The Leiter Side of Baseball

[Edgy MD]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26134579/leiter-privileged-excited-join-mets-adviserAccording to ESPN, presumably precipitated by an announcement from the team, the Mets have hired former Mets pitcher and New Jersey native Al Leiter for the (newly created?) role of "baseball operations adviser." Assigned to work with players at all levels of the organization, including the majors, Leiter's role sounds an awful lot like what used to be called "roving instructor," but considering the title and the fact that fellow big shot John Franco has also been hired in the same capacity, perhaps it's more like 55% roving instructor, 30% special advisor to the front office, and 15% team ambassador.



This of course, is a pretty decent coup in the ongoing battle between the Yankees and the Mets to claim figures with mixed legacies. Following 13 years of working the booth with the Yankees, for which he received two Sports Emmys, perhaps Leiter will also get to sit in for Ron Darling some nights as the pitching analyst.



Asked for a response to the news, noted Mets fan and raconteur cooby is said to have responded, "Ewww ..."



No updates have been made available regarding the potential liberation of David Cone.

[nymr83]

my favorite Mets pitcher ever, before Dickey came along

[kcmets]

Good news, liked him on the non-Yankee stuff he did over the years.

Hopefully it won't take long for 13 years of Yankee resididoodoo to wear

off. They can keep Cone.

[G-Fafif]

All the Metspeak here:



https://metsinsider.mlblogs.com/al-leiter-joins-mets-as-baseball-operations-advisory-160b613f90ff?sf99486658=1https://metsinsider.mlblogs.com/al-leiter-joins-mets-as-baseball-operations-advisory-160b613f90ff?sf99486658=1

[Frayed Knot]

Would the Leiter Side of Baseball be illustrated by Dave Berg?

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Hilarious that it's been 20 years since disgruntled Met fans openly decried that Leiter & Franco were running the club. But you know I liked the turn of the century Mets, especially Leiter, and good to see the club recognize the guys beyond Piazza (Zeile, now Leiter, hopefully some time soon Reed and Yoshii and Dunston and Ventura and Jorge Fabergas)

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: Would the Leiter Side of Baseball be illustrated by Dave Berg?

You'd think. Actually, there is a book with that title, but it's not by Berg, but rather by Jay Johnstone. And by "book," I mean VHS cassette.



And to bring things full circle, it does have a Mets pitcher on the cover, but not Leiter.



https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/F9YAAOSwAIBbouS3/s-l1600.jpg?w=300>

[Fman99]

He's got Yanqui grease on him.

[MFS62]

His fits of wildness inspired my rap song parody:

re-enjoy.

Later

_______________________________________________________________________

Al Leiter is always close to the lead in number of pitches per batter. Looks like he's lost confidence in his stuff. So, Al lets batters "Walk This Way":



If you're a Leiter lover

Better stay under/cover

Don't admit you feel ‘dat way.

Don't tell me nutin'

About your ballot/ stuffin'

He ain't no all star any way

You want to be Al's cheer/ leader

He ain't never been a crowd/pleaser

As far as I can remi/nisce

But the best thing, lover

Is that wild-high motha'

Throws balls that always miss, like this



Batters weren't/swingin

And dat ain't fans/ singin

As the ump's left hand fly up in the/ air

Hey diddle diddle just toss it down the middle

So they might swing at it, take a /dare

So take a /chance

This ain't no high school/dance

Maybe someone can make a/play

Hitters you ain't been/foolin

Cause they know what he/doin

when Al lets them walk this way



Chorus:



Al lets them

Walk this way!

Get him outta' Shea!

(repeat 2X)

(repeat all 2X)

Well just let me smack you head!

Oooh, a-like this!





He tries hitters /teasin'

Ain't no fuckin' reason

He can't throw a pitch at the knees

Or throw three strikes over

To the other club's socker

Or let his teammates play some/ D

He's a consistent/loser

Throws like a Tampax/ user

Never throws up something they'll miss

He just tries to nibble

Not like that ol' Rob Dibble

And give the fans some wanted bliss, like this





Batters weren't/swingin

And dat ain't fans/ singin

As the ump's left hand fly up in the air

Hey diddle diddle just toss it down the middle

So they might swing at it, take a /dare

So take a /chance

This ain't no high school/dance

Maybe someone can make a/play

Hitters you ain't been/foolin

Cause they know what they/doin

when Al lets them walk this way



Chorus