Last night as I was lying in bed, I caught the last end of a commercial for a cell phone. The baseball team featured looked a lot like the Buffalo Bisons uniforms.
Well, a little Googling and here we are. AT&T has sponsored the Bisons for 10 years, according to Buffalo Business First.
Here’s the video…
Unfortunately, and in typical Mets fashion, Carl Shouse tore his hamstring in the third inning and missed the rest of the season.
And head over to Baseball Prospectus to see a chart of the days lost to injury and the salary of the players lost compared to the team payroll. Guess who has the biggest bars in both?
Yesterday on The ‘Ropolitans Radio (T‘RR), I tried to defend the idea that “team chemistry” overrated and that a winning team creates good “team chemistry.”
Here’s how it went down…
Joining me on T‘RR yesterday: Andrew Fletcher, Alex Birsh, Lenny Neslin and Jeremy Schilling.
What are your thoughts on “team chemistry”? Do you look for a player that has “it” over a player with better stats?
Prospect Josh Thole is playing winter ball in Venezuela. But due to the recent rash of kidnappings, among other things, the Mets may call their young catcher back early.
From the NY Times…
The Mets are consulting with Major League Baseball’s security department and intend to provide Thole, who plays for Leones de Caracas, with all the information to ensure his safety, whether he comes back or remains.
“We’re doing our due diligence regarding the entire situation,” Mets General Manager Omar Minaya said. “We’re looking into it to make sure Josh knows what’s going on and we know that he is safe.”
Though the Mets probably have a good relationship with Venezuela (Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez), the team would be right to play it better-safe-than-sorry. Bring him back to the states early. There’d be no harm in it.
Remember this press release:
The New York Mets today announced across the board decreases in the price of Season Tickets for the 2010 season at Citi Field with no increase in the price of any ticket next year.
The average ticket price on a full-season basis will drop by more than 10 percent with reductions in select locations in excess of 20 percent. Every Season Ticket Holder will see a decrease in their invoice for next season.
Well, when some fans received their ticket invoices for the 2010 season, some were quite angry to see that their tickets were only $1 cheaper every game, far from a 10 percent reduction.
While I understand the outrage, they must look closely at the release.
“The average ticket price on a full-season basis will drop by more than 10 percent.”
That means some will drop more and some will drop less. Unfortunately, they have to drop less for certain people.
Are you a season-ticket holder? How do you feel about the reduction in prices?
The Mets are in the process of renovating the bullpen at Citi Field, according to Brian Costa of NJ.com.
Costa writes that the San Diego Padres complained about how the bullpen was set up. And if you watched any games this season, you know how tough it was for the broadcasting crew to figure out who was throwing in the pen.
The bullpens will be set up so that the pitchers will throw toward the field, instead of side to side like last season. The pitchers will be throwing from under the bridge out toward the outfield.
Wally Backman will be names manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones on Tuesday, according to Mike Silva from New York Baseball Today.
The press conference should be Tuesday, according to Silva.
Backman was last named as a manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 for just one day. It was reported that he failed to report a '99 DUI arrest and he was promptly fired.
I’m glad to see Backman back with the Mets organization. He’s quite a character and should make for some fun in Brooklyn in the coming months.
I took to Twitter to ask my followers which prospect excites them the most.
Here are some responses…
mattclausen said: Thole....guady BA numbers, smart hitter....will play perfectly in Citi
pattigibbons said: Ike Davis. He shows well-rounded promise as an infielder and as a hitter.
trmbonemulligan said: Ike Davis without a doubt. Maybe its just the hype but I feel like he could be another Delgado
kramtelak said: The prospect that nets the Mets Halladay.
I’m frightened by the point trmbonemulligan brings up. Is Davis just hype? Obviously, it’s too early to tell and we’ll only find out when he starts playing more and at a higher level.
I truly hope Davis isn’t just another product of the hype machine. I’ve already penciled him into the lineup in the coming years.
Does that mean I’ve bought into the hype?
Chone Figgins has quickly become one of the hottest names on the free agent market this off-season. According to reports, the Mets may be interested in Figgins for second base if they’re able to deal Luis Castillo, or possibly elsewhere.
But why?
Figgins is a much better third baseman than he ever will be at second, left field or right field. According to FanGraphs, Figgins’ UZR (ultimate zone rating) last season at third base was listed at 16.7, second in the AL. His career UZR at third is an unbelievable 23.4.
Figgins has spent a good amount of time in the outfield, as well. He has played 307 games in the outfield, but isn’t the best fielder. His UZR in those 307 games is –12.6.
He’s a utility guy, able to fill in at pretty much any position and not kill your team. He’s worth a shot, especially with the Phillies interested in Figgins to fill in at their vacant third base position. Maybe the Mets should sign him just so they don’t have to face him.
