So You Want to Be a Sportswriter 2007

[MFS62]

Yesterday, A-Rod got a lot of press for his book signing tour. So naturally, we were all waiting breathlessly for an article on Captain Clutch to stabilize our world. And this guy stepped up to the plate and delivered.
Before you read any further, get a barf bucket ready.

] Jeter mood swing Looks to forget past with jump on spring BY ANTHONY McCARRON DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Derek Jeter finds even Europe is no place to escape setback so he gets started on another season of hope. TAMPA - Even on a European vacation last fall, Derek Jeter couldn't get away from the Yankees' postseason loss to Detroit. A few days after the upstart Tigers put away the Yanks, cementing another disappointing October in the Bronx, Jeter was at a restaurant with a friend during one stop on his six-day, six-city holiday - he couldn't quite remember the city, London, perhaps - when a Tigers fan reminded him that the Yankees lost a series they had controlled. "You'd think you could escape it in Europe, you know?" Jeter said yesterday while taking a break from a pre-spring training workout on a clear, sunny morning at the Yankees' minor-league complex here. "You get it all the time here, but Europe?" In fact, the sting of the most recent Bomber setback is only starting to fade for Jeter, the Yankee captain who grew used to winning every year early in his career. The Yankees are now ring-less since 2000. Jeter resumed baseball activities three weeks ago for the first time since the end of the season. It's a way to put the disappointment in the past. "It takes a long time to get over it. That's what people don't realize," Jeter said as several Yankee prospects took batting practice nearby. "It's a whole year you've played. The worst phrase in all of sports is saying, 'Ah, get them next year.' Well, next year is another 12 months. It's not like you're going to have the opportunity to play forever. "Every year that goes by is one less year on your career, so it takes awhile to get over it. But that's what makes spring training so fun. Everyone starts over." Yankees' pitchers and catchers report for camp Tuesday and will have their first workout a week from today. Position players such as Jeter will report Feb. 18. But like most of his teammates, Jeter is already working. He took about a month off after last season to "heal up, rest my body. Then I get going again, mostly conditioning, until mid-January." This week, Jeter has been laughing easily around the batting cage with Jorge Posada and Miguel Cairo, two of the few major leaguers who come to the complex for daily workouts. He exchanged hellos with Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa, who threw for the first time Tuesday. "That's how you get your new beginning," Jeter said, referring to his return to baseball routine. Right after the Tigers closed out the series, Jeter admitted, he wondered what might have been. The Yankees had won the opener and were leading, 3-1, going into the fifth inning at the Stadium in Game 2, with Mike Mussina on the mound. But they lost that afternoon and dropped both games in Detroit. "You think about that for a long time, but I'm not thinking about it now," Jeter said. "You're only focused on 2007 now." Jeter is excited about the new season, especially with Andy Pettitte returning to the Bronx. "I was disappointed when he left in the first place, but you understand it because he wanted to be close to his family," Jeter said. "I'm glad he got the opportunity to come back. With Pettitte, you know what you're going to get. He's not always going to be successful, but you know he's not going to be overwhelmed by New York, by any situation. "He's been here when we've won, when we've lost. Good times, bad times. He knows how to deal with the media. On the field, you just hope he stays healthy. If he does, he's going to be fine." He added that the season would seem "weird" without Bernie Williams, who may or may not be in spring training with the Yanks. "He was always older than me, so he was a mainstay before I even got here," Jeter said. "I watched Bernie play when I was in high school, before I even got drafted. I don't know what the situation is; I haven't talked to Bernie lately. But you hope he'd come back. It would be strange without him. "I have not spoken to him about whether he would play somewhere else, but I can't picture it." But plenty has already changed for Jeter and the Yankees, as that Tigers fan was happy to remind him. "You've got to want to win. You've got to enjoy competing. That's the only thing you need to stay motivated," Jeter said. "We won before, and any time you have, you realize how special it is and what a good feeling it is and that it's the complete opposite when you lose. "You want to get back to that winning feeling, so motivation has never been a problem for me. When you start to lose that motivation to compete, that's when it's time to go home." Originally published on February 7, 2007

later

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

It would be Pat Strange without him?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Um, last week's fun with the profanity filter gets out of hand. Film at eleven.

