All-Purpose 2006 Where Have You Gone... Former Mets Thread

[Guest Edgy DC]

MLB Introduces Todd Zeile Award For Participation
October 20, 2005 | Onion Sports

MILWAUKEE�In recognition of Todd Zeile, who took an active part in over 2,000 games while playing for 11 different teams, the MLB commissioner's office has dedicated an award in his name, to be presented annually to honorary participants in America's pastime. "Major League Baseball understands that not everyone can be the Most Valuable Player, and we want to let these other players know that we nonetheless appreciate their effort and support their continued interest in the game of baseball," commissioner Bud Selig said. "In the spirit of Mr. Zeile, this award celebrates a player's commitment to the sport, his outstanding attendance, and the embodiment of the game's most important qualities: taking the field, giving it your all, and making new friends." This year's recipients will include all players who exemplified the true meaning of baseball by willingly competing in over 60 percent of his team's games.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Do you think the Mets keep track of the whereabouts of their former players?

The reason I ask is that I get many e-mails from people asking me how to get in touch with Jim McAndrew. Or Pat Zachry. Or Danny Heep. Or Ray Sadecki. I, of course, have no idea how to find any of these guys, so I always lamely suggest that they contact the Mets. I wonder, though, if the Mets know any more about this than I do, and if they do, if they're willing to help.

If anyone cares to try it as an experiment, (I don't) please give it a shot and let us know how it worked out. My prediction, unfortunately, is that it's probably a dead end trying to get that info from the Mets.

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Do you think the Mets keep track of the whereabouts of their former players? The reason I ask is that I get many e-mails from people asking me how to get in touch with Jim McAndrew. Or Pat Zachry. Or Danny Heep. Or Ray Sadecki. I, of course, have no idea how to find any of these guys, so I always lamely suggest that they contact the Mets. I wonder, though, if the Mets know any more about this than I do, and if they do, if they're willing to help. If anyone cares to try it as an experiment, (I don't) please give it a shot and let us know how it worked out. My prediction, unfortunately, is that it's probably a dead end trying to get that info from the Mets.

I know they started an Alumni Association thing, but I really don't know how many people are involved or if they reach out to those who aren't members or aren't well known guys

Steve

[Guest Edgy DC]

I know where Ray Sadecki is now.

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: I know where Ray Sadecki is now.

Don't keep us in suspense.
Where is he?

Later

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

He's hanging out with Waldo, and Matt Lauer, and Carmen Sandiego.

[MFS62]

Lenny DiNardo started today's game for the Bosox.
He gave up six hits and two runs (2 earned) in 5 IP.

Later

[metirish]

Presto Wilson SO five times yesterday in a nine inning game.....OUCH...

[Gwreck]

metirish wrote: Presto Wilson SO five times yesterday in a nine inning game.....OUCH...

Wikipedia tells me that is called the "Platinum Sombrero."

[Guest Edgy DC]

"I have something to report to you."

[Guest Edgy DC]

What? No comments? That's not how they feel in Japan.

Emotional reaction in Japan to Shinjo's retirement

Japan's popular former Major League player Tsuyoshi Shinjo, seen here with the New York Mets in 2003, caught Japanese baseball fans off-guard with his unexpected retirement, provoking an emotional reaction.

Flamboyant former Major League player Tsuyoshi Shinjo caught Japanese baseball fans off-guard with his unexpected retirement, provoking an emotional reaction.

After hitting two home-runs including a grand slam at the Tokyo Dome Tuesday night, the 34-year-old Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder shocked the crowd by announcing he would quit professional baseball at the end of this season.

"I have something to report to you. I have decided to hang up my uniform when the season ends," said Shinjo who is in his 17th year as a pro.

"I want to enjoy the season as much as possible," he added.

Shinjo moved to US Major League Baseball as a free agent and played for the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants from 2001 to 2003.

His batting average was .245 in his three MLB years with 215 hits, 20 home-runs and 100 runs-batted-in over 303 games.

Despite the mediocre results, Shinjo has been one of the best loved stars in Japan with his colorful wristbands, dyed hair and a trademark hop as he catches the ball.

A consummate crowd-pleaser, he has taken to the field dressed in various masks and costumes including those of Star Wars villain Darth Vader and Spider-Man.

The media-savvy Shinjo would treat reporters and fans by giving names to each of his home-run swings, such as the "Tequila swing" and "Please-hit-my-bat swing."

"We remember this Shinjo and that Shinjo. We will miss you," said the headline in the Nikkan Sports, which devoted its first three pages to the popular player.

The Sports Nippon said Shinjo, who has model good looks, told close friends that he wanted to go to Europe and become a fashion designer.

