! Even though nothing is really happening. That's a downfall of teh information age - too much information. It's the same plague that causes 24 hour news networks to analayze poll results 24 months before an election! How do I sort through the clutter. A big to-do was made about Lastings Milledge not showing up to camp early! Not late, but not early! Finally, he does report, a day early, but we wonder if it's early enough. I am exhausted!
I have felt a little bad about not posting much here lately, but really, what do I have to offer amidst the clutter? So, at least from now until Opening Day, my resolve for this space is to try and sort through the clutter for you. If you want every tidbit of news that comes through, the links on the right side of this page will get you started nicely. Otherwise, I'll do my best to post the most newsworthy of the items, along with my trademarked sardonic commentary where appropriate.
Happy Spring!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Meat Loaf Is A Moron
A friend of mine said he read somewhere that the title of Meat Loaf's latest album, Bat Out Of Hell III - The Monster Is Loose, is a reference to Mike Piazza. My buddy, knowing how much of a fanatic I am, asked me if I felt any allegiance to Meat because he made a Mets reference.
My response? HELL NO!
I know Meat Loaf is a baseball fan, but he is also an unabashed Yankees fan. In 1978 he was a Yankees fan, he's playing a Yankees guitar on his website, and he's even arranged for his ashes to be scattered over Yankee Stadium when he dies..
So, no, I feel no allegiance to the guy because the name of his lousy new album misquotes John Stearns, (um, the monster is "out of the cage," not "loose.") Go here to see video proving that MeatLoaf didn't even see the game or the quote that inspired him so much. He read it in a newspaper.
Besides all that, mostly I can't stand Meat Loaf for the simple reason that his music stinks (Paradise By The Dashboard Light is only good if you're a wedding DJ and you need to use the restroom) and because nowadays when the fat old man does duets with young women he looks really creepy, like he's going to eat them or something.
Meat Loaf can take his Mike Piazza reference and go to (bat out of) hell.
My response? HELL NO!
I know Meat Loaf is a baseball fan, but he is also an unabashed Yankees fan. In 1978 he was a Yankees fan, he's playing a Yankees guitar on his website, and he's even arranged for his ashes to be scattered over Yankee Stadium when he dies..So, no, I feel no allegiance to the guy because the name of his lousy new album misquotes John Stearns, (um, the monster is "out of the cage," not "loose.") Go here to see video proving that MeatLoaf didn't even see the game or the quote that inspired him so much. He read it in a newspaper.
Besides all that, mostly I can't stand Meat Loaf for the simple reason that his music stinks (Paradise By The Dashboard Light is only good if you're a wedding DJ and you need to use the restroom) and because nowadays when the fat old man does duets with young women he looks really creepy, like he's going to eat them or something.
Meat Loaf can take his Mike Piazza reference and go to (bat out of) hell.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Post Of The Day: Toasty Joe
As the countdown for pitchers and catchers to report dwindles down, check out todays hysterical post by Toasty Joe, where he picks out key highlights from an appearance by Junkee Shill Suzyn Waldwan on WFAN.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: Trachsel is an Oriole
Apparently Jim Duquette has a quota on ex-Mets. After learning Kris Benson would miss all of the 2007 season with a rotator cuff injury, the Orioles scooped up Stephen Christopher Trachsel, signing him to a one year deal worth approx. $3.1 million. According to the Baltimore Sun, Trachsel "will be compete with prospects Hayden Penn and Garrett Olson for the No. 5 spot in the rotation," but that sounds unlikely to me. If a team hands a guy $3mil in guaranteed money, they are slotting him to pitch.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Off-season Wrap Up
This post attempts answers the question "What have the Mets done since the end of last season?" I'll re-post this summation once we reach Opening Day and the roster gets sorted out, but this should do a good job of catching you up on anything you may have missed this offseason, as teh Mets get set to break camp in a couple days:
October - Carlos Delgado (right wrist, elbow), Aaron Heilman (elbow), Paul LoDuca (thumb), Chris Woodward (left shoulder) and Roberto Hernandez (right knee) undergo surgery to repair injuries suffered during the season.
November 1st - Guillermo Mota is served with a 50 game suspension after testing positive for steroids. This news seemed to serve as the end of the Mota era for the Mets.
November 10th - Hotfoot breaks the news that the Mets are set to announce naming rights for their new ballpark, to be dubbed Citi Field. Also, Manny Acta is named manager of the Washington Nationals.