[metirish]

Rodriguez can't do a damn thing right....

] A-Rod's just a fool for the city February 7, 2007 Alex Rodriguez's not-so-excellent adventure in the big city yesterday began hours before a chaotic visit to a Barnes & Noble in early afternoon. First, his scheduled appearance on NBC's "Today" show was canceled because of a disagreement over whether there would be limits on questions Matt Lauer could ask, a violation of NBC News policy. It was not clear what questions were to be off limits, and a representative of Rodriguez did not return phone messages last night to explain. But earlier in the day, a member of Rodriguez's camp said simply that things "didn't work out." With "Today" off the itinerary, Rodriguez went on to less news-oriented shows as he plugged his new children's book. At both "Live With Regis and Kelly" and "Martha," he guaranteed great things for the Bronx Bombers in 2007. "Bring back the championship," Regis Philbin said. "We will," Rodriguez answered. About an hour later, he was chatting on another chummy morning-show set with Martha Stewart. "Please bring us back a pennant!" she said. "We will; we will," he answered. Well, there you have it. Later, there would be that contentious bookstore visit that featured reporters clashing with cops and PR officials, then scheduled appearances on CNN and at another book signing in New Jersey. A-Rod, though, never was more in his element than among friendly morning hosts not inclined to bring up overthrowing first basemen. Well, come to think of it, Stewart did inadvertently broach that subject. After Rodriguez admitted he prefers shortstop to third base, which he called a greater challenge, Stewart said, "You can really screw up third base a lot." Said A-Rod: "You can also make a lot of nice plays." Stewart ignored him and plowed on: "You miss that one, boy, and you're in big trouble." Awkward. But hilarious. Mostly, A-Rod was A-Rod, smooth, cheerful and dapper in a sports jacket, jeans and un-tucked shirt. He did tell Stewart what he called a "funny story" about vomiting at 1:30 a.m. Monday after eating too much at his Super Bowl party. But other than that, the real show was the star-struck hosts. First, Philbin and Kelly Ripa beamed as Rodriguez spoke of his love for New York and said he'd like to finish his career here. "That's great," Philbin said. "We'd love to have you here, Alex." Things were daffier on "Martha," another syndicated show aimed largely at female viewers. Stewart called Rodriguez a "hero of the city" and "a lovely guy." He said to her, "You look beautiful," then to the audience added, "Isn't she pretty?" causing her to giggle like a middle-schooler. Later, Stewart cited Rodriguez's $252-million contract and gushed, "None of us -- none of us! -- thought that was too much. We all love the idea. None of us said, 'Oh, he's not worth it.' We all thought you were worth it." She did not appear to be kidding. Later, an audience member asked which three Yankees, past or present, she'd most like to cook for. She named A-Rod and Mickey Mantle second and third, respectively. The first name out of her mouth: Derek Jeter. A-Rod smiled.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-spbest075083904feb07,0,6324927.column?coll=ny-sports-columnists

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

strange

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

See I just typed s-t-r-a-n-g-e above and it came out like above.

I missed all the profanity and the fun, I guess.

[Guest *62]

Martha should watch an actual interview or two ......... does that strike anyone else as being in antagonistic?

I

[G-Fafif]

Need crap? Mark Herrmann has a load of it.

