General Discussion Thread 02/11/2010: Congress, bail out the Mets!

[Chris in Ga]

This thread has been moved to Junk Status

lol Bond humor
Not James Bond though

[Chris in Ga]

Hope everyone is digging out?.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

This thread has been moved to Junk Status

lol Bond humor
Not James Bond though

At least with junk bonds you can call them by their less offensive name, high yield debt. There is nothing high yield about the Mets.

[Chris in Ga]

Luis castillo is junk but not high yielding. A lot of risk involved owning him.

[sheadenizen]

If the mets had money they wouldn't know how to spend it.... The bailout would have to be upon stipulation that the owners sell the business...otherwise you're wasting your time and money!

[C Low's Doppelganger]

Although I love watching sports I might pass on the first couple days of the Winter Olympics. Right now I'm a bit sick of the snow.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

I'm psyched for watching decent hockey for a change. If you're a fan of any of the 3 tri-state area teams you haven't seen that in at least a month if not longer.

[sheadenizen]

Right now I'm a bit sick of the snow.
Not to worry. Vancouver doesn't have any....that's the irony!

[Chris in Ga]

I heard that NBC is going to lose money on the olympics for the first time ever. That's crazy. I guess no one is willing to fork over the advertsing revenue

[bcuster]

i am definitely looking forward to olympic hockey! :)

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

Hockey medal predictions bcuster?

[sheadenizen]

I read that the braves made Johnny Damon an offer. I know Mr. Boras is looking for 2 years, but I think the Braves offered 1. They have Heyward waiting in the wings.
And Delgado is mulling retirement if he doesn't get the right offer.

[Rave]

Mike Jacobs for $.9m and incentives? I thought the Mets didn’t have money?

No idea what they’re going to do with him. Omar Minaya is the unchallenged master of holes and redundancies.

[Joe A.]

Jacobs is on a minor league deal, so he only gets the 900k if he makes the team. And if he makes the team, 900k is about as cheap as it gets.

[sheadenizen]

Hisanori Takahashi, 34, a left-hander, will be given a chance to compete as the staff’s fifth starter.

per the NY Times

[sheadenizen]

More on the subject.....


With only days to go before spring training, the Mets were on the verge of agreeing to terms Thursday with the veteran left-handed pitcher Hisanori Takahashi on a minor league contract, according to a person in baseball with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be identified because no one was authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Takahashi, who spent the last 10 years with Tokyo’s Yomiuri Giants, chose the Mets over the Dodgers, the Orioles, the Red Sox and the Padres, all of whom offered minor league contracts as well. But the Mets made the strongest offer, believed to be worth about $1 million if Takahashi makes the major league team, with a chance to make roughly an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses.

Adding Takahashi, who turns 35 on April 2, indicates the Mets do not expect to sign John Smoltz, who is said to be seeking at least $3 million.

[sheadenizen]

This team is beyond embarrassing. Seriously.

[sheadenizen]

Sounds perfect....:)
With an inconsistent career in Japan, his relatively small size and the low velocity of his fastball, Takahashi did not generate a groundswell of interest in the United States since declaring he would leave Japan after last season.

[peejay]

takahashi, eh

your new nickname is Taco and I expect double digit wins.

::prays for funky delivery::

[peejay]

i hate smileys

[peejay]

carlos delgado thinking about retirement with 473 homeruns. i wish someone with a small stadium (not phillies) would give him a chance to get to 500. he would be the first Puerto Ricano to reach that plateau. I didn't realize that Mike Lowell was from PR until I saw the list of sluggers.

[Chris in Ga]

I hope he is better than the last takahashi guy

[Ed in Westchester]

We still suck

[bcuster]

Hockey medal predictions bcuster?

russia: gold
usa: silver

canada: bronze

[peejay]

canada bronze....in canada?

Canada gold
Russia silver
Czechs, Swedes, USA third tier

[peejay]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Russia-over-Canada-U-S-in-key-pre-Olympic-hock?urn=oly,218250

my prediction is that ovechkin doesn't get the free pass from the officials that he does in NHL.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

canada bronze....in canada?

Canada gold
Russia silver
Czechs, Swedes, USA third tier

Canada doesn't exactly shine on the brightest stages in the Olympics since they were allowed to use NHL players. They have 7 centers, meaning a lot of guys will be playing out of position. I think Russia wins gold. I'm not sure about how the brackets stack up to allow which matchups, but I think Canada has the difficult task of having too many players to choose from and I don't know if they got the right mix this time.

[bcuster]

canada bronze....in canada?

Canada gold
Russia silver
Czechs, Swedes, USA third tier

russia is very strong. i think they will get the gold. canada's home ice is not going to be a big enough factor for them...

[peejay]

Canada doesn't exactly shine on the brightest stages in the Olympics since they were allowed to use NHL players. They have 7 centers, meaning a lot of guys will be playing out of position. I think Russia wins gold. I'm not sure about how the brackets stack up to allow which matchups, but I think Canada has the difficult task of having too many players to choose from and I don't know if they got the right mix this time.

i think Canada will put a pretty good team on the ice. they need to avoid the pitfall of putting in the BIG NAMES instead of best players.

[Squadron Nye]

carlos delgado thinking about retirement with 473 homeruns. i wish someone with a small stadium (not phillies) would give him a chance to get to 500. he would be the first Puerto Ricano to reach that plateau. I didn't realize that Mike Lowell was from PR until I saw the list of sluggers.

Mike Lowell? Really?

[Tim]

Hockey medal predictions bcuster?

chech rep..for the Gold Canada silver and Russia bronze....I have no clue

[Future]

Russia: Gold
Canada: Silver
Sweden: Bronze
USA: Fourth

Canada will choke with all the pressure on them.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

As good as Canada's D is, I don't think they have a shutdown guy that can handle Ovechkin/Malkin/Kovalchuk/Datsyuk. The problem is that Pronger is not that same as he was 4 years ago or 8 years ago. In a short, single elimination tournament, having those game breaking players makes a big difference instead of a best of 7 series where you have time to figure out ways to neutralize an opponent. Plus Russia used to own the Olympic gold medal, don't underestimate the joy they would get winning their first in nearly 20 years on Canadian ice.

