Transplanted ex-Mets update: Anthony Young

Anthony McCarron has a nice piece in the Daily News today about ex-Mets pitcher Anthony Young, the guy everyone remembers for the longest losing streak in baseball history. Dude lost 27 games in a row between 1992 and 1993 for The Metropolitans. Check out the article and bring back the memories! Photo courtesy of Hardinal Cands
http://flickr.com/photos/25274271@N00/468717557

Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: Tony Clark

Tony Clark has signed a 1 year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for $800,000.  Tony is 36 years old and is tied for #196 on the all time home run list with 247 dingers, and once hit three homers in a game for the Junkees, but undoubtedly the highlight of his career was backing up Jason Phillips at 1st base for the 2003 New York Mets.

Where Will the Free Agent Transplanted Ex-Mets Go?

Yesterday's Sporting News had a MLB free-agent tracker.  Here's where they said they expect the ex-Mets to wind up:

Jeff Kent - Retirement
Ty Wigginton - Giants
Moises Alou - Retirement
Cliff Floyd - Retirement (shoulder injury)
Tom Glavine - Atlanta
Orlando El Duque Hernandez - Anyone's guess
Braden Looper - Brewers or Orioles
Pedro Martinez - Mets
Jason Isringhausen - Anyone's guess

And in case you missed it:
Darren Oliver - Accepted Arbitration with Angels
David "Yes He's Still Around" Weathers - Accepted arbitration with Reds
Mike Hampton - Signed 1 year deal with Houston

Transplanted ex-Mets on the MLB Hall Of Fame Ballot

The ballot for the 2009 Hall Of Fame was released, with a bunch of names on it, but let's look at the notable ex-Mets:

Jesse Orosco
David Cone
Mo Vaughn
Jay Bell
and some guy named Rickey Henderson.  Wonder if Jay Bell will wear a Mets cap if he makes it in?

Mets News: 7 Packs Will Not Be Offered at Citi Field in 2009

Past holders of Shea Stadium 7 Packs/8 Packs received letters in the mail today that 7 packs will not be available at Citi Field next year but *GREAT NEWS* they'll be able to buy a 15 Game pack in a couple weeks.

I have not missed an Opening Day in as long as I can remember. For the past few years, Opening Day sold out so quickly that the only way my friends and I could score tix to the home opener was to buy a 7 or 8 game package that included Opening Day. A few years back it was a pretty good deal, as the package would also include a vs. Yankees game and other choice games. Then they pulled the Yankees games out of the packs but left in other good games. Then they upped the pack to eight games and reduced the quality of the oppponents. Last year's Opener Pack was so pathetic, filled with weeknight games to lousy opponents... Now they've upped the pack to fifteen games! You be the judge:

If you NEED to be at Opening Day, this is your shot: A 15 Game package, starting at $269:

Monday	April 13	7:10 p.m.	San Diego Padres
Tuesday	April 28	7:10 p.m.	Florida Marlins
Thursday	May 7	7:10 p.m.	Philadelphia Phillies
Tuesday	May 12	7:10 p.m.	Atlanta Braves
Wednesday	May 27	7:10 p.m.	Nationals
Thursday	June 11	7:10 p.m.	Philadelphia Phillies
Thursday	June 25	1:10 p.m.	St. Louis Cardinals
Thursday	July 9	7:10 p.m.	Dodgers
Tuesday	July 28	7:10 p.m.	Colorado Rockies
Monday	August 3	7:10 p.m.	Diamondbacks
Monday	August 17	7:10 p.m.	Giants
Thursday	August 20	7:10 p.m.	Atlanta Braves
Monday	August 24	1:10 p.m.	Philadelphia Phillies
Wednesday	September 9	7:10 p.m.	Florida Marlins
Tuesday	September 22	7:10 p.m.	Atlanta Braves

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/ticketing/season_plans.jsp

So, this will in all likelihood be the first year I don't make it to Mets Opening Day. Even if I were willing to spend the $269 there's no way I'd be able to make it to many weeknight games in Queens since I live and work in Central Jersey.