"Shinjo attracts attention by his daring actions but deep down he is sensitive," the newspaper said in an article.

"He is aware his retirement would have an immense impact," it said. "He might have made the agonizing decision to announce the retirement to draw more fans to stadiums" for the rest of the season.

After Tuesday's game, which his team won 10-4 over the Orix Buffaloes, Shinjo confessed his age was holding him back when playing.
.
"People haven't noticed, but I am not happy about many things in my performance," he said. � AFP
Flamboyant former Major League player Tsuyoshi Shinjo caught Japanese baseball fans off-guard with his unexpected retirement, provoking an emotional reaction.
.
After hitting two home-runs including a grand slam at the Tokyo Dome Tuesday night, the 34-year-old Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder shocked the crowd by announcing he would quit professional baseball at the end of this season.
.
"I have something to report to you. I have decided to hang up my uniform when the season ends," said Shinjo who is in his 17th year as a pro.
.
"I want to enjoy the season as much as possible," he added.
.
Shinjo moved to US Major League Baseball as a free agent and played for the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants from 2001 to 2003.
.
His batting average was .245 in his three MLB years with 215 hits, 20 home-runs and 100 runs-batted-in over 303 games.
.
Despite the mediocre results, Shinjo has been one of the best loved stars in Japan with his colorful wristbands, dyed hair and a trademark hop as he catches the ball.
.
A consummate crowd-pleaser, he has taken to the field dressed in various masks and costumes including those of Star Wars villain Darth Vader and Spider-Man.
.
The media-savvy Shinjo would treat reporters and fans by giving names to each of his home-run swings, such as the "Tequila swing" and "Please-hit-my-bat swing."
.
"We remember this Shinjo and that Shinjo. We will miss you," said the headline in the Nikkan Sports, which devoted its first three pages to the popular player.
.
The Sports Nippon said Shinjo, who has model good looks, told close friends that he wanted to go to Europe and become a fashion designer.
.
"Shinjo attracts attention by his daring actions but deep down he is sensitive," the newspaper said in an article.
.
"He is aware his retirement would have an immense impact," it said. "He might have made the agonizing decision to announce the retirement to draw more fans to stadiums" for the rest of the season.
.
After Tuesday's game, which his team won 10-4 over the Orix Buffaloes, Shinjo confessed his age was holding him back when playing.
.
"People haven't noticed, but I am not happy about many things in my performance," he said. � AFP

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

That link took like a year to load, that's why I said nuttin.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, I think I goofed on the coding. I fixed it, but it's still pretty slow.

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

Derek Bell arrested for cocaine possesion

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2415413

[Guest Edgy DC]

Tampa, where Mets go to fall apart.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Great slogan. The Tampa Chamber of Commerce should put it on their letterhead.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Operation Smokedown

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

How sad

[nymr83]

metirish wrote: Presto Wilson SO five times yesterday in a nine inning game.....OUCH...

and he struck out 4 more times yesterday, 4/19.
wow.

Billy Traber (former met prospect) starts for the Nationals against the Phillies tonight.

[Zvon]

="Edgy DC"] Japan's popular former Major League player Tsuyoshi Shinjo, seen here with the New York Mets in 2003, caught Japanese baseball fans off-guard with his unexpected retirement, provoking an emotional reaction. Flamboyant former Major League player Tsuyoshi Shinjo caught Japanese baseball fans off-guard with his unexpected retirement, provoking an emotional reaction. "People haven't noticed, but I am not happy about many things in my performance," he said. � AFP Flamboyant former Major League player Tsuyoshi Shinjo caught Japanese baseball fans off-guard with his unexpected retirement, provoking an emotional reaction. .

...are you trying to provoke an emotional reaction?


I like the way the article about Bell says the crack pipe was still warm,...lol.

[metirish]

Kazmir leaves after 5 2/3 innings with what the Boston TV guys are calling an arm/hand injury...

[A Boy Named Seo]

I was going to go with Operation Lockdown, but Operation Smokedown is good, too. Depending on how hard he hit it, Operation Falldown might be most appropriate. Those are some glassy eyes. Sad.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I didn't have the heart to post that Bell shot when I found it.

Brett Butler, palpitating.

[Guest abogdan]

You can't make this stuff up.