[Future]

I don't see CR being even close to the podium.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

I don't see CR being even close to the podium.

Not without Hasek and a close to his prime Jagr. If Slovakia had a deeper team perhaps a bronze.

I think the US might have a fighting chance for bronze. Since 98, there's always been a surprise team playing for or winning the gold, in 98 it was CR, 02 it was the US, 06 it was Finland. I wonder who it will be this year?

[Future]

Finland has insane goaltending.

[Future]

We put Brashear on waivers about an hour ago.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

We put Brashear on waivers about an hour ago.

Saw that. Too bad that doesn't do anything for his cap hit (minus 100K).

[Future]

It just gets his carcass off the roster.

[Future]

Wow, that bum demanded to be traded. To where, the Swiss league?

Where does he think he can play?

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

Wow, that bum demanded to be traded. To where, the Swiss league?

Where does he think he can play?

Maybe out west, some team that hasn't seen enough of him play this year. He's got one year left on his deal though. He's impossible to move, but Sather was able to pawn off Kotalik so you never know. There are some GMs dumber than he is believe it or not.

[Future]

Who the hell gives a guy that old a two year deal?

Glen Sather.

[Ed in Westchester]

A major league source tells John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle that the Giants have offered Tim Lincecum a three-year, $37 million contract.

The proposed contract would includes annual salaries of $9.5 million, $12.5 million and $15 million, according to the report. Shea writes that the Lincecum camp countered with a proposal greater than $40 million. Assistant general manager Bobby Evans wouldn't confirm or deny the offer, and while he acknowledged that talks are "ongoing," he said that he hasn't spoken with Lincecum's people in 72 hours. It's at least good news to hear that the two sides are negotiating a multi-year contract, especially with an arbitration hearing looming rather large on Friday. Lincecum requested $13 million and was offered $8 million when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. He stands a good chance of winning and making history as a first-time arbitration-eligible player if it goes to a hearing.



...

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

Dude's spine is going to snap and he's going to end up like Gumby as soon as he signs that contract.

[sheadenizen]

Antonio Pierce has been released by the Giants!

[sheadenizen]

Dude's spine is going to snap and he's going to end up like Gumby as soon as he signs that contract.
You woudln't giveLincecum that contract? I surely would.

[Lunkwill Fook]

Hi. Still snowed in. Brashear was waived, by the way.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

You woudln't giveLincecum that contract? I surely would.

Any contract he gets is a bargain, but I just think it would be funny if the Giants went large on the Freak and he ends up being another bum contract to go with Zito.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

Hi. Still snowed in. Brashear was waived, by the way.

I really hope they find a trading partner, that's the only way to get his salary off the books.

[Future]

Yeah Lunk, I posted that I think on the last page. Hopefully someone wants him, just for free. That would be big for us.

[Future]

Hows DC? Stocked up on canned goods?

[Lunkwill Fook]

Yeah Lunk, I posted that I think on the last page. Hopefully someone wants him, just for free. That would be big for us.

At this point, we're on the hook for his salary, even on the cap. Nothing we can do about it, even if he's claimed.

[Lunkwill Fook]

Hows DC? Stocked up on canned goods?

We've been good with food. We have a large Harris Teeter grocery store just around the corner and it's been open through most of it. Going out to try to get some gourmet burgers now.

[Ed in Westchester]

We've been good with food. We have a large Harris Teeter grocery store just around the corner and it's been open through most of it. Going out to try to get some gourmet burgers now.

"gourmet burgers" = yh

[Future]

So the Mets posted a link on fb to buy 6 packs of tickets this year. The comments are so insanely negative its awesome.

Basically everyone is saying I'm not spending money if you aren't. I hope CitiField is a ghost town this year.

[Lunkwill Fook]

"gourmet burgers" = yh

Did you ever watch "Top Chef"? The guy who started this place was on it a few seasons ago. Really good burgers, let me tell you. And milk shakes.

[Future]

Which guy from Top Chef?

[sheadenizen]

Hold on to Rainey. Don't let her slip on the ice!

[DL]

i'm not sure i see that much of a problem with bringing in this taka 2 dude

lol @ predictable racism on fugees though

[C Low's Doppelganger]

damn I love the sun. Sun has melted all residual ice from my shoveling and looks BEEEE-U-TEE-FULL. Almost clear and fully dried concrete. Its the small things in life I guess.

[Lunkwill Fook]

OMG Mets are in on Endy! (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-offseason-buzz-012010)

[Lunkwill Fook]

Which guy from Top Chef?

Spike.

[Lunkwill Fook]

Hold on to Rainey. Don't let her slip on the ice!

Don't worry, Shea! If she goes down, I'm going down with her!

[C Low's Doppelganger]

LOL....

Olympics have already banned 30+ from the games due to failed drug tests

http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/news/story?id=4905798

[Future]

This is Good Stuff Eatery?

[Lunkwill Fook]

LOL....

Olympics have already banned 30+ from the games due to failed drug tests

http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/news/story?id=4905798

Typical. And they're probably only the ones using the cheap stuff that can be detected.

[Lunkwill Fook]

This is Good Stuff Eatery?

That would be it. Very tasty burgers. A little sloppy but I think that's by design. Really good fries and shakes too. I actually went to Richard Blaze's gourmet burger shop in Atlanta and I actually prefer Spike's even though Blaze is a much better chef.

[Lunkwill Fook]

By the way, they're calling for more snow on Monday.

[Dep]

i'm not sure i see that much of a problem with bringing in this taka 2 dude

lol @ predictable racism on fugees though

oh its a problem, but that wont be on Omar. its a decent add, he's interesting.

buttttttttttttttttt he's another lefty who cant get lefties out.

and guess what Jerry is gonna see him as? a LOOGY.

it will truly be TAKA PART DEUX

[Ed in Westchester]

Did you ever watch "Top Chef"? The guy who started this place was on it a few seasons ago. Really good burgers, let me tell you. And milk shakes.

never watched it. probably never will. not a fan of the reality genre.