Heat is On Manuel: Bobby Valentine on Japanese Farewell Tour in 2009

While Jerry Manuel got the Mets to perform well enough to have his "interim" tag removed as manager, the two year deal he recieved offers no guarantees for a long tenure at the helm.  And with the news today that Transplanted ex-Mets manager and fan favorite Bobby Valentine will not be offered a contract extension by The Chiba Lotte Marines after his current four-year deal expires at the end of 2009 season, the heat is offically on Jerry Manuel.  The media loves Jerry because of his candor, but Mets fans have him on short leash after the September collapse of 2008.

Merry K Rod X Mas and a Putz-y New Year

Although I'm sad that the Argenis Reyes (Our Heinous Anus) Era is Over... I couldn't be happier with what Santa Minaya put under my tree this year. I feel a lot better about the bullpen now, naturally, though I am definitely concerned with how we'll replace Ollie Perez if he signs elsewhere... He has his challenges, for sure, but on any given night he can be an ace. You can't say the same about any of the other names being tossed about.

I also have to smirk at the doings of our fellow NL Easters. Today Rafael Furcal backed out of a handshake agreement with the Braves, to instead turn around and re-sign with the Dodgers. This has not been a fun offseason for the Braves. Go watch Mike Hampton have a great year with Houston.

I'm definitely jealous of the WiPhebeaters' signing of Ibanez, but I am scratching my head at the signing of Chan Ho Park, and giving Jamie Moyer a 2 year deal. Were they not paying attention to the Mets, and how our two year deals with players on the wrong side of 40 turned out (see Moises Alou, El Duque, and Julio Franco)?

Transplated ex-Met update: Ty Wigginton has been released, but Matt Cerrone throws cold water on Mets fans hoping for his return.

Now if you'll excuse me, I just head about this great investment opportunity in Egypt...

A Chiti Situation

The Mets and Citicorp say they are committed to the partnership that gives the troubled Citi Bank naming rights to the Mets' new stadium for 20 years.  Yeah, right. 

 

Of all the corporate names the Mets could have partnered with to name the stadium, "Citi Field" isn't all that bad.  But the PR nightmare of all that money going to a dubious marketing program while thousands of people are laid off is just really unfortunate.

 

Once Citi finally, inevitably, backs out of the deal, the Mets should just give the new stadium a new permanent, seamless, apropos name:

 

CITY FIELD

 

You read it here first.

 

(maybe)?

Transplanted ex-Met Mike Hampton reminisces about Shea Stadium

From today's Sporting News interview with Mike Hampton:

 

Q:What came into your mind when you arrived at Shea Stadium on Tuesday?

A: Honestly, the 2000 NLCS.  We were facing the Cardinals.  The atmosphere was just electric.  It was just the best time in the world for me career-wise.  Just to be able to go out there and win and get to go to the World Series is something I will never forget.

Junkees Add Another

Apparently they didn't have enough players on their past or current roster who had been accused of steroid abuse, so they added another today. The Yankees traded resurgent reliever Kyle Farnsworth for declining Ivan "Not so Pudge-y anymore since steroid-testing" Rodriguez. Welcome to the Junkees, Pudge.

Billy Joel is a Jerk (Part II)

I got a couple angry comments to my recent post, "Billy Joel is a Jerk." Yeah, I admit, I have a love/hate relationship with the guy. I love him because I grew up with his music, and as a Long Islander he's practically a local hero. On the other hand I hate him because he's eschewed pop music (for dubious reasons) and he's become a greedy bastard who milks his fans for every penny.

He gave me more ammo recently when it was announced that he'd be performing the last concert ever at Shea Stadium. Tickets went on sale, and sold out in like an hour or something. So what did they do? Added a second show, of course! Meaning, those 50,000 people who bought tickets to what they thought was the Last Concert Ever At Shea Stadium suddenly found themselves with tickets to... The Second-To-Last Concert Ever at Shea Stadium. Nice.

