Head on over to Mets.com for a nice little piece on Doctor K, who is getting married soon, and proclaims himself "good."
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Embarrassing Moments In Mets History
Buckle in folks, this going to be a long one. Why are we Mets fans? Are we masochists? Seems like the Mets can't go six months without making a move that makes us the laughing stock of baseball. The debut of the patch that will adorn the uniforms of the Mets during home games at City Field is only the latest in a long history of blunders.Seriously, this is what we get? The Junkees introduce their patch, and this is ours? That's what we get for naming our stadium after a failing bank, and then letting the bank for chrissakes design the patch!
“It is compatible and consistent with Citigroup’s overall branding and graphic design elements,” Howard said. “That’s the connection. The Citi logo is a fairly simple logo. It’s ‘citi’ in lowercase, with a red arc. So they have more of a minimalist style to their brand and their logo. Obviously, as our partner for Citi Field, we’re going to give substantial deference to their design and graphic treatment.” Howard said the Mets were flattered that Citigroup designed a logo that incorporated the team’s blue and orange colors.
Flattered? Flattered!? It's a METS uniform that the patch will be sewn onto - don't the Mets get a say?!? Of course, if we left things up to the Mets designers, the same numnuts who came up with the Mets version of Turn Ahead The Clock Night and decided to embarrass their future Hall Of Famer Rickey Henderson by turning him into some kind of space mutant.
Not embarrassing enough for you? How about Shawn Estes missing Roger Clemens with a beanball? The beanball was supposed to be revenge for Clemens clocking Mike Piazza. Speaking of Mike Piazza, how about Piazza holding a press conference on the field to announce he wasn't gay? Or Steve Phillips holding a press conference to apologize for being a creep? This was reminiscent of Cleon Jones being forced to hold a press conference to apologize for a parking lot impropriety.
Speaking of parking lots, how about Karim Garcia and Shane Spencer getting into a fight with a local hooligan outside a pizza place in Florida? Speaking of food, how about Dirty/Tardy Sanchez screwing up the 2006 pennant chase by deciding he needed to get in a taxi and go for Dominican Food at 2AM? Speaking of Taxis, how about Tom Glavine busting out his teeth in a taxi accident? Remember Agent Tom Glavine said losing his teeth was "heartbreaking," but spitting the bit in the final game of the 2007 season was "not devastating".
The Mets sure seem to finish seasons well, don't they? How about blowing a seven-game lead with 17 to play? And then duplicating the feat a year later?
How about allowing Tom The Franchise Seaver to go unprotected in a compensation pool and losing him to the White Sox, where he'd go on to win his 300th game at Yankees Stadium? How about Vince Coleman throwing a cherry bomb at fans in Los Angeles, or Bret Saberhagen spraying bleach from a water gun at reporters? Bobby Bonilla wearing earplugs to drown out the Shea Stadium boos? Kenny Rogers? Roger Cedeno? Allowing Fran Healy to man the TV mike for so long?
Folks, the reason why we put up with all this is not because we're mascochists. It's because we're fans. We're loyal to a fault, and we know that victory is twice as sweet when it takes a h
ard, rocky road to get there. Being a Mets fans means your not a front runner. Sure, you can go anywhere in the world and see a Yankees cap, but ask that person in that random city to name the Yankees starting rotation and you have a four out of five chance of getting a blank stare in return. But spot a Mets cap in Cleveland, and I'll bet you a Rheingold that the person bleeds orange and blue. Chin Up! We're in it together, Mets fans. And that's why I'll be at CityField this season, and that's why I'm excited that Santanas and Schneiders report in less than 30 days. Lets Go Mets in 2009!
Ex Mets Update: Rico Brogna
Head on over to LoHud for an update on transplanted ex-Mets first baseman Rico Brogna, who's been hired as an assistant football coach at Wesleyan University.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Pedro Martinez Won't Be Siging With Florida - Yet Another ESPN Deportes Reports Disputed
I wish I had been keeping track of all the ESPNDeportes reports that came out that later proved to be innacurate. Maybe I'll do some researching and come up with a list. In the meantime, here's just the latest example:
MLB.com says the Marlins aren't interested and The Palm Beach Post says Pedro's not going to the Marlins.