]What the Mets carried into their first official workout on a Saturday in February was the memory of a particular Saturday in October. The soundtrack during batting practice at Dodger Stadium was the live showing of the Yankees getting splattered by the Tigers. The soundtrack in the postgame clubhouse was a live rendition of "Meet the Mets" by players getting spattered with champagne. For the first time since 1988, the Mets kept going after the Yankees had stopped. For that night - the end of the Division Series - and for the next two weeks, the Mets had the town to themselves. The Yankees couldn't even upstage them with a brief try at their golden oldie, "Steinbrenner might fire the manager!" That plot proved about as fresh as an 8-track. But two weeks in October don't change a tide, which is what makes this year so interesting and important. Here is the other thing the Mets' pitchers and catchers carried onto the field in Port St. Lucie: the chance to really be top of the heap in the city that never sleeps. That matters. We all know it. The two clubs are always in competition with each other, especially now that each has its own network, its own new ballpark on the rise, its own luxury suites to sell. Each side has a new generation of fans to recruit. This is especially important to the Mets. Even when they have been good in the past 20 years (1999, 2000), the Yankees have been better. Try to name the last free agent who chose the Mets over the Yankees in a bidding war. Listen to the applause at the annual New York Baseball Writers Dinner - even when the dais is filled with Mets - and you can tell it's still Yankees territory. The Yankees have been so superior for so long that we can't help but use them as a measuring stick. Be honest: When Carlos Beltran ended the season with the bat on his shoulder, you said it was hard to imagine Derek Jeter letting that happen. And it's hard to imagine the Yankees going into camp with the kind of iffy rotation the Mets have. In terms of acquiring starting pitchers, the Mets were like the person who buys dozens of $1 lottery tickets with the hope that one of them pays off. What the Mets didn't carry into their first workout was great momentum from the offseason. They didn't put a buzz into the winter, except possibly for fans of the Alou family who are dying to see if Moises can be better than his uncle Jesus was with the Mets or his father and uncle, Felipe and Matty, were with the Yanks. On the other hand, there is something to be said for being calm. By not going overboard for Daisuke Matsuzaka, Barry Zito or the likes of Jeff Weaver, the Mets showed they are willing to rely more on their brains than their checkbook. Better to sit on your hands than do something just for the sake of doing it (witness Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn, Art Howe, Victor Zambrano). The Mets proved a lot to themselves last year: Beltran can play in New York, Carlos Delgado can carry a team in the clutch, the club can thrive without Pedro Martinez, the bullpen is good. They built an air of stability. They established the feeling that they know what they're doing. "This spring is just a continuation of that," manager Willie Randolph said in his state of the Mets address Friday, displaying some of his old Yankees confidence. "I want these players, every year we come to spring training, to feel like we should be in the playoffs and in the hunt for the world championship. And if you don't feel that way, you might as well not show up here." And no whining. The Mets swallowed their loss to the Cardinals and moved on. In contrast, ever since that Saturday in October, there has been one discontentment after another on the other side of town: Gary Sheffield, Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, Carl Pavano's teammates, Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera. What the Mets brought into their first official workout of 2007 was a taste of winning and being the toast of the town, however briefly. What they brought was a hunger for more. What they brought was the ambition to be on top of the world, and of New York, knowing you can't have the first without the latter.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have to go think about Derek Jeter. And find out where that ticket to the baseball writers dinner went.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Mark Hermann wrote: Try to name the last free agent who chose the Mets over the Yankees in a bidding war.

Um, your girlfriend?

Mark Hermann wrote: When Carlos Beltran ended the season with the bat on his shoulder, you said it was hard to imagine Derek Jeter letting that happen.

I'd sooner wonder about whether Rey Ordo�ez would've swung.

Mark Hermann wrote: They didn't put a buzz into the winter, except possibly for fans of the Alou family who are dying to see if Moises can be better than his uncle Jesus was with the Mets or his father and uncle, Felipe and Matty, were with the Yanks.

I'll go out on a limb and say he will.

Mark Hermann wrote: On the other hand, there is something to be said for being calm.

But you just had to get that third-rate zinger in there.

Mark Hermann wrote: The Mets proved a lot to themselves last year: Beltran can play in New York, Carlos Delgado can carry a team in the clutch, the club can thrive without Pedro Martinez, the bullpen is good.

The first two are only concerns to the foolish.

]"This spring is just a continuation of that," manager Willie Randolph said in his state of the Mets address Friday, displaying some of his old Yankees confidence.

Nice. Jerk.

[metirish]

Like the yankees rotation is not iffy.....fuck off Hermann you bollox...