[Lunkwill Fook]

Do we have those kind of lefty/righty splits on Japanese league players?

[sheadenizen]

i'm not sure i see that much of a problem with bringing in this taka 2 dude
DL, he is simply a reminder of all things that are wrong with the Mets.....throwing out shit and hoping something sticks. That's how they field a ball club. If you're in favor of that, then there is nothing wrong with signing him. The same way there's nothing wrong with all the other losers they sign to contracts and hope something sticks. Its how they do business!

[Lunkwill Fook]

Okay, time to go get burgers. Later all.

[C Low's Doppelganger]

OMG Mets are in on Endy! (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-offseason-buzz-012010)

what good does it do the Mets having a late game defensive replacement when your always trailing 7-1 in the late innings?

[Dep]

Do we have those kind of lefty/righty splits on Japanese league players?

Its out there, i saw some #'s someplace. i can track it down. lefties hit 300+ off him last season

[sheadenizen]

Maybe Endy learned to pitch?

[C Low's Doppelganger]

Maybe Endy learned to pitch?

hehehehehe.

[Dep]

Taka's scouting report:


Is coming off a solid 2009 campaign: 10-6, 2.94 ERA, 121/36 K/BB in 144 IP
Isn’t going to overwhelm anyone with an 85-90 mph fastball
Has an excellent screwball, which he induces grounders and misses bats with; should be a plus pitch at the MLB level as well
Also has a two-seam fastball, slider and curve; the two-seamer is a pretty good pitch
Has never been a huge innings eater in Japan: career high is 186.2 IP (2007), has twice thrown 163 (2002, 2005), next highest total is 144 (2009)
Was not a lefty killer in 2009: lefties hit .300 against him (48/160), while holding righties to .250 (99/396)
Did keep lefties in the park in 2009: only three of his 16 home runs allowed came against lefties

[Squadron Nye]

Basically everyone is saying I'm not spending money if you aren't. I hope CitiField is a ghost town this year.


Good... I'm psyched for baseball and will herald the rebirth of walk up ticket sales that we haven't seen since 2006/2007. I'm a Mets fan and a baseball fan so count me as one of those idiots who will be there in August. (My friends and I had entire sections in the mezzanine late during the 93 season). I've been a season ticket holder since 2004 and I didn't renew. That is their punishment.

Boycotting something I love is cutting off your nose to spite your face. The fan base is unhappy, that is painfully obvious, but I will always be loyal to them. Sorry haterz

[Squadron Nye]

Don't worry, Shea! If she goes down, I'm going down with her!

the laws of physics will assure this, pansy boy.

[Squadron Nye]

Maybe Endy learned to pitch?

:) lollll

[DL]

i mean, i dunno this guy just seems like a depth guy who could end up contributing

this isn't the same as going all out to acquire frenchy and gmjr or something like that

[DL]

lol that jp dude wrote 8 million words because i dared to criticize the a-10, which he thinks is the best conference in america

[Dep]

oh he'll contribute, it will just be negatively IMO

but it will be jerry's failure, from what i read, his breaking stuff is nasty and could play in our BP.

but jerry will turn him into a lOOGY cuz he's too fucking stupid to get past the LEFT ARMS FOR LEFTY BATTERS mantra

[Dep]

The A-10 is like the gallo of conferences

16 bids just for them! we dont have 16 teams! some teams get TWO!

[Squadron Nye]

jerry manages the bullpen my grandmother trying to balance her checkbook on acid. That is to say.. not well

[Squadron Nye]

I think Taka is released by july

[DL]

well yeah, what can you do about jerry being dumb

whatever, shock the world

[Squadron Nye]

we need people who can cross over so he's not tasked with using his brain too much

[Dep]

hated by june
released by july

sounds about right

he can open a detective agency with our 09 taka and call it TAKA & TAKA

[Dep]

well yeah, what can you do about jerry being dumb

whatever, shock the world

hahaha, yup. you cant expect much from the fugz. even some of them are shitting on us signing some 22 year old MI today, that we drafted a few years ago. who gives a shit. silly stuff

[DL]

there's only so much "we're gonna have the same record as last year" stuff i can take. we do have basically similar personnel as we did this time last year. i know the circumstances are different, but somehow we are definitiely 15-20 games behind

[Dep]

but we were in first place in june. just focus on that.

[DL]

lol i don't have time right now to write a detailed response to jp even though i want to

[DL]

but we were in first place in june. just focus on that.

lol, i won't go there, but this team won't lose 90+ games again and look completely uncompetitive for long stretches. the problem is that the bar should be higher

[Dep]

lol i don't have time right now to write a detailed response to jp even though i want to

haha, when in doubt GIF-bomb his ass

[Dep]

lol, i won't go there, but this team won't lose 90+ games again and look completely uncompetitive for long stretches. the problem is that the bar should be higher

yea, welll there's multiple points in there. We'll be in the 81 to 85 wins me thinks. We'll compete, but not really.

[sheadenizen]

I think that's the crux of it DL. If we win 83-84 games everyone will cheer. That's what wrong with this picture! The bar has been lowered!

[sheadenizen]

Guess dep and I agree....lol!

[Dep]

i wont cheer

anything short of playoffs is a 100% disaster

[sheadenizen]

i wont cheer

anything short of playoffs is a 100% disaster

I didn't mean us dep. I meant the "regular" fan.

[Squadron Nye]

yea, welll there's multiple points in there. We'll be in the 81 to 85 wins me thinks. We'll compete, but not really.

bah... if we keep a bare modicum of health they're an 81 win team. If their rotation (maine/pelf/ollie) performs admirably they're a 88 win team like 2007,2008.. These pessimistic predictions mean nothing. They can compete with this group. To say otherwise is to ignore the last 4 seasons.

[DL]

well we're shocking the world anyhow

[Squadron Nye]

The team had a disappointing year, of course that will lower the bar... This "win every year" mentality has only taken hold since 2006, it's never been there before. Instead of getting bummed about it I'm going to enjoy every game I watch on TV for what it is, same with the games I attend. As frustrating it is to have a core that we have and win nothing this is (sadly) some of the most sustained winning the mets have ever done and the internet-fueled hysteria from the fan base is at its highest level I can ever remember.