Ex-Mets on The MLB Hall Of Fame Ballot
On Monday we'll get to find out who has been elected to baseball's Hall Of Fame. Here are some articles about the chances of some Transplanted ex-Mets:
Jesse Orosco - If he gets the nod, he'll certainly go in as a Met,
"Mets, definitely," he said. "Many more memories there than anywhere else."
David Cone got his first, his last, and 81 in total, of his 194 career victories with the Mets, and spent close to six years as a Met (his careeer spanned 17 seasons over 18 years). He also had some success with The Junkees, but we'll forgive that for this week. He's a longshot to get in, at least for his first ballot, so we'll save the argument with Yankees fans over which hat he would wear on a more apropos occasion.
Rickey Henderson is spending Sunday night wondering if Rickey will be the first unanimous election to the Hall Of Fame. Rickey's exit from the Mets in 2000 was so acrimonious that he was the only player who spent any time on the team who didn't get a NL Championship Ring. The Mercury Mets handed out those rings to just about everyone in the organization and every player who had any kind of stint with the 2000 Mets, except Henderson. Steve Phillips explained it as saying Rickey was the only player who also played for another playoff team that season (Seattle Mariners).
Rickey was brought back into the Mets fold by Omar Minaya in 2006, and he had a short and somewhat controversial stint as first base coach in 2007. Needless to say I wouldn't even bet you a Cooperstown hot dog that he'll wear a Mets cap into the hall. (But I said it anyway just so I could make a sly reference to a hot dog).
"Mets, definitely," he said. "Many more memories there than anywhere else."
David Cone got his first, his last, and 81 in total, of his 194 career victories with the Mets, and spent close to six years as a Met (his careeer spanned 17 seasons over 18 years). He also had some success with The Junkees, but we'll forgive that for this week. He's a longshot to get in, at least for his first ballot, so we'll save the argument with Yankees fans over which hat he would wear on a more apropos occasion.
Rickey Henderson is spending Sunday night wondering if Rickey will be the first unanimous election to the Hall Of Fame. Rickey's exit from the Mets in 2000 was so acrimonious that he was the only player who spent any time on the team who didn't get a NL Championship Ring. The Mercury Mets handed out those rings to just about everyone in the organization and every player who had any kind of stint with the 2000 Mets, except Henderson. Steve Phillips explained it as saying Rickey was the only player who also played for another playoff team that season (Seattle Mariners).
Rickey was brought back into the Mets fold by Omar Minaya in 2006, and he had a short and somewhat controversial stint as first base coach in 2007. Needless to say I wouldn't even bet you a Cooperstown hot dog that he'll wear a Mets cap into the hall. (But I said it anyway just so I could make a sly reference to a hot dog).
Tim Redding Is In; Is Pedro Martinez Out?
Word on the scene was that Pedro Martinez was open to re-signing with the Mets on a one year, incentive-laden contract. Well the Mets just gave a contract like that to Tim Redding, and suddenly now Pedro Martinez is now negotiating with the Miami-based baseball team that plays in Dolphins Stadium. Is Petey about to be a Transplanted ex-Mets pitcher? Stay tuned...
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: Shawn Estes signs with Dodgers
Shawn Estes, the man whom Mets fans remember most as the guy who missed Roger Clemens with a beanball, has signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
If Estes makes the Dodgers' 40-man big-league roster he'll be paid $550,000 and could earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses bases on starts, from five to 30.
