Dear Lupica: Do your research

Sometimes, it helps to do a bit of Google-ing around.

Latest Mike Lupica article, published Oct. 12:

But you go for Manny Ramirez now, even after the way he has produced for the Dodgers, and you pay a lot more than $100 million, or whatever he and Boras are going to be looking for after the .400 finish Ramirez gave the Dodgers, after he dragged THEM across the finish line all by himself.

Article from Oct. 6 in the Rocky Mountain News:

Agent Scott Boras has let it be known through his media outlets that the expectation is for at least five years and $85 million in a deal for Ramirez.

That took me all of one minute.

Count Manny out for the Mets

My heart and dreams were shattered at the same moment.

Ben Shpigel of the New York Times is out covering the NLCS in LA, and he had the opportunity to chat with Manny Ramirez. Talk shifted to the Mets, and Pedro Martinez.

Via Shpigel:

When reminded that the Mets could use a right-handed slugger, Ramirez must have mentioned at least three times that he didn’t think the ball carried well at Shea Stadium. Reminded that the Mets are moving into a new stadium next season, Ramirez hardly seemed to notice.

Great. He won't be a Met because he doesn't like the way the ball carries at Shea.

Time to look elsewhere.

I miss Uncle Cliff

Cliff Floyd was easily one of my favorite Mets. I don't know of anyone who didn't like him. He looks like a big ol' teddy bear.

That's why I want the Rays to win.

Yes, they have Scott Kazmir, and it stings to watch him pitch and prosper with the Rays and not the Mets, but I want Uncle Cliff to win.

I'll never forget that game against the Angels, in the bottom of the 11th inning, with Cliff Floyd at the plate. Tie game, and he rips a ball to right field, but it hooks just foul. The very next pitch: crushed over the right field wall to win the game.

Truly a great moment. I was sad to see Floyd go, especially with all the injuries. But Floyd has really helped the young Rays, and acted as a leader through the season.

Go Rays, but more importantly, go Uncle Cliff.

Commenting on the stupidest trade proposal ever

Honestly, who concocts these miserable trade ideas?

The latest "rumor" out on the web has the Mets trading away Carlos Beltran to the Yankees in return for Robinson Cano, Brian Bruney or Jose Veras, Ian Kennedy, and another prospect or two and some cash.

No to Cano.
No to Bruney.
No to Veras.
No to Kennedy.
No to anyone else they want to throw in (unless it's A-Rod.)

This "rumor" shouldn't even get any press, but it keeps popping up and I feel like I have to comment on it.

The Mets are not going to trade Beltran, unless they're going to get someone worth $119 million. None of those players combined could equal what Beltran does for the Mets.

A lot of people hate Beltran, and I'm not sure why. Sure, he had a stinker of a first season with the Mets, but look at his stats over his Mets career.

2005: .266 BA, .330 OBP, .414 SLG, 16 HR, 78 RBI, 83 runs.
2006: .275 BA, .388 OBP, .594 SLG, 41 HR, 116 RBI, 127 runs.
2007: .276 BA, .353 OBP, .525 SLG, 33 HR, 112 RBI, 93 runs.
2008: .284 BA, .376 OBP, .500 SLG, 27 HR, 112 RBI, 116 runs.

Not to mention three All-Star Game appearances, most likely three straight Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers awards.

What else do I have to say? He's good at the plate, and great in the field. He's a cornerstone of the team, and without him, expect many more balls to fall in for hits.

No way, no how is this trade even considered by Omar Minaya.

Gary Carter and Darryl Strawberry nearly come to blows on team bus (in 1986)

Back in July, I had a post entitled "Jose Reyes and Keith Hernandez nearly come to blows on team plane."

Via The Final Score, we now know that Gary "Camera" Carter and Darryl Strawberry almost tussled on the bus in St. Louis, and if it wasn't for Ray Knight standing up and calming them down, who knows what would have happened.

Knight:

"So anyway, we were sitting there, oh, it couldn’t have been more than two or three minutes waiting for Gary. Straw yells out of the bus, 'Let’s go Camera Carter. You're holding everything up! Get the blank on the bus!

"And so when Gary got on the bus he started heading to the back of the bus for Straw. They' exchanged words. I stood up between them and they calmed down. There were things like that that happened all the time. The next night if Darryl hit a big home run, or Gary did, they would be high-fiving, hugging, like it never happened."

