I know it's not fun to look back on 2008 with the '09 season so tantalizingly close, but you must read this story.
Let me try and summarize it in as few words as possible: Joe Smith should have come in, wasn't warmed up, hit his head, walked the first guy he faced on five pitches, given cover story, traded in off-season.
Please, go to Surfing the Mets and read the whole account.
How bizarre. And sad.
This better not happen again.
2/10/09
The Stache is back: Mets sign Jose Valentin
Jose Valentin is back with the New York Mets, according to Joel Sherman.Valentin, who started his Mets tenure in the doghouse, eventually took over the second base starting job in 2006. He went on to have a renaissance season, and some considered him a good leader in the clubhouse, especially around Jose Reyes.
In '06, Valentin hit .271 and slugged 18 home runs.
In '07, Valentin appeared in only 51 games before breaking a bone in his leg. He hit .241 in 166 at-bats.
It will be great to have him back around Reyes and the rest of the team, if only for spring training. If he ends up at triple-A he'll be a competent call-up
Happy birthday, Nails
Today, Feb. 10, is Lenny Dykstra's birthday. He is 46 years old.
In 544 games with the New York Mets, from 1985 to 1989, Nails hit .278/.350/.413. In 1987, he knocked 37 doubles, tying the club record at the time.
Happy birthday, you extremely rich man.
In 544 games with the New York Mets, from 1985 to 1989, Nails hit .278/.350/.413. In 1987, he knocked 37 doubles, tying the club record at the time.Happy birthday, you extremely rich man.
David Wright, forever the sound bite
David Wright is pure class.
A quote, via David Lennon:
Seriously, this guy is the face of the franchise, and for exactly that reason he will not (cannot?) be the leader. He is the guy to always come out and say the right things when asked, but he won't be the guy to say the right things when needed.
He's too naïve, if you will, to jump into that roll. As great of a player that Wright is, I just don't think he has that leadership capability, something the Mets have lacked.
A quote, via David Lennon:
"I hope that anybody who cheats get caught," Wright said. "Maybe its me being naïve, but I think baseball is clean. You would have to be either very desperate or flat-out stupid to try and beat the system now."Wright went on to say that A*Rod is a better player that he is.
Seriously, this guy is the face of the franchise, and for exactly that reason he will not (cannot?) be the leader. He is the guy to always come out and say the right things when asked, but he won't be the guy to say the right things when needed.
He's too naïve, if you will, to jump into that roll. As great of a player that Wright is, I just don't think he has that leadership capability, something the Mets have lacked.
Phillies could land Ohman with one-year deal; Why not the Mets?
According to Philly.com, the Phillies are looking at, and have had discussions with, Will Ohman as a possible addition to their bullpen.
Anyway, I'd like the see the Mets up the ante a little bit on Ohman. They need someone else, and I think Omar is ranking the guys he currently has on the team a little too high.
Just one more piece to the puzzle, and I'll be content.
[Page] Odle said Ohman, despite getting two- or three-year offers from other teams, was open to a one-year contract with a competitive team like the Phillies.If the Phillies can land him on a one-year deal, why can't the Mets? I'll tell you why: He doesn't respect them.
"We've had real good positive conversation with the Phillies over the past week, and I know Will would love to pitch in Philadelphia," Ohman's agent, Page Odle, said Sunday. "He's faced them a lot being in Atlanta, and has a lot of respect for the team and the organization."I tell ya, I get no respect. No respect at all!
Anyway, I'd like the see the Mets up the ante a little bit on Ohman. They need someone else, and I think Omar is ranking the guys he currently has on the team a little too high.
Just one more piece to the puzzle, and I'll be content.
Mets win NL East in 2009, according to PECOTA
Take a look at the 2009 PECOTA standings, with depth charts. (via Amazin' Avenue).
According to Baseball Prospectus, the Mets will finish 2009 with a 93-69 record, besting the Phillies and the Braves, both with a record of 88-74.
Where do I sign?
According to Baseball Prospectus, the Mets will finish 2009 with a 93-69 record, besting the Phillies and the Braves, both with a record of 88-74.
Where do I sign?
2/9/09
No Johan in the WBC
Turn in those Venezuela jerseys, Johan Santana will sit out of the World Baseball Classic, according to Adam Rubin.
Via Rubin:
Via Rubin:
Johan Santana plans to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic at the request of Mets officials and remain in camp during spring training, the Daily News has learned.This makes me breathe a lot easier. Maybe the Mets listened to my letter.
25 random facts about my Mets fandom
The latest craze on Facebook (Facebook me!) is to post 25 random facts about yourself. I'm going to put a little spin on that and come up with 25 random facts about my Mets loving side of life.