The 35-year-old lefty had a 2-3 record with a 4.74 ERA in nine games for the San Diego Padres last season. For the 2002 Mets, Estes went 4-9 with a 4.55 ERA in 23 starts. And although that record was pretty lousy, and though he blew the Mets sole attempt at revenge against Roger Clemens, he did beat the Yankees in that same game, allowing 5 hits and no runs in 7 innings, throwing 11 Ks en route to an 8-0 win. He also hit a homerun off the guy he was supposed to bean.
If Estes makes the Dodgers' 40-man big-league roster he'll be paid $550,000 and could earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses bases on starts, from five to 30.
The 35-year-old lefty had a 2-3 record with a 4.74 ERA in nine games for the San Diego Padres last season. For the 2002 Mets, Estes went 4-9 with a 4.55 ERA in 23 starts. And although that record was pretty lousy, and though he blew the Mets sole attempt at revenge against Roger Clemens, he did beat the Yankees in that same game, allowing 5 hits and no runs in 7 innings, throwing 11 Ks en route to an 8-0 win. He also hit a homerun off the guy he was supposed to bean.
Transplated ex-Mets pitcher Dave Roberts dies at 64
Former Mets pitcher Dave Roberts, a left-hander who also played for the 1979 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates, died of lung cancer Friday. He was 64. Roberts had a 13 year career in the big leagues, amassing 103 wins for eight teams, but finished his career with seven appearances for the 1981 Mets.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Pedro Martinez doesn't want to be an ex-Met
It remains to be seen if a deal gets done, but so far Pedro Martinez is showing more loyalty to the Mets than John Smoltz did to the Atlanta Braves. Says Petey to The New York Post:
"I went over to the Mets with something in mind, to win a World Series in the National League, and I haven't achieved that,"
"I'm anxious to get out there with the team that we have right now. We should be really close to a team that will win it all, and I want to be part of it."
The Mets, according to various outlets, are open to bringing Pedro Martinez back on an incentive-laden contract.
"I went over to the Mets with something in mind, to win a World Series in the National League, and I haven't achieved that,"
"I'm anxious to get out there with the team that we have right now. We should be really close to a team that will win it all, and I want to be part of it."
The Mets, according to various outlets, are open to bringing Pedro Martinez back on an incentive-laden contract.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: Ex Mets Around MLB
-3B Melvin Mora will play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
-Chan Ho Park finalized his one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Phillies.
-Lastings Milledge is competing with six other outfielders on the Expos', I mean Nationals', 40-Man roster for playing time. Milledge may lose his centerfield job, and may find himself shipped out of Montreal, I mean Washington, altogether.
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Heath Bell is the new closer for the Padres
With San Diego icon Trevor Hoffman signing with the Milwaukee Brewers, the job of closer has been officially handed to ex-Mets mop-up man Heath Bell. by manager Bud Black. Bud gave Bell a "huge vote of confidence":
"The message that Heath has to understand is that nobody replaces a guy like Trevor Hoffman," Black said. "Nobody replaces that caliber of player. He has to be Heath Bell. He has to be what he is capable of doing as a major league pitcher. From what we have seen the last couple of years, we have to hope that translates into a guy who gets major league saves."
Bell's teammate Chris Young echoed the endorsement that Bell will be great as a closer.
"As much as we'll miss Trevor, hopefully we'll find a way to win games and find somebody who can get three outs to end the game, and we'll be all right. Trevor's value to the franchise has been a lot greater than that, but hopefully Heath will be up to the challenge."
Boy, that sounds like about as much confidence as the Mets had in Bell when they traded him to San Diego for Jon Adkins and Ben Johnson in 2006.
Bell was mostly effective as a reliver for the Mets from 2004 to 2006, with a 4.92 ERA but 105 Ks in 108 innings, but he never really got a shot. He mostly served as an injury replacement on the big league roster, racking up a lot of frequent flier miles between New York and Tidewater. Good luck Heath
"The message that Heath has to understand is that nobody replaces a guy like Trevor Hoffman," Black said. "Nobody replaces that caliber of player. He has to be Heath Bell. He has to be what he is capable of doing as a major league pitcher. From what we have seen the last couple of years, we have to hope that translates into a guy who gets major league saves."