I plan on enjoying this season for what it is.

[sheadenizen]

They can compete, Nye. Assuming the pitching holds up. But competing and losing to the Phils or Braves again is not a successful season to me.
The truth is they could spend $90M and still finish beyond the Phils or Braves. So what!

[Dep]

bah... if we keep a bare modicum of health they're an 81 win team. If their rotation (maine/pelf/ollie) performs admirably they're a 88 win team like 2007,2008.. These pessimistic predictions mean nothing. They can compete with this group. To say otherwise is to ignore the last 4 seasons.

i dont agree, not an 88 win team without real magic somewhere.

[Squadron Nye]

How many 4 consecutive season stretchs of winning baseball does this franchise have? I'm willing to bet 2005-2008 is one of two.

[Squadron Nye]

i dont agree, not an 88 win team without real magic somewhere.

Where did the magic come from in 2007 and 2008? Basically the same set of peeps? I'm not being snarky, I'd really like to know what you think separates this season from those seasons

[sheadenizen]

Nye, I don't think that any of us are the "i'm becoming a Yankee fan" or I'm becoming a Cubs fan" like the jerks who call in on the FAN. None of us are switching loyalties. It's not about winning every year mentality...at least it's not with me...it's more about the incompetency I see that makes me cringe and not want to spend my money.

[Squadron Nye]

hmmm 84-90 was 7 straight years of winning.. lemme see if i can find another

[DL]

tatis had some magic in 2008

i guess ollie and maine being healthy and basically effective for all of 2007 was magical too

[Squadron Nye]

tatis had some magic in 2008

i guess ollie and maine being healthy and basically effective for all of 2007 was magical too

Is expecting ollie and maine (who weren't great by any stretch) to live up to 2007 numbers really "magic"?

[peejay]

Don't worry, Shea! If she goes down, I'm going down with her!

reciprocation is generally expected these days

[DL]

it's more about health than numbers

[Squadron Nye]

69-73 was a 5 year stretch and 97-01 is the last... Nothing else comes close. I bet the winning percentage for the 05-08 stretch is better than all except the early 80s

[Squadron Nye]

it's more about health than numbers

We were incredibly unlucky last year. Why can't there be an expectation of regression to the mean?

[Dep]

Where did the magic come from in 2007 and 2008? Basically the same set of peeps? I'm not being snarky, I'd really like to know what you think separates this season from those seasons

its really not though. bay = delgado, i'm ok on that one.

We have worse catchers, castillo has declined even more. Frenchy is probly worse than whomever we had in RF then...Projections for tron n reyes in 2010 are tempered slightly due to injury, tron is missing a month on top, that's a a whole win right there, and even DW is coming off just an awful 2009 which has to be factored into 2010 projections.

things are much murkier now than they were then. Ollie and Maine havent been good since 2007! that's 2 full seasons+ ago...

[sheadenizen]

Is expecting ollie and maine (who weren't great by any stretch) to live up to 2007 numbers really "magic"?
It's beyond magic. It would be out and out miracle!

Glavine taking a FO job with Braves

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

Mets winning season streaks:

05-08
97-01
84-90
69-73

[Dep]

Is expecting ollie and maine (who weren't great by any stretch) to live up to 2007 numbers really "magic"?

honestly, both of them? yes

i mean its not like it was yesterday...we've had all of 2008 n all of 2009 to go thru....its just unlikely they both revert back to 3 years ago when they were good.

[Squadron Nye]

honestly, both of them? yes

i mean its not like it was yesterday...we've had all of 2008 n all of 2009 to go thru....its just unlikely they both revert back to 3 years ago when they were good.

My point is they won 89 games with them sucking in 2008. It's unreasonable to think they might go to the level of suck that produced that season?

[Squadron Nye]

Mets winning season streaks:

05-08
97-01
84-90
69-73

Pretty sad.. Also helpful in providing perspective

[Dep]

My point is they won 89 games with them sucking in 2008. It's unreasonable to think they might go to the level of suck that produced that season?

that's not unreasonable i guess.

but again, we're going to lose a win right off that season with tron missing a month, he's a a 6 WAR guy. Assume Reyes n DW are good, fine.

Catcher we're probly minus a win and in RF another win and 2B who the hell knows. Probly makes us around 85 versus 88. just my view

[sheadenizen]

There is always a degree of luck in any team in any sport winning it all ( or even making the playoffs). There just is. The mets seem to want to take luck to a new level. They put too much faith in it and are too dependent on every little thing going right. It never does.....unless you're the Phils!.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

Pretty sad.. Also helpful in providing perspective

At least one winning season every decade of existence, sometimes 2!

The Pirates would kill for that.

[DL]

delgado might as well have been injured the first few months of 2008, though

i don't really think ollie sucked in 2008. i know it's hard to look past his contract, but if he duplicates those numbers, we might end up being in good shape

[sheadenizen]

Comparing yourself to the Pirates to make yourself feel better is everything that needs to be said....

[Dep]

delgado might as well have been injured the first few months of 2008, though

i don't really think ollie sucked in 2008. i know it's hard to look past his contract, but if he duplicates those numbers, we might end up being in good shape

yea, those numbers had more to do with our defense than him though

value wise (WAR) he was near-garbage in 2008. 2007 he was much much better

[Dep]

Pirates are now run better than the mets sadly

we still got KC and Houston beat, maybe the Giants.

that's about it.

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

There is always a degree of luck in any team in any sport winning it all ( or even making the playoffs). There just is. The mets seem to want to take luck to a new level. They put too much faith in it and are too dependent on every little thing going right. It never does.....unless you're the Phils!.

In winning it all, yes. But all 4 of the major sports have had "dynasty" teams in the era of free agency. The Mets could have had it in the late 80's but they had roster half filled with self-destructive players.

