Here's a strange one to start your day

Fletcher has been reading "The Yankee Years," and he occasionally throws up a quote or two from the latest chapter. Last night, he read this one aloud and it's too good to pass up.

It deals with the Mets, I promise.

George Steinbrenner would shovel debris out of six inches of gunky, green water while dressed in loafers and slacks if it meant winning a World Series, which is exactly what he was doing in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 2000 World Series at Shea Stadium. A fire had started in a third-deck trash container at Shea. When firefights opened one standpipe to extinguish the fire, pressure built in another standpipe located over the Yankees' clubhouse. The pipe burst, spewing torrents of dirty water and eventually causing the clubhouse ceiling to collapse. Great waves of fetid water cascaded over the clubhouse, and headed in the direction of the Yankees' principal owner.
...

As firefighters arrived to shut off the standpipe and clean up the mess, Steinbrenner jumped in to help them. After they did the best they could to move the water out and shovel away the pieces of the demolished ceiling, Steinbrenner, soaked himself, took a wad of bills from his pocked and peeled off fifties and hundreds to give to the firefighters in appreciation of their effort.

What a peculiar story. Oh, and people said Shea wasn't a dump?

Does anyone remember this story from when it happened? I sure don't.

Because I so shamelessly stole his entire post, please go visit Scott Proctor's Arm.

Orlando Hudson for left field?

From Marty Noble's latest mailbag:

It is recognized that the Luis Castillo contract is not working out. Could the Mets possibly buy out Castillo's contract, the way the Dodgers bought out Andruw Jones', and then sign Orlando Hudson to play second base. Or how about having Hudson switch positions?
-- Andrew T., North Babylon, N.Y.

The Mets have considered the alternatives you cite. Buying out a player isn't easily done. Why would a player forfeit guaranteed money? And deferring payment doesn't necessarily reduce a club's obligation to a player. The club discussed signing Hudson and having him play a different position -- it would have to be left field. But it's thought he eventually would gravitate to second -- or be "gravitated" -- and that scenario, the Mets sensed, would undermine Castillo and create the circumstance where Hudson would play second, and Castillo would become an expensive wallflower.

Does anyone else not see a problem with this?

I understand that Castillo would be very expensive to have him be a reserve player or have his playing time diminished, but isn't winning the most important thing?

If Omar Minaya really wants this problem solved, he'll find out where Jeff Gillooly is and slip him a few bucks.

Braves out on Ohman

The Braves are no longer pursuing Will Ohman, according to Dave O'Brien of the AJC.

Did that $1 million offered to Tom Glavine put them over the top?

Ohman posted a 3.68 ERA last season with the Atlanta Braves. He appeared in 83 games, 58.7 innings, with a 1.244 WHIP. He struck out 53 and walked 22.

He made $1.6 million last season after signing a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Chicago Cubs before the 2007 season (he was traded to Atlanta after the '07 season).

I think Omar Minaya needs to go for him.

E-mail from a fan

The following is an e-mail from a fan, sent out to a whole lot of people. For some reason, I was one of those people, and he even mentions my e-mail in the tirade.

I don't even know where to begin explaining this e-mail, but I think the word "racist" is the best fit. Here's what I read, at 8 a.m.:

While there is talk a certain Congressman wants the name Citigroup out of Citi Field, I have something to say about that. With the way the METROPOLITANS NOT METINOS have allowed Omar "I PREFER LATINO CRONIES ON MY METINOS" or "MY EMPLOYEES TAKE SIESTAS" or "MY EMPLOYEES TIRE in SEPTEMBER" or "MY ENTIRE TEAM SUCKS" to ruin this team with all his Latino bums who are on the team because they are Latino first but can't play (unlike when the Dodgers broke the color barrier; Jackie Robinson could PLAY FIRST) do not let OMORON name the stadium, or he'll call it METINO FIELD! For putting these Latino bums instead of good Latino ballplayers who won't complete another September MET DOWN, Fred COUPON EXTENDED OMORON'S CONTRACT!

In addition, Kudos to Adam Rubin for his web site and screen name to contact the website. It's called THEROPOLITANS@GMAIL.COM Note that's Ropolitans as in METROPOLITANS!

