9/29/11

Thanks, Deadspin

Jose Reyes won the batting title yesterday, the first Met to do so. Hooray!

But, of course, something had to go wrong and Reyes' feat is being tarnished. He got a hit, then promptly left the game. It was his decision and the media went bonkers because of it. But thankfully, Deadspin comes along to highlight the dumbest story and then takes them down a peg or two.

Congrats, Jose.

Please stay.

9/27/11

When will it be March?

Confession time: I haven't watched a Mets game the entire month of September.

It's not that they're boring, they're just not overly interesting. There's no young player(s) to track as he gets his first reps at the major league level - mostly because he's been getting reps all year with the team. There's obviously no playoff race, and barely a hint of playing spoiler. It's just, well, uneventful.

So now, as the season draws to a close, I - and every other baseball fan not waiting to watch their team play in October - look forward to March (or even February, for that matter). The time when hope springs eternal, the team assembles, hopefully with a few new faces, and they play meaningless - but more interesting - games again.

This offseason will likely be a long, long one. With one name thrown around more than any other: Jose Reyes. We will hear that he's staying, that he's going, that he hates the Mets, that he loves the Mets, that he wants to play here, that he wants to play there. We'll hear it all from the media, but for the sake and sanity of every fan, I hope this journey ends soon. If he stays, I'll be a happy man. If he leaves, I'll be devastated. So, stay Jose. But please, don't drag it out.

And now it's time for the offseason. Sandy & Co.'s first full time off together, to tweak, to adjust, to sign and to deal. To do what they need to do to make the team win. It will be fun to watch them work, watch them get critiqued and watch how they respond.

Let's look forward to March. Let's look forward to baseball. Let's look forward to hope, for a season that might not be lost - at least not yet.

9/11/11

#WearTheHats

News is spilling out today that Major League Baseball has put a kibosh on teams wearing non-MLB hats to honor those we lost on 9/11. Specifically, for the Mets, that means they can't wear FDNY, NYPD or any other hats for tonight's game. And the Mets are going along with it.

"MLB set a league-wide policy as it related to caps and uniforms for Sept. 11 and we followed the guidelines,” reports Brian Costa.

They can wear them before and after the game, but not during.

Come on now, Mets. If you know what's right - and all your fans do - you should wear the hats no matter what. This is one of the best things the team did after 9/11 back in 2001. Sporting those hats in a sign of solidarity with those we lost and those who were working tirelessly to clean up the mess was a touch of class, a wonderful moment for sports fans and Americans as baseball returned to New York City after such a crushing loss.

And now, 10 years later, Major League Baseball has the gall to tell teams not to wear these hats?!

Insanity. Stupidity. And downright wrong.

#WearTheHats. Pay the fine.

9/1/11

Press Release: Liquor Mogul Aims to Buy Mets

Here’s a press release that just made its way into my inbox…

New York, September 1, 2011 – Following the announcement that the NY Mets have ended negotiations with hedge fund honcho David Einhorn to buy the team, the president of one of the largest liquor distributors in the U.S. has declared his intention to purchase the cash strapped ballclub.

While the Mets remain in the financial freefall caused by the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, Martin Silver, President of NY-based Star Industries, which represents over 30 liquor companies and is the largest distributor of Georgi Vodka in New York, has stepped forward as a potential partner.  Silver is also the owner of a minor league pro team.

At the very least, I guess this would diversify the alcohol selection at Citi Field.

H/T Geoffery Sorensen

Update: Here’s video from the end of January where Silver states his yearning to buy the team…

8/30/11

Did Justin Turner just let it leak that the Mets are moving in the outfield walls at Citi Field? [Update]

Updated: It was all just a silly joke.

Turner said today, “And for the record, it's still just a rumor that the fences are being moved in...I was just making a joke out of it!”

Original: It’s no news that people want the Mets to move the walls at Citi Field, or that the Mets might be moving in the walls this offseason.

But, after seeing this odd tweet to Charlie Sheen from Mets second baseman Justin Turner earlier today, did he just let it slip that the Mets have already decided to move in the walls, and that they told the team already?

Mets moving in the fences?

He might just be perpetuating the rumors that have been swirling in the past few weeks/months, or he might know something we don’t and he just let the cat out of the bag.

What do you think: Should the Mets move in the walls at Citi Field?

8/22/11

Paul DePodesta needs to update his LinkedIn page

Paul DePodesta - LinkedIn

Paul DePodesta is a little behind the times. Or, at least, his LinkedIn page is.

He still lists himself as the Executive VP for the San Diego Padres, a position he hasn’t held in 10 months.

So hey, Paul, update your LinkedIn. Billy Beane might want you to write him a recommendation or something.

H/T to Andrew Fletcher.

8/20/11

Book: ‘An Arm and a Leg’ by Emma Span

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 27:  Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets poses during Photo Day on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida.  (Photo by Marc Levine/MLB Photos) *** Local Caption *** Jose ReyesI just finished “An Arm and a Leg” by Emma Span, a Kindle single (not just for those with the cute little eBook).

It’s an essay about Jose Reyes: his life, his career and how he will affect the Mets if they do or do not sign him come October.

It’s a quick and wonderful read, reminding me of all the great things Jose has done during his tenure as a New York Met (most importantly make fans forget about Rey Ordonez).

It’s not just stats, though Emma gets into OPS+, WAR and VORP. (Don’t be scared.) She also gets into the man, the affable one with the smile, the jokes and the charm.

I suggest shilling out your 99 cents and reading this. (Yeah, you can read it without a Kindle.) It will make you warm and fuzzy for Jose Reyes, and then make you fear the day we ever see him in a non-Mets uniform.