Bell's teammate Chris Young echoed the endorsement that Bell will be great as a closer.
"As much as we'll miss Trevor, hopefully we'll find a way to win games and find somebody who can get three outs to end the game, and we'll be all right. Trevor's value to the franchise has been a lot greater than that, but hopefully Heath will be up to the challenge."
Boy, that sounds like about as much confidence as the Mets had in Bell when they traded him to San Diego for Jon Adkins and Ben Johnson in 2006.
Bell was mostly effective as a reliver for the Mets from 2004 to 2006, with a 4.92 ERA but 105 Ks in 108 innings, but he never really got a shot. He mostly served as an injury replacement on the big league roster, racking up a lot of frequent flier miles between New York and Tidewater. Good luck Heath
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Ed Kranepool
to make appearance for Buffalo Bison
In case you happen to live in Buffalo, the Mets' new AAA affiliate The Buffalo Bisons announced today that ex-Mets All-Star and 1969 World Series Champion Ed Kranepool will speak at the team's Hot Stove Luncheon, Friday, January 16 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Buffalo.
Ed Kranepool is the Mets all-time leader in at-bats, hits, doubles, and total bases, playing more games as a Met (1853) than any other player. Ed Kranepool also played for the Buffalo Bison in the early 1960's.
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Financial Advice From Lenny Dykstra
Head on over to The Street for some financial advice from ex-Mets superstar Lenny Dykstra. In the article, titled "Limiting Downside Risk," Lenny advocates his DITM options trading system:
"When we buy a call option contract, we are essentially paying for someone to guarantee to sell us the stock at a set price and on or before a set date. Then when we sell the contract, we are giving someone else the right to buy the stock. That is our strategy, and it limits our risk to the amount we paid for the option."
Pretty intense stuff from a guy who was best known for diving for balls and calling everyone "dude."
After leaving professional ball, Lenny Dykstra made a decent amount of money is various investments, most notably a chain of car washes. Nowadays Lenny Dykstra manages Nails on the Numbers, a subscription service sold by TheStreet.com. Click here for a free trial to Nails on the Numbers.
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Vance Wilson
According to the Kansas City Stay, the Royals have signed ex-Mets catcher Vance Wilson to a minor league contract. According to the story,
"Wilson will continue to rehabilitate from a right elbow injury, and as such won't be in big-league camp during spring training. That elbow injury limited the 35-year-old to three games over the past two seasons."
Drafted by the Mets out of college, Vance Wilson is remembered best by Mets fans as Mike Piazza's back-up from 2001 to 2004. In 286 games with the Mets, Vance Wilson hit .254 with 17 dingers and 92 RBI, and had an on base percentage of .308. Those numbers, compiled over six seasons, would be a poor one full season for the guy he was backing up, but Vance was a more-than serviceable backup for Mike Piazza, especially in the category of throwing out base runners.
Vance Wilson became a transplanted ex-Met in January 2005 when he was traded to Detroit for Anderson Hernandez.
"Wilson will continue to rehabilitate from a right elbow injury, and as such won't be in big-league camp during spring training. That elbow injury limited the 35-year-old to three games over the past two seasons."
Drafted by the Mets out of college, Vance Wilson is remembered best by Mets fans as Mike Piazza's back-up from 2001 to 2004. In 286 games with the Mets, Vance Wilson hit .254 with 17 dingers and 92 RBI, and had an on base percentage of .308. Those numbers, compiled over six seasons, would be a poor one full season for the guy he was backing up, but Vance was a more-than serviceable backup for Mike Piazza, especially in the category of throwing out base runners.
Vance Wilson became a transplanted ex-Met in January 2005 when he was traded to Detroit for Anderson Hernandez.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Cladio Vargas
Ex-Mets pitcher Claudio Vargas agreed to a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday.
Vargas went 3-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 11 appearances, including four starts, in 2008 for the Mets.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)