Shinjo leaves the ballpark for a quiet life of nude modelling

]"I've decided to take my uniform off at the end of this season." With these words, Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo announced his plans to end one of the more unconventional careers in Japanese professional baseball. What the fans at Tokyo Dome didn't realize when 34-year-old Shinjo told them on April 18 that he was removing his uniform, was that he was speaking literally, according to Shukan Gendai (5/6-13). Many were shocked that Shinjo chose a mid-April date to announce his plans to quit -- the season was only a few weeks old, after all -- most say it's characteristic behavior for the player nicknamed "Spaceman," who's as well known for his tendency to come out of left field (even though he's a centerfielder) as for his baseball. "It was typical Shinjo. I wasn't surprised at all," baseball analyst Takenori Emoto tells Shukan Gendai, regarding the sudden retirement. "I think part of the reason there was so much showbiz in the announcement was that the entire Pacific League seemed to be caught up in Shinjo and he was basically running wild, doing whatever he wanted to. He didn't give a damn about his team as long as he looked good." Actually, it's not the first time Shinjo has retired. After a fight with management at the end of the 1995 season, Shinjo announced he was retiring from the Hanshin Tigers, who he played for at the time. He changed his mind a little while later, playing a few more seasons for the Tigers before heading to the U.S. where he played three seasons in the Majors, two for the New York Mets with a season at the San Francisco Giants sandwiched in between. "This time, he really means it," Emoto opines. "At his age, it's no longer possible to hide the fact that he's not the batter he once was. It's a sad time for a professional ball player." Post-baseball life doesn't appear to be too lonely for Shinjo, though. The enormously popular outfielder is already apparently being swamped with offers for work once he's finished playing. And that's where it comes to taking his uniform off for the last time. As it turns out, it seems likely that his baseball uniform won't be the only garments Shinjo plans to shed. "Actually, Shinjo's thinking about releasing a collection of nude photos. Straight after he announced his retirement, the president of a major talent agency Shinjo is expected to join on his retirement called the player and said, 'If you're gonna do nude stuff, let me look after it for you.' And, as a bit of an extra for his real fans, there's also talk of Shinjo and his wife doing a nude shot together. If they don't want to go all the way, it could be a shot of them in some pretty racy underwear. The Shinjos are a lot more appealing than David and Victoria Beckham," Motoji Takasu, a publishing company producer, tells Shukan Gendai. While some may seem surprised at the suggestions of the Shinjos stripping, the likelihood is considered high when his previous outlandish behavior is taken into account. And, it shouldn't be forgotten that Shinjo's off-field resume already includes a successful stint promoting skimpy undies for major undergarment manufacturer Gunze. Added to these points, Shinjo's wife, Shiho, is a former pin-up queen who retired following their 2000 marriage, but has recently returned to work in showbiz. Some women's magazines have already reported on the couple's planned double-act display of undress. "Plans are afoot for a photo shoot in July or August. He's still playing and, in the middle of summer, his body will be in as good a shape as it's ever going to be. They're aiming to do the shoot amid the wilds of Hokkaido," publishing industry insider Takasu tells Shukan Gendai. "Sales of the book will start in October, just in time for the Japan Series. They'll be sold together with life-sized Shinjo posters and the promise of giveaways of the book for the 43,000 fans who turn up for his retirement game at Sapporo Dome. That'd really get fans heated up about baseball again." (By Ryann Connell)

[Elster88]

Find a Wifey Watch photo NOW!!

[Guest cooby]

The thought of Shinjo naked really does not heat me up. Isn't he the one who was so skinny that his uniform pants were all bunched up at the top from his belt?

[Elster88]

You have obviously not seen the recent photographs of him in his underwear. The ladies love it.

[Guest cooby]

No actually I did, and laughed

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'm fascinated by Shinjo and want a pair of his undies (well not his, necessarily, but his brand, BODY WILD.

http://www.bodywild.com/

[Guest Edgy DC]

Celbrities in Japan are a different breed. Everybody seems to understand and accept that they are brands once their personality is established. So they get one hit song or one hit movie out and, once people respond to whatever gets across, the more important part of their career isn't getting a solid followup album or movie, but to endorse a buttload of products and move a ton of signature sideline merchandise: fashion, videogames, makeup, whatever. We have examples of such celebrities that are amost purely brand in the west --- Spice Girls for instance --- but in Japan a pop phenomenon can flourish for decades while only occasionally putting out a "legit" product like a serious album or movie.

But one of the items that they move are photo albums. And it gets weird. These are typically expensive high-quality photo albums that an actor or actress releases aimed at a "mature" audience --- showing them lounging around pensively ("thinking about you...") at what you expect is their expensive estate or exclusive beach locale, but they almost spill over into "classy" soft-core tittilating poses that are more tittilating (and marketable) in that they often shatter the image of the sweet genial bubblegum singer or romantic comedy actress you knew years before.

But there's another point of departure from the west. It's not really shattered. They can do this modest porn and turn around and still get to present themselves in public as everybody's toothy-grinned sweetheart, while in America, one you flash your privates, that life (or that market) is typically dead to you.