"Forgiveable," people said to me. It's nothing to get worked up about. I just have a bias against the guy and will look for any reason to dis him, they said. OK. It's going to be the same concert anyway, right? Yeah, except until the concerts actually happened.

The Wednesday night show, according to a friend of mine who was there, featured an overweight, out-of-breath, "pumpkin-headed" Joel who was barely able to hit the notes. But the stage looked cool. And there were special guests! A group of A-minus list pop stars like John Mellencamp, the overrated John Mayer, and Don Henley. OK, not bad.

Until Friday night rolls around. Same pumpkin-head, same stage... But the special guests? A little different. How about Roger Daltrey, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, and... Paul F*ckin McCartney. Are you kidding me? Are you KIDDING Me. Everyone knows The Beatles performance at Shea Stadium (the first concert ever at Shea) in 1965 is one of the most famous concerts of all time, and who better to put a lid on the whole thing than Sir Paul himself. (Yes, McCartney was in a band before Wings) Holy moly. So, you still don't think the Wednesday-nighters got ripped off?

Transplanted ex-Met Carlos Gomez hurt while making catch

Carlos Gomez sustained a lower back injury when he crashed into the padded wall while making a catch in yesterdays Twins game against the Indians. Making a long chase after a Ben Francisco fly ball, Gomez jumped, caught the ball, and slammed into the outfield wall. He crumpled on the warning track and spent several minutes writhing in pain before he was immobilized on a backboard, loaded on a cart and transported to a Cleveland hospital. Gomez returned to the ballpark about 10 minutes after the end of the game, saying he "never had so much pain in my life," An MRI came back negative.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8379808/Twins%27-Gomez-hurt-while-making-catch

Sign Ollie!!

The friggin Junkees traded for Transplanted X-Met Xavier Nady, the right-handed bat the Mets have been missing ever since they traded him for Oliver Perez and Bert Hernandez a few seasons ago.

After a mind-wrenching, several-seasons-long stretch of alternating brilliant/horrible starts, O'Perez finally has found his groove, mere months away from free agency.  In April and May we were wondering if the Mets should try to sign him to a contract.  Even though lefthanders with his stuff aren't easy to come by, his inconsistency drove us to agita so often that we were just about ready to be done with him.  Well, the time has come to grit our teeth and overpay for the Scott Boras client.  He's a lefty, he can dominate the Phillies (and Junkees), and he's young.  And yesterday sealed the deal:  signing O'Perez is the only way we can stomach seeing our boy Nady (whose jersey was hung up in the Mets dugout during the 2006 playoff run to honor the player who had to be traded because Duaner Sanchez's favorite restaurant didn't deliver) play right field for the friggin Junkees every day.

You hear me, Omar????!!!  Sign Oliver Perez! 

I'm headed to Shea tonight to see the FIRST PLACE METS take on the Cardinals.  The Brandon Knight era begins.  I think this guy is technically a rookie, since he's only been in 11 games in his career, even though he's closing in on his 33rd birthday.  Hope the bullpen is rested.  Yes, they are.  Thank you Mike Pelfrey!

David Wright News

I started stuffing the ballot for David Wright to be named to the all-star game, but then I remembered how much his performance tailed off after last year's appearance and thought that maybe he's better off taking the three days off.  If he makes it in by 4 votes, blame me.

Biggest Game of The Year

My boss is a big Phillies fan, and yesterday morning I walked into his office and proclaimed last night's game as the biggest game of the year for the Mets.  A chance to have  a winning road trip, take 3 of 4 from the Phils, move to withing 2 1/2 games of first, and find out what Pedro has left in the tank.  Howie Rose must have heard me, because he said the same thing about 50 times during the radio broadcast last night.  My boss said the Phillies were due for an offensive breakout.  He was right.  But, too little too late....  Mets Win!