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

[Elster88]

[u:2c2743fb94]Posterity:[/u:2c2743fb94]

David Segui, a 15-year major league baseball player who last was on an MLB roster in 2004, says he's one of the players whose names were redacted in the IRS affidavit that said Jason Grimsley received two kits of human growth hormone on April 19.

In the affidavit, Grimsley told IRS investigators that a player "told him of a doctor in Florida that he was using at a wellness center to obtain human growth hormone ... the player told him, "If you are going to do this, you should do it right."

Segui told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap in an interview Saturday that he is that player, but said he was under a doctor's prescription at the time.

"It was almost word for word the conversation we had, except there's a couple of key words left out," Segui told Schaap. "You know, 'legal' was one of the major -- probably the most major omission in the affidavit ... I was, you know, deemed human growth hormone deficient through blood work ... the doctor put me on human growth hormone, monitored my levels, monitored blood level, blood work periodically, regularly.

"... It was perfectly legal," Segui said. "You know, I was under doctor's prescription."

Segui played for seven teams during his career. Baseball has banned HGH and toughened its testing for other steroids, but there is no reliable test for HGH.

Segui showed ESPN a prescription for HGH from 2003, and said he continues to take HGH today. He said Grimsley came to him this past offseason, seeking advice about HGH, and how it might help him recover from Tommy John surgery.

"I told him, I was speaking as a friend ... Do it under the doctor's supervision," Segui said. "And my exact words to him were, if you're going to do it, do it the right way." Segui said that eventually Grimsley got HGH from another source, not the doctor Segui suggested.

Segui told ESPN he was using HGH while playing as late as 2004, when it was a prohibited substance -- though not tested for by baseball. He did not apply for a waiver because of his medical need. As for any player's chance of receiving an exemption for HGH, a baseball spokesman said "that would be difficult to imagine."

In May, agents searched Grimsley's Arizona home following his admission he had used HGH, steroids and amphetamines.

According to court documents, authorities tracked a package containing two "kits" of HGH -- about a season's worth -- that was delivered to Grimsley's house on April 19. He failed a baseball drug test in 2003, documents showed.

Grimsley's attorney said federal agents asked Grimsley to wear a listening device to gather evidence against San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds.

"It was a specific effort to target Bonds," Edward Novak told The Arizona Republic. "We were told that Jason's cooperation was necessary to their case."

Following the revelation that Grimsley's home had been raided, he asked for and was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was later suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Bobby and Mo.

[MFS62]

Checking last night's Norfolk box score, I noticed that Jeff Keppinger, who has been on a hot streak that has brought his average up near .300, did not play.
Does anyone know where that ex-Met has gone?
Was he traded?
Is he injured?
Was he given a day off?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Later

[metirish]

Strawberry among Yankee old-timers
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 20, 2006, 9:30 PM EDT


David Cone and Darryl Strawberry are among six former Yankees making their first appearance at the team's 60th annual Old-timers' Day on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

Dennis Rasmussen, Steve Kemp, Bobby Meacham and Ross Moschitto are also first-time returnees for the game. The theme is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Don Larsen's perfect game in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Reggie Jackson also are scheduled to appear before the Yankees host the Florida Marlins.

Cone pitched for the Yankees from 1995-2000 and helped New York win four World Series titles. He threw a perfect game for New York against Montreal on July 18, 1999.

Strawberry played for the Yankees from 1995-99, and played on three title-winning teams.

[MFS62]

Do they play an old timers' game any more, or just introduce the players?

If so, should Cone and Strawberry play for the Yankees or the opponents?

Later

[metirish]

] Kazmir sharp as Rays send D-Backs below .500 Tampa Bay's 22-year-old left-hander took a two-hitter into the eighth inning and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 Thursday, becoming the youngest pitcher to win nine games this early in the season since Tom Gordon and John Smoltz in 1989. Kazmir (9-4) won 10 games as a rookie last year and has emerged as the leader of a young pitching staff. "My goal was to come in here this season and work and continue to get better," Kazmir said. So far, so good. Only Detroit's Kenny Rogers and the New York Mets' Tom Glavine have more victories (10) among major league pitchers, and Kazmir's .568 career winning percentage (21-16) is the best in Devil Rays history for a pitcher with a minimum of 25 decisions. Kazmir limited the Diamondbacks to Conor Jackson's second-inning double and Chad Tracy's seventh-inning single before Johnny Estrada led off the eighth with his sixth homer of the season.

[nymr83]

don't we have a special thread (or three) for beating up the Mets everytime Kazmir pitches?