Fuck the Phillies, in the context of the sport they're a small tick above the Cubs in franchise historical success. The Mets have 2007 and 2008, the Phillies have 1964 and 1 WS in nearly their first 100 years of existence.

[Dep]

Tigres offer Damonic 2/14

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

Pirates are now run better than the mets sadly

we still got KC and Houston beat, maybe the Giants.

that's about it.

Are we talking about how good their teams should be or how well they actually have been? And over what time frame?

[DL]

pirates may be run better but they're still pretty damn far away. i guess it might be easier to win in the central though

[sheadenizen]

Fuck the Phillies, in the context of the sport they're a small tick above the Cubs in franchise historical success. The Mets have 2007 and 2008, the Phillies have 1964 and 1 WS in nearly their first 100 years of existence.

It's all about what have you done for me lately. That's todays fans mentality. Fans today are not "historians" and don't even know their teams history in many cases. You think these 20 something year old Yankee fans know they sucked not so long ago....not on your life. It's what have you done for me lately. The fact that they've won 1 WS means nothing compared to the fact they've had "great" seasons the last 3 years.

When you're kvetcvhing every morning about how much the rangers suck are you rejoicing because they won the Cup in 1994? Not on your life. You hate that they suck now.

[Ed in Westchester]

Step 1 - LOWER THE BAR!
Step 2 - RAISE THE PRICES!
Step 3 - PROFIT!

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

It's all about what have you done for me lately. That's todays fans mentality. Fans today are not "historians" and don't even know their teams history in many cases. You think these 20 something year old Yankee fans know they sucked not so long ago....not on your life. It's what have you done for me lately. The fact that they've won 1 WS means nothing compared to the fact they've had "great" seasons the last 3 years.

When you're kvetcvhing every morning about how much the rangers suck are you rejoicing because they won the Cup in 1994? Not on your life. You hate that they suck now.

I guess it depends on the loyalty of the fan in question. Rangers fans hate the most recent editions of the team because management fell into the same mistakes that took them to irrelevancy for most of the late 90's and early half of the 00's and that the team is headed to yet another period of mediocrity. Most of us as Mets fans are doing the same thing. I'd put up with losing seasons if there were signs of progress being made rather than bad decisions on top of bad decisions.

[sheadenizen]

MFSB....ding,ding,ding! It's hard NOT to kvetch when you don't see light at the end of the tunnel. And as a mets fan with Wilpon, Omar et al...I see no light.
Not being a hockey fan, I'm not sure it's the same, but doesn't Glen Sather suck as well?

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

MFSB....ding,ding,ding! It's hard NOT to kvetch when you don't see light at the end of the tunnel. And as a mets fan with Wilpon, Omar et al...I see no light.
Not being a hockey fan, I'm not sure it's the same, but doesn't Glen Sather suck as well?

He gave himself a very short rope when he criticized the Rangers in the late 90's by saying "if I had that payroll I'd win every year" or something to that effect. He was the architect of one of the best dynasty of teams ever assembled (mid to late 80's Edmonton Oilers) and then basically accomplished nothing afterwards. He inherited a mess from the previous regime but didn't start off well in his first couple of years. He's seemingly ceded drafting and development outside of his control, is actually a very shrewd GM at the trade table but gives out horrendous contracts, particularly in a restrictive salary cap era. How he's survived a 10 year tenor in NY is beyond me.

[Tim]

He gave himself a very short rope when he criticized the Rangers in the late 90's by saying "if I had that payroll I'd win every year" or something to that effect. He was the architect of one of the best dynasty of teams ever assembled (mid to late 80's Edmonton Oilers) and then basically accomplished nothing afterwards. He inherited a mess from the previous regime but didn't start off well in his first couple of years. He's seemingly ceded drafting and development outside of his control, is actually a very shrewd GM at the trade table but gives out horrendous contracts, particularly in a restrictive salary cap era. How he's survived a 10 year tenor in NY is beyond me.

he got lucky inheriting ahl or whl players.....

[Dep]

I'm told Takahashi is not a bullpen option. A Glavine-type who will either make the rotation or find a place in Buffalo.
~K. Burkhardt




Scout from another club calls #Mets' Takahashi "Jamie Moyer with a little bit better velocity."
~davidoff

oy. why oh why.

[DL]

ha, whatever

[Dep]

dude can't pitch a lot of innings based on history

LIGHT BULB

THE ROTATION IS PERFECT!

[Rave]

Taka is this year's Livan.

[Ed in Westchester]

At least we won't have to worry about Jerry using Taka2 against Ryan Howard in the 8th with runners on base in a close game.

[Ed in Westchester]

Taka is this year's Livan.

LIMATime!

[Dep]

At least we won't have to worry about Jerry using Taka2 against Ryan Howard in the 8th with runners on base in a close game.

he'll still find a way to do it

[DL]

we'll only need this guy if we get hit with a bunch of shit again

[DL]

hmmm wang's agent saying he doesn't have any kind of agreement anywhere yet

not that it matters

[Dep]

THE WANGER NEED FOOD

[DL]

i wonder if wang would still get the designation of "jap dude" from the usual suspects at fugees if we signed him

[Ed in Westchester]

We need a Wang to replace our lost Putz

Spare me Dickey.

[Dep]

i wonder if wang would still get the designation of "jap dude" from the usual suspects at fugees if we signed him

LOL

he may not cuz of his yankee aura

[Dep]

haha, Bobby Kielty is pitching now...too funny

supposedly his slider aint 1/2 bad

[DL]

The White Sox signed 32-year-old righty reliever Orber Moreno to a minor league deal, reports Billy Russo of El Universal. Said Moreno: "Oswaldo Guillen told me that he believes in me and that he will give me the opportunity." Thanks to Nick Collias for translating.
lol

[Ed in Westchester]

i wonder if wang would still get the designation of "jap dude" from the usual suspects at fugees if we signed him

of course he will.