Ah, chemistry.

This is something I wish the Mets had more of. More attitude, more brash, more character.

Will you put up with Manny's antics?

Let's assume the Mets somehow land Manny Ramirez for a respectable contract, and he is the starting left fielder in Citi Field. Will you tolerate his antics of Manny being Manny?

I will.

The guy is a character, we all know it. Yes, he's on his best behavior in Los Angeles because he's playing for a contract. But his years in Boston, he was loved until the very end. If it wasn't for Jason Bay's play, Red Sox Nation would be very angry at losing him.

If Manny can make a catch, high five a fan in Citi Field, turn, and double off a runner, I don't care if he needs a few days off with a "knee injury." Heck, I'd rather keep him happy and playing 140 games, than cranky and playing 160.

Yes, I'm getting way ahead of myself. But hypothetically if the Mets can land Manny, would you be willing to put up with the guy?

Happy Yom Kippur

Shawn Green says...
Happy Yom Kippur to all those who are of the Jewish faith.

Go directly to jail, do not pass Go, do not collect $200

Ambiorix Burgos better get used to being behind bars.

Burgos will spend three months in jail, as he awaits his trial for the hit-and-run in the Dominican Republic.

The AP relays a quote:

"I am going to come out of this fine because my conscience is clear, and I'm not worried this will affect my career because I haven't done anything."

Good luck with that one.

I'm surprised the Mets haven't come out and said anything yet. Surprised he's still in the system, too.

Also, here's a photo of him being escorted away:
Seriously, buddy? No Mets hat? Maybe the Mets are better off. Sorry White Sox.

Should they stay or should they go? [Coaches]

Last week, I took a peek at the hitters and pitchers from the 2008 Mets to see who should stay and who should go.

Now, we'll take a look at the coaching staff.

Jerry Manuel - Stay. Obviously, he's coming back. He just signed a two-year deal, and hopefully he can make it through both years. Gangsta.

Sandy Alomar Sr. - Stay. He's old, he's cranky, and thankfully he did not get punched in the head this season. I'm not sure how much he truly contributes, but it seems like he's loved by all. Jose Reyes and him have a close relationship, and I wouldn't want to jeopardize that. He's capable when he took over for Manuel a few times, so I don't mind bringing him back, but the clock is ticking.

Howard Johnson - Stay. 751 RBI, 799 runs, .266 AVG, .340 OBP, .420 SLG. Mets were top five in the league in every category outside of slugging. HoJo stays. One could argue the Mets weren't "clutch" enough, but that does not fall on Johnson. He's done enough to hone the hitters to what they are, it's up to them when it comes down to it. No reason to give him the boot.

Dan Warthen - Stay. He brought back Oliver Perez. He helped Mike Pelfrey. Both good things. The bullpen was a different story. When you talk about pitching coaches, the emphasis is on the starters and rarely do you hear about the coach working with the bullpen. Yes, there is a "Bullpen Coach," but the pitching coach is his "superior." This pen is not a product of poor coaching, but rather from overuse and it's just poorly constructed. An overhaul is needed, but Warthen is not the problem.

Guy Conti - Go. If the bullpen coach is the issue, then change the bullpen coach. Rick Peterson? (Joke.)

Ken Oberkfell - Stay. How hard can a first base coaches job be? Could also take over is Manuel and Alomar are given the boot in a game. Groomed to be the next manager, or is that HoJo's spot?

Luis Aguayo - Go. Go. Go. I'm giving him the windmill to go home, fully knowing that the catcher already has the ball in his glove and is just waiting for Aguayo to apply the tag. Sound familiar? He takes way too many chances, most of which do not pay off and run the team out of big innings. Wally Backman, anyone?

Tony Bernazrd: Seattle's next GM?

According to AZCentral.com, the Mariners will begin interviewing some candidates for their vacant GM job. On the short list is the Mets vice president of player development, Tony Bernazard.

When Omar Minaya's job was in jeopardy mid-season, it was rumored that Bernazard would be the one taking over. Since Minaya is locked up at least until 2012, Bernazard may look elsewhere for the coveted GM position.

I know I've read around the blog-o-sphere about how much Bernazard may be harming this team, so it seems Mets fans won't be sad to see him go.

Either way, I don't think I would take the Seattle job for any amount of money. That team needs serious help.