November 13th - Free Agent Jose "Mr. Porn Star Mustache Man" Valentin re-ups with the Mets on a one-year deal.
November 14th - El Duque re-ups with the Mets.
November 15th- Royce Ring and Heath Bell get shipped to San Diego for RHP Jon Adkins and Xavier Nady clone Outfielder Ben Johnson.
November 17th - The Mets sign super-sub Damion Easley to a one-year contract worth $850k. This blogger has not forgotten Easley's disclosure that he grew up "a die-hard Yankees fan."
November 18th - The Mets sign Moises Alou to a two year contract, making him their new left fielder and essentially ending Cliff Floyd's tenure with the New York Mets.
November 29th - The Mets lose Chad Bradford to the Baltimore Orioles, who sign him to a three year deal.
December 6th - Omar Minaya ships Brian Bannister to the Kansas City Royals for 21 year old righthanded relief pitcher Ambiorix Burgos.
December 13th - Darren Oliver signs with the California Angels.
December 19th - Howard Johnson "HoJo" joins the Mets major league coaching staff.
December 20th- Chris Woodward signs with the Atlanta Braves. The bastard.
December 28th - Barry Zito does not sign with the Mets.
January 6th - The Mets sign lefthanded supersub David Newhan to a one year contract. Mets also name Ken Oberkfell the new manager of their new AAA franchise, the New Orleans Zephyrs. What is a zephyr?
January 10th - The Mets sign free agent relief pitcher Scott Schoeneweis to a three-year deal.
January 12th - The Mets sign righthanded pitcher Jorge Sosa.
January 24th - Cliff Floyd signs with the Cubs.
January 25th - The Mets sign 36 year old righthander Aaron Sele to a minor league deal. Willie Randolph agrees to a new three-year, $5.65-million contract that runs through 2009.
January 31st - Victor Zambrano signs with the Blue Jays.
February 10th - The Mets ink 33 year old righthander Chan Ho Park to a one-year, $600k contract.
New Mets -
Chan Ho Park
Aaron Sele
Jorge Sosa
Scott Schoeneweis
David Newhan
Ben Johnson
Jon Adkins
Ambiorix Burgos
Moises Alou
Damion Easley
Newly Transplanted ex-Mets:
Steve Trachsel
Victor Zambrano
Brian Bannister
Cliff Floyd
Darren Oliver
Chad Bradford
Royce Ring
Heath Bell
Chris Woodward
October - Carlos Delgado (right wrist, elbow), Aaron Heilman (elbow), Paul LoDuca (thumb), Chris Woodward (left shoulder) and Roberto Hernandez (right knee) undergo surgery to repair injuries suffered during the season.
November 1st - Guillermo Mota is served with a 50 game suspension after testing positive for steroids. This news seemed to serve as the end of the Mota era for the Mets.
November 10th - Hotfoot breaks the news that the Mets are set to announce naming rights for their new ballpark, to be dubbed Citi Field. Also, Manny Acta is named manager of the Washington Nationals.
November 13th - Free Agent Jose "Mr. Porn Star Mustache Man" Valentin re-ups with the Mets on a one-year deal.
November 14th - El Duque re-ups with the Mets.
November 15th- Royce Ring and Heath Bell get shipped to San Diego for RHP Jon Adkins and Xavier Nady clone Outfielder Ben Johnson.
November 17th - The Mets sign super-sub Damion Easley to a one-year contract worth $850k. This blogger has not forgotten Easley's disclosure that he grew up "a die-hard Yankees fan."
November 18th - The Mets sign Moises Alou to a two year contract, making him their new left fielder and essentially ending Cliff Floyd's tenure with the New York Mets.
November 29th - The Mets lose Chad Bradford to the Baltimore Orioles, who sign him to a three year deal.
December 6th - Omar Minaya ships Brian Bannister to the Kansas City Royals for 21 year old righthanded relief pitcher Ambiorix Burgos.
December 13th - Darren Oliver signs with the California Angels.
December 19th - Howard Johnson "HoJo" joins the Mets major league coaching staff.
December 20th- Chris Woodward signs with the Atlanta Braves. The bastard.
December 28th - Barry Zito does not sign with the Mets.
January 6th - The Mets sign lefthanded supersub David Newhan to a one year contract. Mets also name Ken Oberkfell the new manager of their new AAA franchise, the New Orleans Zephyrs. What is a zephyr?
January 10th - The Mets sign free agent relief pitcher Scott Schoeneweis to a three-year deal.
January 12th - The Mets sign righthanded pitcher Jorge Sosa.