[Ed in Westchester]

Bubba is in the hospital in NYC per NBC

[DL]

i mean, i'm not trying to be a PC thug or anything but it bothers me that some of those guys go out of their way to point out the race of asian players and with basically derogatory terms no less

[Dep]

ORBER!!!

i saw something on mlbtrade that gaby hernandez and yusmiero petit keep ending up on the same team, i think now they're 4th team together. crazy

[Dep]

i mean, i'm not trying to be a PC thug or anything but it bothers me that some of those guys go out of their way to point out the race of asian players and with basically derogatory terms no less

being racist is cool, duh

[Dep]

LOOK HOW OFFENSIVE I AM

I'M AWESOME

[sheadenizen]

I posted that Takahashi was an option as a 5th starter this morning...not a bullpen option. The Times had a big article about it.

[Tim]

LOOK HOW OFFENSIVE I AM

I'M AWESOME

for a jew

[Dep]

for a jew

well played

[sheadenizen]

Didn't the red Sox pick up Gaby hernandez off of waivers?

[Tim]

you are in my top 5 favorite hebrew brohams.....I only know 3 though.

[Dep]

ya, the red sox grabbed him. petit is in the mariners system now. perhaps the article i read said this finally splits them up or some shit. oh well

[Dep]

you are in my top 5 favorite hebrew brohams.....I only know 3 though.

you're close to being on the list of ppl to be saved when my pplz take over and kill everyone.

i got your wife n kids on it, but you're just close. sorry.

THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME LAW.

[Ed in Westchester]

you're close to being on the list of ppl to be saved when my pplz take over and kill everyone.

i got your wife n kids on it, but you're just close. sorry.

THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME LAW.

LOL

Now you know why I married my wife.

[Dep]

Maybe if some ppl pass away or pissy deppy off, i can move TIMMAH up

[Athena]

In the meantime, I'm sure Tim is relieved that Jen and the kids are safe. What more can a man ask for?

[Tim]

[QUOTE=Dep;13614]Maybe if some ppl pass away or pissy deppy off, i can move TIMMAH up[/QUOT


ha

[Tim]

what is this jewish utopia going to be called? philadepphia?

[DL]

i expect grant roberts and royce ring to pop up on mlbtr any day now

[DL]

what is this jewish utopia going to be called? philadepphia?

great neck, ny

[Dep]

what is this jewish utopia going to be called? philadepphia?

BAGELnLOXOPIA

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

BAGELnLOXOPIA

Where everyone will like talk about how their brother in law got them a good deal on their newly assigned living dwelling.

[Tim]

Where everyone will like talk about how their brother in law got them a good deal on their newly assigned living dwelling.

your sports teams will suck

[Athena]

your sports teams will suck

::giggles::

[MyFavBaseballSquadron]

your sports teams will suck

Except if the only other teams are filled with Asians.

[DL]

jews are basically white asians anyhow

[Squadron Nye]

Scout from another club calls #Mets' Takahashi "Squadron Nye with a little bit better fashion sense."
~davidoff


Starter or nothing for this slob???

[C Low's Doppelganger]

Bubba is in the hospital in NYC per NBC

I guess he didn't feel like flying all the way down to the Mississippi Clinic Tiger is attending. Ohhhhh......

[Squadron Nye]

you are in my top 5 favorite hebrew brohams.....I only know 3 though.

Who makes the pastrami on rye then?

[C Low's Doppelganger]

BTW..I joked because I already heard that he is fine. He complained of light chest pain and his dr's performed a routine angioplasty stent thingy. He is fine. sighh

[C Low's Doppelganger]

When does Olympic hockey start up?

[Squadron Nye]

jews are basically white asians anyhow

asians have better cuisine tho. Most jews would agree

[sheadenizen]

Tim, I may have a little pull in this BAGELnLOXOPIA. I'll save your ass. Not to worry. You'll buy dep a scotch and all will be well.

[Tim]

Who makes the pastrami on rye then?

In my hood it's either pulled pork or salami

[Dep]

Tim, I may have a little pull in this BAGELnLOXOPIA. I'll save your ass. Not to worry. You'll buy dep a scotch and all will be well.

not till he puts me into the top 3 JOO LIST

[Tim]

Tim, I may have a little pull in this BAGELnLOXOPIA. I'll save your ass. Not to worry. You'll buy dep a scotch and all will be well.

Its good to have friends in the tribe....just in case you do rise up and take power.

[Athena]

not till he puts me into the top 3 JOO LIST

Haha! Fair's fair!

[Squadron Nye]

Its good to have friends in the tribe....just in case you do rise up and take power.

if you have a tattoo be prepared to live in the isolation ghetto (not at all different than stl)

[sheadenizen]

Johan on with Francesa if anyone cares.

[Tim]

if you have a tattoo be prepared to live in the isolation ghetto (not at all different than stl)

how's yer cat puke?

[sheadenizen]

He's talking about all the mets pitchers and his thoughts on them

[Squadron Nye]

how's yer cat puke?


Haven't seen it since I shipped a hearty sample to you.

[Squadron Nye]

is he basically doing the daily news article for radio, shea?

[sheadenizen]

I didn't see the Daily News article so I can't say, but he's just doing some PR stuff...rah rah rah! He's raring to go and all! Hoping for a good year yada, yada, yada!

[sheadenizen]

Taking lollie under his wing....
Pelfrey has great stuff...needs to trust it
Maine...he sorta danced around him....lol!

[Tim]

Haven't seen it since I shipped a hearty sample to you.

I'm more of a dog puke person....

[C Low's Doppelganger]

lol at Tim's Willie.

[Tim]

lol at Tim's Willie.

you are certainly not the first to laugh at it...

[Squadron Nye]

for shea.. (it's fun, if not very informative, article)



FORT MYERS, Fla. - I've been behind the plate, catching Johan Santana for perhaps 10 minutes, so far thrilled that nothing has escaped my glove, and grateful that only one pitch has confirmed my concern that 88 mph stings like hell when it nails you squarely on the palm.

However, Santana is about to make this more demanding than I ever expected, telling me during a quick break that he'll now pitch to the Phillies' lineup, at least in his head, and I'll be calling the pitches against Jimmy Rollins and friends.