[metirish]

HAHAHA..yeah we had a few Kazmir threads but I didn't want to do the leg work and find one.

[Guest Edgy DC]

John Gibbons in the Globe and Mail:

"They were my first team," Gibbons said. "They're a first-class operation, always have been. Everything doesn't always go right wherever you are. But everybody treated me well over there. They always play to win, they're not afraid to shell it out. They've got a good ball club."

The article describes Gibby as the Mets' first-round draft choice from 1980. He was their third first-round pick from 1980.

[stevejrogers]

MFS62 wrote: Do they play an old timers' game any more, or just introduce the players? If so, should Cone and Strawberry play for the Yankees or the opponents? Later

Everyone plays for the Yanks now, they used to invite non-Yanks, probably got too annoying hunting down ex-non Yanks if requests get turned down while there is a Yankee Alumni Association that does keep track of all Ex-Bombers

And they do play a 3 inning "game"

[stevejrogers]

Nymr83 wrote: don't we have a special thread (or three) for beating up the Mets everytime Kazmir pitches?

Wrong forum! You are talking about the MOFO

[nymr83]

former Met Armando Benitez blew it last night against the A's, they just played the highligt on WFAN with the comment "You've heard this before."

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Phillies claim Rick White on waivers from Cincinnati.

[Frayed Knot]

Nymr83 wrote: former Met Armando Benitez blew it last night against the A's, they just played the highligt on WFAN with the comment "You've heard this before."

Which is exactly the sort of obnoxiousness that reinforces the idea that Benitez does this more often than the average closer. He does't actually, it's just that blown saves by other closers aren't singled out in highlite recaps with the same regularity.

[nymr83]

"Izzy" just blew a 2-run lead to the Tigers, i'll bet the radio won't be harping on that one.

[Guest sharpie]

Kaz Matsui has a bulging disc and is on the minor league DL.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Which is exactly the sort of obnoxiousness that reinforces the idea that Benitez does this more often than the average closer.

Which is exactly the sort of obnoxiousness, and ignorance, that defines the beast of sports radio.

[seawolf17]

="sharpie"]Kaz Matsui has a bulging disc and is on the minor league DL.

[soupcan]

sharpie wrote: Kaz Matsui has a bulging disc and is on the minor league DL.

Wow. Talk about snakebit.

This guy needs to get back to Japan. And fast.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ray Burris, O-Tiger.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Garry Matthews, Jr. is fourth in the AL in batting average.

Yeah, I know, Texas, but still.

[MFS62]

Jae Seo moving on again. This time to Tampa.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060627&content_id=1525661&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

George Foster, giving back.

[seawolf17]

Gary Carter, managing the US squad in the All-Star Futures Game.

[MFS62]

Jeff Keppinger has gone 6- for 9 in the recent two games for Norfolk against the Yankees' Columbus team. He is now hitting over .310.
I read an item (Daily News early edition, no link) a few days ago that he has been working out in centerfield. The quote went on to say that this will "improve his value to the Mets".

So, what do you think this means?

Is he:
* Going to be brought up to be the regular second baseman and hit in the #2 hole?
* Trade bait?
* Going to be brought up as a reserve?
* Staying at AAA until lost in the minor league draft?
* Something else?

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

* Going to be brought up to be the regular second baseman and hit in the #2 hole?

No.

* Trade bait?

They're all trade bait.

* Going to be brought up as a reserve?

Probably.

* Staying at AAA until lost in the minor league draft?

He's on the major league roster. He'll remain there, with optons, until 2007.

* Something else?

When the Mets have roster room and could use someone with his skills, they'll call on him.

I don't really think of him as an Ex-Met.

[Guest SI Metman]

Doing color-commentary for Hudson Valley Renegade cable telecasts - Dave Telgehder.

[Guest GYC]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/431893p-363971c.html

Former Met Rickey Henderson has been hired by the Mets to tutor Reyes in baserunning once again.

[Theoldmole]

I'll be seeing the 'Gades play the Cyclones on the 4th of July. I'll be torn -- root for the home team, or the Mets' farm?

The home team wins out, but I'll secretly be rooting for both sides.

[stevejrogers]

A stork is expected to vist the Piazzas

]Piazza, 37, believes he will play again in 2007 but is not certain because there are bigger and more blessed things going on in his life. His beautiful wife, Alicia, is expecting their first child after the New Year. "We'll see, there's going to have to be balance, it's a family decision," says Piazza, who is thrilled with the prospect of becoming a father. "It's going to be nice to share everything you've worked for," Piazza says. "That's what it's all about. You want to give your children a good life."