Here's the trailer for 'Knuckleball!'

Featuring our very own R.A. Dickey...

Why is Keith's 'stach gray? An investigative report

You may have noticed, as you watched some Mets games over the last few days, that Keith Hernandez's mustache has gone a little gray.

Why's that?

"I guess he ran out of Just For Men," said Gary Cohen, who was doing the pre-game from SNY's studios on  Thursday.

But Cohen's joke may not be far from the truth.

Andrew Fegyveresi, VP of Communications at SNY, said he believes that Hernandez and Just For Men have parted ways. Hernandez, according to this article by Richard Sandomir in the NY Times, has been in the ads since at least 2008, but the article hints that the commercials had been on for some time before it was written.

I have reached out to Just For Men for confirmation, but did not receive a reply by the time this was published.

Reeeeeeeee-jected!

Let's remember the good times:


Additional reporting by Lenny Neslin of Lenny's Yankees.

My favorite press release

New York Mets’ Ike Davis Set to Host Second Annual Charity Event

First baseman teams up with childhood cancer charities, Billboard #1 country artist, and teammates for an unforgettable evening

New York, NY (August 1, 2012) -  New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis will host his annual charity event, “A Night with Ike Davis,” at City Winery in New York City on September 9th at 7 PM. This special evening, which will benefit Solving Kids’ Cancer (SKC) and the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, will feature a concert by country music star Lee Brice and celebrity bartending with Davis and teammates.

After losing his childhood friend, Mike Lio, to Ewing’s Sarcoma at the young age of 22, Davis has devoted his philanthropic efforts to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. After generating $60,000 during last year’s inaugural event, the first baseman has teamed up with Brice, a four-time Academy of Country Music nominee, to host another special evening in his friend’s honor.

“Seeing the impact and success this night had last year truly inspired me,” said Davis. “It’s amazing what you can do when you bring everyone together for a great cause. I am extremely grateful to have my teammates and Lee Brice so involved this year. I know Mike would be really proud of what we are doing and I am looking forward to a great evening.”

In addition to the concert, the event will also feature an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, raffles, VIP clubhouse access and a variety of one-of-a-kind items that will be included in an auction. If you are unable to attend the event on Sept. 9th but would still like to contribute, you can tip your favorite celebrity bartender online (http://bit.ly/ANwIke ), or make a $9.99 donation by texting “IKE” to 32020. A portion of the purchase proceeds will support Davis’ efforts and benefit SKC and The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.

Johan to DL

Johan Santana is going on the DL...

— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) July 21, 2012

Johan Santana to DL, officially with ankle injury.

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) July 21, 2012

On Jeremy Lin and the Mets

I’m not a Knicks fan. I watch the Knicks, but I’m far from a fan.

So, the Knicks didn’t match the Houston Rockets contract for Jeremy Lin, ending Linsanity in New York. But, just for some reality, let’s draw a bit of a parallel between Lin and… let’s say… Jordany Valdespin.

Lin started all of 25 games for the Knicks. He’s played in 64 total games, a mere 1,225 minutes. Valdespin has 40 games under his belt, just 81 plate appearances.

Knicks fans, and sports writers everywhere, are foaming at the mouth as they write about how awful of a move this was, tearing into James Dolan, etc. But, at this point, would you give Valdespin a contract like Lin just signed? $25 million over three years.

Imagine if Sandy Alderson turned around and announced at the end of the season, “Oh, by the way, we just signed Valdespin to a three-year deal, worth north of $20 million. And we’ll probably get fined for going over the (non-existant) MLB salary cap in a few years.”

Sure, Jordany might have more to prove, but the point still stands. Signing a guy who hasn’t even played a full season to a $25 million deal is beyond bonkers, marketing, ticket sales and all.

There would be riots! Mets fans would storm Citi Field and loot anything that wasn’t bolted down. But Knicks fans were clamoring for the Knicks to match the contract and bring Lin back.

Maybe I’m missing something. Maybe I don’t get the full picture. Yeah, I know Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton aren’t the answer. But how can you say Lin was? 25 starts! Twenty-five!

Maybe a Knicks fan can set me straight in the comments. Please, shed some light on this!

#Spinsanity

Can we officially transfer the -sanity meme over to Jordany now? #SPINSANITY

— Andrew Vazzano (@TheRopolitans) July 18, 2012

Tracking Jesse Orosco’s glove [Photos]

We all know it. Jesse Orosco on the mound, strikes out Marty Barret to clinch the Mets 1986 World Series championship.

Swing and a miss, and Orosco jumps up, arms in the air. After he windmills his arms, he flings his glove into the air.

And it never comes down.

At least, it never looks like it does. Let’s investigate.

I have a Mets confession to make

OK, I've been sitting on this one a while. I realized it a long time ago, but never wrote anything about it - well, until now. Why? Well, because it makes me a bad Mets fan.

I did something bad. Very, very bad.

You know those senior quotes in yearbooks? Yeah, well mine is totally Mets-ian.

"A little roller up along first, behind the bag. It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight and the Mets win it!" That shows up under my photo from 2006, when I graduated from high school. But, I made a boo boo.

I attributed that quote to Bob Murphy. Bob Murphy did not say that. Vin Scully did.

Scully was calling the game for NBC, and he's the legend that said those now-legendary words. But, I gave those words to Murphy. It was an oversight on my part. I didn't do any research. I didn't even Google it. I just assumed. No one checked. No one cared.

And now, forever, I am a bad Mets fan for misquoting one of the greatest moments in Mets history.

Oops.

A conversation with a reader about Thole and Murphy

A reader emailed me yesterday to discuss Josh Thole and Daniel Murphy - he of the amazing mustache - and their low OBP.

The conversation follows below...

Reader:

Can you please address the abysmal OBP's of Daniel Murphy and Josh Thole? It is the only reason they are on the team.

Do you also find Mike Nickeas' presence to be insulting to the other ball club?

Me:

I'm not sure I understand the question about Thole and Murphy's OBP? How is that the only reason they're on the team?

And yes, Mike Nickeas is awful.

Reader:

Well thanks for getting back to me.

I mean they serve no other purpose, actually this probably could be a good blog post but what do i know, you are the blogger.

They are Mets major leaguers because of their ability to get on base, more evidence to that fact are:
1) They have no power
2) They are both lousy at defense (one could argue significant improvement from Thole but one cannot argue that is how he got to this point)
3) They have no speed
4) What am I missing? (High OBP got them to the majors, which they are not doing right now)

What do you think of it? 

Me:

Well, who are you going to replace them with? Sure, they're only OBPing in the low .300s, but as you said... Mike Nickeas can't take over for Thole. Rob Johnson? Nope. Lucas May? Nope.  

And for Murphy... you want Valdespin out there every game? Sure, he's hitting lately, but he's not proven and his glove may be worst than Murphy's. You have to remember Murphy is in a deeeeeeeeeeep slump right now, too. 

And Thole/Nickeas are faced with Dickey's knuckleball every five days. You've seen how fooled hitters are with the pitch - catchers are just as confused too!

Reader:

Yeah but now we see that they can't be a part of our future and must be terminated quickly. 

Me:

Thole is the catcher for the foreseeable future. Murphy is being moved around yearly to find him a spot. Neither positions are being threatened by players in the minors. These are the guys for right now and probably for a few years to come.

Reader:

Impossible situation to win carrying the both of them getting on base at a 300 clip.  

Me:

Who would you put in their places?

I'm still waiting on a response.

Mets no-hitter T-shirt is awful

I understand getting this shirt out quickly, but this is just horrendous. Almost as bad as those "Wild Card Winner" shirts that I'm pretty sure no one buys.