"You go over the scouting report?" he deadpans, and for a moment, knowing how hyper-competitive Santana is, I'm not completely convinced that he's kidding. Finally he cracks a smile, but adds, "This is for real. I'm bouncing my slider with (Ryan) Howard up there. Got your cup on?"

Suddenly I'm wondering if this was such a good idea. An aging ex-college second baseman, I'd done this once before, with Tom Glavine when he signed with the Mets, but that was 80-mph indoors without equipment. Rocking-chair stuff.

This is full equipment - yes, protective cup and all - in the sunshine on a gorgeous ballfield at Florida Gulf Coast University, a dozen or so of the Gulf Coast players watching curiously, and Santana taking every throwing session these days seriously as he comes back from surgery that removed bone chips in his elbow.

To this point, the two-time Cy Young winner has made it surprisingly easy. For one thing, his precision is such that, after setting up just off one corner of the plate or the other, at his command, I barely have to move the glove to catch each pitch. For another, a week before he reports to spring training with the Mets next week, it's still too early for him to rev his fastball up to 90-plus.

Not that 88 - his estimate - didn't stun me a little at first.

After all, when Santana agreed to let me do this, I expected to be wowed by his vaunted changeup, and indeed, you can't appreciate how much it looks at first like his fastball, or how late it dives or darts away at 78 mph, until you see it from this up-close vantage point.

Yet I was struck most by how sneaky-fast he is, because of a compact delivery that makes it seem as if the ball appears suddenly from behind his left ear. It's a delivery he had to alter last year, because the bone chips in his elbow wouldn't allow him to cock his arm at such a dramatic angle, and the fact that he can do it effortlessly again, post-surgery, delights him to no end.

"I was out here last year," he says later, demonstrating after he's finished throwing how he had to release the ball a foot or so farther away from his head.

"It makes a huge difference to the hitter. They get a much better look. Now I'm back to where I need to be. I can hide the fastball and I can extend and finish on my changeup again. It's why I feel so great. I feel like I'm going to have a big year."

Santana, 30, makes it clear that he understands how important it is for him to set the tone for a comeback season for the Mets. He is aware of all the skepticism among Mets fans after a winter of relative inactivity, but insists that he believes this is still a championship team in the making.

"I know this team is looking for me to lead the way, and I'm up to the challenge," he says. "That's why they brought me here. We all know what happened last year. We couldn't stay healthy. But I really believe the pieces are in place, that you are going to see guys like Ollie (Perez) and (Mike) Pelfrey and (John) Maine pitch at a high level this season.

"Even a guy like (Kelvim) Escobar. He's healthy again and I've known him a long time, I know how he can pitch and I know the mentality he brings. He's tough. We need to have that toughness around. We need to build our confidence up again and then if we stay healthy, I believe we'll have a great year."

Such talk speaks to the huge leap of faith in Pelfrey, Maine, and Perez that Mets' brass is making by deciding not to sign even one free-agent starter. And obviously it's hard for fans to buy at the moment, but if Santana is ready to have another Cy Young-like season, it's not impossible to think a lot of pieces could fall into place around him.

As it is, working this closely with Santana I get a sense of what makes him special. On one hand, he loves making baseball fun, keeping the mood light with people around him, myself included on this day, but on the other, he brings a somewhat startling intensity to even these types of informal workouts.

"It's all about preparation," he says.

Which brings us back to the Phillies. Santana wants more from his workout than just throwing his fastball, slider, and changeup, and indeed he says that in every bullpen session he throws he visualizes pitching to specific hitters, because he wants every pitch to have a purpose.

"I like to visualize because I always want to picture something," he said. "It's never just throwing."

With that in mind, Chris Correnti, the Mets' conditioning coach working with Santana, places a wooden silhouette of a hitter in the righthanded batter's box and says, "Victorino up first."

And with that I'm suddenly thinking about trying to get Shane Victorino out, putting down fingers, calling for a fastball away, a changeup, a backdoor slider and an absolutely killer changeup for strike three.

Easy enough. Same for Rollins. Santana hits his spots, always on or just off the corner, in or out. Of the 40 or so pitches he threw, in fact, only one pitch leaked into the middle of the plate, and that brought a grunt of disgust from the lefty.

Rollins goes down on a 1-2 fastball on the inside corner, and Correnti moves the silhouette to the left side to simulate Chase Utley. This time Santana just misses the corners enough to walk Utley, to another grunt of disgust, and so now I'm envisioning Ryan Howard's hulking frame in the lefty box.

Santana throws a fastball on the outside corner, a changeup down, and then, as promised, bounces a slider just off the outside corner that caroms off my arm, 15 feet away to my left.

I scramble to retrieve the ball, happy that I got a piece of it, not realizing until I turn to throw that Santana is staring me down.

"Utley's at second," he says. "What'd you think, I was going to throw (Howard) a cookie there? Now I'm in a tough spot."

I know he's kidding. Isn't he? No smile this time. Santana is in work mode. He takes these simulated games seriously because he takes a thinking man's approach with each hitter, watching the swings they take, trying to decide when they might be sitting on his changeup.

"You have to outsmart hitters," he says. "You have to have a game plan."

Now, with Utley in scoring position, Santana throws a fastball on the inside corner to make the count 1-2, then shakes off my changeup signal and wants another slider. Uh-oh. This time it's just on the corner, diving down and away below the knees.

I'm the one calling pitches, and this one is borderline, but as I look up, Santana isn't waiting for my call. For him it was a near-perfect pitch, strike three to end the workout. I'm not about to argue with a future Hall of Famer. I'm just glad he's smiling now.

In fact, what comes through most on this day is just how happy Santana is to be throwing free and easy again, with the bone chips out of his elbow, and how much he believes he can lead the Mets back to contention, no matter what moves they did or didn't make this winter.

"I know I have to be at the top of my game," he says. "And I believe I will be."

I get the feeling he'll expect the same from his catchers. As I can now attest, he has a way of making you want to raise your game.

"We'll work on that scouting report later," he says to me as I'm getting ready to leave.

At least this time I know he really is kidding.