January 24th - Cliff Floyd signs with the Cubs.
January 25th - The Mets sign 36 year old righthander Aaron Sele to a minor league deal. Willie Randolph agrees to a new three-year, $5.65-million contract that runs through 2009.
January 31st - Victor Zambrano signs with the Blue Jays.
February 10th - The Mets ink 33 year old righthander Chan Ho Park to a one-year, $600k contract.
New Mets -
Chan Ho Park
Aaron Sele
Jorge Sosa
Scott Schoeneweis
David Newhan
Ben Johnson
Jon Adkins
Ambiorix Burgos
Moises Alou
Damion Easley
Newly Transplanted ex-Mets:
Steve Trachsel
Victor Zambrano
Brian Bannister
Cliff Floyd
Darren Oliver
Chad Bradford
Royce Ring
Heath Bell
Chris Woodward
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Kris Benson to Miss Season
According to Ken Rosenthal, transplanted ex-Met Kris Benson will miss all of the 2007 season due to a partially torn rotator cuff.
Tough break for the O's, who were hoping to put together a solid season, after adding Aubrey Huff and Danys Baez, as well as ex-Mets Chad Bradford, Roger Cedeno and Jay Payton.
"To replace Benson, the Orioles could sign a free agent from a dwindling list that includes right-hander Steve Trachsel, left-hander Ron Villone and left-hander Mark Redman."
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Make Room For Blogging... and Chan Ho Park
It's been nine days since my last posting, the longest stretch since starting this blog just over a year ago. I've been busier with work and school more than anytime I can remember, but luckily this inundation of activity has also coincided with the biggest stretch of non-events in Mets world. So, although I've not posted much, there's been almost nothing to post anyway!
Last night the Mets inked 33 year old righthander Chan Ho Park to a one-year, $600k contract. Now on the same roster with Tom Glavine, El Duque, Aaron Sele and Pedro Martinez, the Mets have amassed one of the greatest rotations of all time... if only it were 1998...
1998 stats
Aaron Sele 19-11 4.23 ERA (TEX)
Chan Ho Park 15-9 3.71 ERA (LA)
Tom Glavine 20-6 2.47 ERA (ATL)
El Duque 12-4 3.13 ERA (NYY)
Pedro Martinez 19-7 2.89 ERA (BOS)
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Papa Piazza. How about Mike Piazza's wife popping out a kid, huh? Piazza's news item has stirred up the usual questions of whether he'll be inducted into The Hall wearing a Mets cap or a Dodgers cap. Mike became famous in L.A. and had his best years there, but he spent more years with the Mets, compiled more numbers with the Mets, and went to the postseason twice. Plus, the lovefests that occurred in his final game at Shea as a Met, and again when he returned to New York as a Padre, are indelible memories. Regardless, his number shall be retired by the Mets, you can bank on that. Perhaps in 2009, to open Citi Field?
Last night the Mets inked 33 year old righthander Chan Ho Park to a one-year, $600k contract. Now on the same roster with Tom Glavine, El Duque, Aaron Sele and Pedro Martinez, the Mets have amassed one of the greatest rotations of all time... if only it were 1998...
1998 stats
Aaron Sele 19-11 4.23 ERA (TEX)
Chan Ho Park 15-9 3.71 ERA (LA)
Tom Glavine 20-6 2.47 ERA (ATL)
El Duque 12-4 3.13 ERA (NYY)
Pedro Martinez 19-7 2.89 ERA (BOS)
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Papa Piazza. How about Mike Piazza's wife popping out a kid, huh? Piazza's news item has stirred up the usual questions of whether he'll be inducted into The Hall wearing a Mets cap or a Dodgers cap. Mike became famous in L.A. and had his best years there, but he spent more years with the Mets, compiled more numbers with the Mets, and went to the postseason twice. Plus, the lovefests that occurred in his final game at Shea as a Met, and again when he returned to New York as a Padre, are indelible memories. Regardless, his number shall be retired by the Mets, you can bank on that. Perhaps in 2009, to open Citi Field?
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Transplanted Baseball Fans: John Kerry Has Your Back
Since news broke that DirecTV was about to sign an exclusive deal with Major League Baseball to carry its Extra Innings package, out of market baseball fans everywhere have cried foul. If you can't, or don't want to, switch from cable, and you want to watch out of market baseball games, you'll be S-O-L once the new deal takes place.