Go to www.petitiononline.com or GOOGLE "FIRE OMAR MINAYA!" for instant access, and sign the petition to FIRE OMAR MINAYA!

The answers are clear! DO NOT EXTEND OMORON'S CONTRACT! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! HIRE TONY BERNAZARD, OR BRING BACK STEVE PHILLIPS! BRING BACK DAVEY JOHNSON! LET MARTINEZ THE BUM GO (MINAYA WANTS HIM BACK)! TRADE FELICIANO THE BUM (MINAYA GOT HIM BACK)! TRADE SANCHEZ THE BUM (MINAYA WANTS HIM BACK)! TRADE PEREZ THE BUM (MINAYA GOT EL TWISTADOR BACK)! TRADE ARMAS THE BUM! TRADE GARCIA THE BUM (MINAYA DECIDED HE'S READY)! TRADE CASTILLO THE $18 MILLION BUM! TRADE CASTRO THE BIGGEST BUM OF THEM ALL! TRADE EL DUQUE THE BUM! LET AYALA THE BUM GO!

FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA!

Alrighty then.

I'm not quite sure why he gives kudos to Adam Rubin for having...my e-mail?

I love how in that last "The Bum" tirade, half of those players are no longer on the Mets.

Tidbits: F-Mart shut down, Ruelas on board, milestone for me

A few tidbits before I go out to cover three seperate sporting events for The Quinnipiac Chronicle up at the TD Banknorth Sports Center.

• Fernando Martinez, who might be the next Bobby Abreu, has been shut down for three weeks after straining his elbow in the Carribean Series. This kid just cannot stay healthy. I'm worried.
• The Mets have signed Heriberto Ruelas to a minor league contract. Ruelas is fresh off 44 appearances with Mexico City from the Mexican league.
• And last night, I passed the 100,000 visitor mark. I know that seems like a low number for over two years of this, but I was very, very slow to get off the ground. The last few months have been spectacular, and I hope this trend continues. Thank you to everyone who visited.

Fernando Martinez: The next Bobby Abreu?

From Jayson Stark's Rumblings and Grumblings:

Fernandomania: One scout says the best-looking young player he saw in the Dominican Republic this winter was much-ballyhooed Mets prospect Fernando Martinez.

"He looks to me like he can be a young Bobby Abreu," the scout said. "His discipline at the plate is good. He worked counts. He hung in against left-handers. He did a lot of good things. He may be 20 years old, but he doesn't look like it, the way he handles himself. He really plays under control."

Too bad he just can't stay healthy.

Pedro Feliciano avoids arb

Pedro Feliciano and the Mets have agreed to a one-year deal, believed to be worth $1.65 million, according to Adam Rubin.

This would be a $572,500 raise over last seasons salary.

Feliciano was the last Mets player left in arbitration.

The State of the Mets -- 2/6/09

The fourth edition of The State of the Mets.

Today I focus on Oliver Perez, Manny Ramirez and what Omar Minaya has to do for the rest of the off season.

Enjoy.

(YouTube link here)

Another crazy Spanish language story

Here's another gem from Impacto Deportivo:
Se soltó el loco; Manny Ramírez podría botar a Scott Boras
or
Came off the loco, Manny Ramírez could throw to Scott Boras

Here's the translation of Impacto Deportivo, from Google Translator:

Scott Boras, who once was separated from his duties by Alex Rodriguez, it could suffer the same fate with Manny Ramírez.

It is hoped this Wednesday at Impactodeportivo.com.do, Ramirez is quillao with Boras.

Boras has been estimated that a very hard time to ask and that is moving away to the teams.

Ramirez could take control of a future negotiations as soon as this weekend.

The gist of that is Manny Ramirez is considering firing Scott Boras and would begin negotiating for himself.

As if the story wasn't crazy enough...

Mets sign Elmer Dessens

The Mets have signed pitcher Elmer Dessens to a minor league deal, according to the Denver Post (via MLBTR).

Dessens is guaranteed $72,000, but could earn up to $600,000 with incentives.

He has pitched for eight different teams in his 12 year career, most recently with Atlanta. A career 4.56 ERA, and a season ERA that hasn't dipped below 4.50 since 2005, Dessens can work as either a reliever or a starter.

Enjoy Buffalo, Elmer.