~jharper@nydailynews.com

[Dep]

Thinks John Maine is awful, and shouldn't even bother showing up to spring training

hahaha

[Dep]

you are certainly not the first to laugh at it...

LOL

[Squadron Nye]

I'm more of a dog puke person....

I like cat puke's dead fish vagina aroma myself

[Tim]

LOL

but in BagelsandLoxland I would be revered as a god.

[Tim]

I like cat puke's dead fish vagina aroma myself

you painted a perty picture there! I started breathing through my mouth after reading that.

[Dep]

but in BagelsandLoxland I would be revered as a god.

all the girls would be scared of your lampshade

they like-a the missiles

[Tim]

without getting to involved...there re no anteaters in this house

[C Low's Doppelganger]

too early for him to rev his fastball up to 90-plus.

they will be saying the same thing in August only replacing "early" with "late" hehehehehe

[Squadron Nye]

hate to let you know dep but the rest of the civilized world decided to go sans-lampshade a while ago. And without the crazy ceremony honoring the mutilation

[Dep]

without getting to involved...there re no anteaters in this house

Good man. You're already 1/2way home to a free pass to GIFELTEFISHVILLE

[Dep]

hate to let you know dep but the rest of the civilized world decided to go sans-lampshade a while ago. And without the crazy ceremony honoring the mutilation

maybe in america, still a lot of the others hanging around. likely europe


glad y'all decided to learn a thing or two about making your cockus GIRL FRIENDLY by the joos

[sheadenizen]

Thanks Nye. It was fun.

[Squadron Nye]

I've already made myself an honorary citizen... It's not right in BagelNLoxVille, but a suburb right outside the city limit

[Dep]

I'm barely a citizen myself

watch Dep deck the DREIDELSVILLE mayor when he bans bacon from the premises

FUNK DAT SHIT

[Dep]

watched 'Control' last nite...pretty good movie about that dude from Joy Division that offed himself

good but tough to watch. that dude was a messssssss

[DL]

omg joy division

[metswin2010]

Edny Chavez will rescue us this year. Beltran will not be missed because we will be to busy chanting "ND". By then Beltran will be back and the BooBirds will have full reign on him as usual, lol

[DL]

actually i don't really like joy division that much, which is heresy in some hipster quarters

[Dep]

omg joy division

haha, are you mocking or serious?

i like them a lot, they were ahead of their time, by a lot.

[sheadenizen]

GIFELTEFISHVILLE
tooooo funnnnnny!!!

[Dep]

I dont like all their songs, but some of them are fucking primo.

their version of lost souls is amazing. NIN one is awesome too

[DL]

lol def not mocking, even though i'm not a huge fan

i thought i was the resident fan of kinda gay music

[C Low's Doppelganger]

t

[DL]

i'm not really bullish on johan being a superstud this year. he'll be closer to where he was last year, which is still pretty damn good though

[Dep]

lol def not mocking, even though i'm not a huge fan

i thought i was the resident fan of kinda gay music

hahaha

i listen to the yh stuff sometimes too, if its groovy.

::PUMPS MOTHER::

[Dep]

i'm not really bullish on johan being a superstud this year. he'll be closer to where he was last year, which is still pretty damn good though

The projections for johan are a bit scary low.

i think thats one place we may be able to beat expectations. i saw sub 4 WARs for him. which is ugh

[DL]

ha, love will tear us apart just came up on my shuffle

TIMELY!

[DL]

The projections for johan are a bit scary low.

i think thats one place we may be able to beat expectations. i saw sub 4 WARs for him. which is ugh

DECLINING PERIPHERALS FTL

fip don't account for johan's grittiness

too bad he's the only guy on our team who has any :rolleyes:

[Dep]

i cant believe that dude offed himself when he did,. they were about to blow up. he had a wife + a chick on the side

BUT HE COULDNT DEAL

[Dep]

DECLINING PERIPHERALS FTL

fip don't account for johan's grittiness

too bad he's the only guy on our team who has any :rolleyes:

hahaha, i'm hoping ppl are low cuz of the elbow surgery

we'll see

[Dep]

ha, love will tear us apart just came up on my shuffle

TIMELY!

LOL. great song

[sheadenizen]

tim..who's this guy who bought the Rams? Sahid Kahn? Does he know anything about football or will he be like theWilpons...clueless?

[Athena]

for shea.. (it's fun, if not very informative, article)

Very cute article, Nye. Thanks!

Johan certainly knows how to give an interview.

[Dep]

supposedly Kahn is a huge Rams n NFL fan

[DL]

having a fan of your team own it is not always good

see snyder, daniel

[sheadenizen]

Being a huge fan and knowing what you're doing can be mutually exclusive. See, Snyder, Daniel .Hopefully he'll let someone smart run the team.

[sheadenizen]

lol, DL!

[Joe A.]

I expect big things from Johan this year. Really big. Reyes too.

[DL]

more like glove will tear us apart if we're talking mets, amirite?

:rimshot:

[Tim]

tim..who's this guy who bought the Rams? Sahid Kahn? Does he know anything about football or will he be like theWilpons...clueless?

American Dream guy I hear, came to America, studied, worked hard, owns a 2.2 billion dollar business, and isn't moving the team (so far). KAAAAAAHHHHHNNNN>

[Lunkwill Fook]

Maine = 15 wins this year. Book it!

[Athena]

I expect big things from Johan this year. Really big. Reyes too.

That would be great, Joe. I hope you are proven right.

I think Reyes is going to be great. I'm too emotionally attached to Johan to make predictions. I'm just prayin' and hopin'! ;)

[Athena]

more like glove will tear us apart if we're talking mets, amirite?

:rimshot:

haha!

[Tim]

Maine = 15 wins this year. Book it!

you're snow crazy.

[Joe A.]

Maine = 15 wins this year. Book it!

Nice! I thought I was the only one who still has faith in Maine. I was thinking 14 wins, but whatever.

[DL]

Maine = 15 wins this year. Book it!

lulz

that's not what i mean by shocking the world

[Lunkwill Fook]

you're snow crazy.

I just shoveled two cars out! I CAN DO ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Ollie = 200K's)