1. I own over 10 Mets hats. (Probably not a lot compared to some, but my mom likes to make note of it.)
2. My friend Jamie Palatini will never let me forget that I fell asleep during the 2000 World Series.
3. I have a large poster of Keith Hernandez on my wall that I'm pretty sure no one else has.
4. I can trace my fandom all the way back to when I received "Metty Bear," a stuffed bear dressed in a Mets uniform. I still have him.
5. My first game at Shea was Marlins @ Mets. (The date escapes me right now.)
6. I have a lucky (unlucky?) helmet.
7. My entire mother's side are fans of the Yankees. Only my father is a Mets fan.
8. I have at least one of Mets branded article of clothing for everything you could possibly wear, save for shoes and underwear.
9. I'm an avid New York Mets fan that has a picture of the five-year-in-a-row World Series winning New York Yankees hanging in my bedroom.
10. I have received exactly one baseball from my time at Shea Stadium. It was given to me by a girl who begged a member of the Braves coaching staff for one. She already had two others.
11. I want to be Mr. Met, just for one day.
12. I wish I knew more about the history of the team.
13. During the season, most things play second fiddle to the games.
14. I actually think I prefer watching games on TV. I'm not sure if it's because it's so expensive to go to the stadium or if Gary, Keith and Ron are just that good.
15. I only owned a package of games once. Otherwise, I just haphazardly buy tickets to games.
16. I have two David Wright plaques next to my bed.
17. I have a man crush on Wright, as well. (As if you couldn't tell, considering #16.)
18. I wish my name was Razor Shines.
19. Favorite meal at Shea: Hot dog, fries, drink in 3rd inning. Pretzel in the 7th.
20. I don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure I've seen more losses than wins at a game.
21. I once had a Mets belt buckle, but it has since gone missing.
22. The only autograph I have (in my house), from any Mets player, is the Keith Hernandez signed ball I bought for my dad.
23. I scream "Git! Git! Git!" whenever a ball has a chance to sail over the fence. My roommates hate it.
24. I also scream "Git down! Git down!" when the other team smacks one.
25. I know I will cry like a baby if I ever get to see a World Series championship.
Let's hear yours (you don't need to do 25)!
1. I own over 10 Mets hats. (Probably not a lot compared to some, but my mom likes to make note of it.)
2. My friend Jamie Palatini will never let me forget that I fell asleep during the 2000 World Series.
3. I have a large poster of Keith Hernandez on my wall that I'm pretty sure no one else has.
4. I can trace my fandom all the way back to when I received "Metty Bear," a stuffed bear dressed in a Mets uniform. I still have him.
5. My first game at Shea was Marlins @ Mets. (The date escapes me right now.)
6. I have a lucky (unlucky?) helmet.
7. My entire mother's side are fans of the Yankees. Only my father is a Mets fan.
8. I have at least one of Mets branded article of clothing for everything you could possibly wear, save for shoes and underwear.
9. I'm an avid New York Mets fan that has a picture of the five-year-in-a-row World Series winning New York Yankees hanging in my bedroom.
10. I have received exactly one baseball from my time at Shea Stadium. It was given to me by a girl who begged a member of the Braves coaching staff for one. She already had two others.
11. I want to be Mr. Met, just for one day.
12. I wish I knew more about the history of the team.
13. During the season, most things play second fiddle to the games.
14. I actually think I prefer watching games on TV. I'm not sure if it's because it's so expensive to go to the stadium or if Gary, Keith and Ron are just that good.
15. I only owned a package of games once. Otherwise, I just haphazardly buy tickets to games.
16. I have two David Wright plaques next to my bed.
17. I have a man crush on Wright, as well. (As if you couldn't tell, considering #16.)
18. I wish my name was Razor Shines.
19. Favorite meal at Shea: Hot dog, fries, drink in 3rd inning. Pretzel in the 7th.
20. I don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure I've seen more losses than wins at a game.
21. I once had a Mets belt buckle, but it has since gone missing.
22. The only autograph I have (in my house), from any Mets player, is the Keith Hernandez signed ball I bought for my dad.
23. I scream "Git! Git! Git!" whenever a ball has a chance to sail over the fence. My roommates hate it.
24. I also scream "Git down! Git down!" when the other team smacks one.
25. I know I will cry like a baby if I ever get to see a World Series championship.
Let's hear yours (you don't need to do 25)!
Ex-Met: Fonzi goes to Japan
Ex-Met Edgardo Alfonzo has found a new home. I hope he likes sushi.
Fonzi is heading to Japan to play for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League. The one-year deal is supposedly worth $380,000.
From the Long Island Ducks to the Yomiuri Giants. Good for you, Fonzi. This now gives hope to every aging veteran hoping to still play. Except for you, Julio Franco. You already have a job.
Fonzi is heading to Japan to play for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League. The one-year deal is supposedly worth $380,000.
From the Long Island Ducks to the Yomiuri Giants. Good for you, Fonzi. This now gives hope to every aging veteran hoping to still play. Except for you, Julio Franco. You already have a job.
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