Today, Metsblog passes along word that Senator John Kerry has spoken out against the deal, and may take the issue up with the FCC:
As a transplanted Mets Fan, I hate this deal, but I am seriously doubt it will be resolved with legal action. I find it hard to believe that the courts will say that broadcast and cable TV viewers have a "right" to watch MLB games around the country. I hope though, that MLB caves a little bit, just due to negative public reaction. Tough to see them walking away from $700 mil, though.
If the deal does go through, and you can't or don't want a dish, your remaining options are
MLB.com or satellite radio. Still getting screwed there, are fans who fall into the blackout zones, where they are subject to blackout restrictions because their zip code falls within a team's non-compete zone, yet they aren't able to get the games on TV because their cable company doesn't have a deal with the carrying channel, such as SNY...
Today, Metsblog passes along word that Senator John Kerry has spoken out against the deal, and may take the issue up with the FCC:
"I am opposed to anything that deprives people of reasonable choices," Kerry said in a statement. "In this day and age, consumers should have more choices -- not fewer. I'd like to know how this serves the public -- a deal that will force fans to subscribe to DirecTV in order to tune in to their favorite players. A Red Sox fan ought to be able to watch their team without having to switch to DirecTV."
As a transplanted Mets Fan, I hate this deal, but I am seriously doubt it will be resolved with legal action. I find it hard to believe that the courts will say that broadcast and cable TV viewers have a "right" to watch MLB games around the country. I hope though, that MLB caves a little bit, just due to negative public reaction. Tough to see them walking away from $700 mil, though.
If the deal does go through, and you can't or don't want a dish, your remaining options are
MLB.com or satellite radio. Still getting screwed there, are fans who fall into the blackout zones, where they are subject to blackout restrictions because their zip code falls within a team's non-compete zone, yet they aren't able to get the games on TV because their cable company doesn't have a deal with the carrying channel, such as SNY...
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Victor Zambrano A Canuck
The Victor Zambrano Era is officially over.
Yesterday, The Man For Whom We Traded Scott Kazmir signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
For his Mets career, Zambrano was 10-14 with a 4.42 ERA in 35 starts, going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts last year.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye!
Yesterday, The Man For Whom We Traded Scott Kazmir signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
For his Mets career, Zambrano was 10-14 with a 4.42 ERA in 35 starts, going 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts last year.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Transplanted ex-Met Update: Former President Bing Devine Dies
Best known as a Cardinals GM, architect of the 1964 World Champion Cardinals, former Mets President Bing Devine died today at age 90.
From 1965-67, Devine was assistant to the president, and then president of the New York Mets, during which time he convinced top brass to post the necessary $53,500 to sign Tom Seaver.
An excellent synopsis of Devine's Mets tenure, by Jon of Mets By The Numbers, can be found here.
- - -
In other transplanted ex-Mets news, Karim Garcia has signed a minor league contract with the Phillies. Garcia spent the first half of the 2004 season with the Mets before being traded to the Orioles for Mike DeJean. Garcia is probably best known for, while as a Yankee, beating up a Boston Red Sox groundskeeper in the Fenway Park bullpen during the 2003 ALCS. This did not deter Jim Duquette from signing him before the 2004 season. After signing with the Mets, Garcia and Shane Spencer were accused of starting a fight in the parking lot of a pizzeria in Port St. Lucie during Spring Training in 2004. The fight allegedly began when began when Garcia was asked not to urinate in the parking lot after a birthday celebration for his wife.
Garcia spent 2005 and 2006 playing in Japan for the Orix Buffaloes.
From 1965-67, Devine was assistant to the president, and then president of the New York Mets, during which time he convinced top brass to post the necessary $53,500 to sign Tom Seaver.
An excellent synopsis of Devine's Mets tenure, by Jon of Mets By The Numbers, can be found here.
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In other transplanted ex-Mets news, Karim Garcia has signed a minor league contract with the Phillies. Garcia spent the first half of the 2004 season with the Mets before being traded to the Orioles for Mike DeJean. Garcia is probably best known for, while as a Yankee, beating up a Boston Red Sox groundskeeper in the Fenway Park bullpen during the 2003 ALCS. This did not deter Jim Duquette from signing him before the 2004 season. After signing with the Mets, Garcia and Shane Spencer were accused of starting a fight in the parking lot of a pizzeria in Port St. Lucie during Spring Training in 2004. The fight allegedly began when began when Garcia was asked not to urinate in the parking lot after a birthday celebration for his wife.
Garcia spent 2005 and 2006 playing in Japan for the Orix Buffaloes.
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