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle is a dick, raving lunatic.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/02/only_idiots_don.html

] I shouldn't mention the conversation I had with Brad Ausmus Monday morning because it will only prompt more of you knuckleheads to write in. You seem to have forgotten that the idea of this particular blog is less responses, not more. I actually don't care what most of you think. Here's a litmus test: if you get the majority of your information from Fox News or if you have a picture of a college football player or coach framed and hanging in your house, you're too dumb to get this blog. (This is no anti-Republican rant. The Democrats haven't had a good idea since LBJ left office.) In other words, you're not my type. Me being slow to learn, I'm going to push ahead. I'll hate myself in the morning. Anyway, Ausmus was mentioning that he'd looked at my blog at time or two over the winter and was surprised by the level of vitriol aimed at himself and Adam Everett. I had to explain to him that the vast majority of the people who read this blog are smart. They get it. They understand how having two premier defensive players is actually a good thing for a baseball team. As for those who write in, many of them clearly have never seen a baseball game. These people fall into two categories. Either they're numbers geeks who love the math but stopped watching games about five years ago. Or they're know-it-alls who watch about two games a year and think batting average is the only statistic that counts. I told him the same thing I've told many of you. One opinion counts on this blog. That would be mine. No one else matters.

He's off his rocker and he's an asshole. Hooray! Aumus and Everett may be very good defensive players, but they couldn't hit off of a tee. Naturally, FJM's Ken Tremendous went to town on this.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Let me get this straight. That guy gets paid to write?

[G-Fafif]

Some old-media hands accept their absorption into new media kicking and screaming, apparently. Interesting what the lack of an editor between writer and reader can bring out.

Justice is one of those go-to guys whenever the national press needs to interview someone about what's up in Houston. He's spewed mindless venom about Beltran taking the money and no-trade to come here but has generally come off as reasonably levelheaded if a little homerian. Without reading him regularly I couldn't say whether he's reinventing himself as a Wally Matthewsesque tool.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, it's pretty funny to hammer home a line like "One opinion counts on this blog." I don't think you know what blog means.

[metirish]

Klapisch on who hits where in the Mets lineup.

] By BOB KLAPISCH RECORD COLUMNIST PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. � This was a few minutes before noon in Willie Randolph's office, long before his Mets would take the field on a perfectly sunny, perfectly nondescript spring training day. But the Mets' lineup against the Indians was anything but ordinary, which tells you Randolph already is thinking (or maybe over-thinking) about ways to score more runs. Call it experimental or genius or, as Randolph insisted, utterly harmless. But there's no mistaking the manager's sudden fondness for batting David Wright behind Jose Reyes. It was the second time in a week that Wright, who totaled 116 RBI last season, has been transformed from a run producer to a table setter. Randolph was quick to say "There's nothing to it" and explained that Wright's spot in the order was designed to maximize his at-bats against Cleveland, especially since he's not playing against the Astros today. Randolph's answer made sense, but it's nevertheless true that any tweaking of the lineup, no matter how benign, becomes organizational news in 2007. That's because after finishing third in the National League in runs last year, the Mets will have to do even better this summer -- at least until they know whether Pedro Martinez is coming back, and if John Maine and Oliver Perez can be trusted. WELCOME SPRING! Pete Caldera and Steve Popper are in Florida with the Yankees and Mets for spring training. Visit the blog * * * Shuffling the lineup cards Mets manager Willie Randolph has several options to consider when making out the batting order for opening day, including who will be his No. 2 hitter. Here are three possibilities: Wright option SS Jose Reyes 3B David Wright CF Carlos Beltran 1B Carlos Delgado LF Moises Alou RF Shawn Green C Paul Lo Duca 2B Jose Valentin Last year's model SS Jose Reyes C Paul Lo Duca CF Carlos Beltran 1B Carlos Delgado 3B David Wright LF Moises Alou RF Shawn Green 2B Jose Valentin Valentin's day SS Jose Reyes 2B Jose Valentin CF Carlos Beltran 1B Carlos Delgado 3B David Wright LF Moises Alou RF Shawn Green C Paul Lo Duca In other words, the once pitching-rich Mets are starving for runs, which begs the obvious question about Wright hitting second: Why deprive one of the team's finest run producers of the chance to inflict damage from his customary No. 5 spot? The manager has a simple, persuasive answer: After Reyes, the next five hitters in the Mets' lineup are practically interchangeable. To Randolph, Wright can be as effective in the No. 2 spot as he is at No. 5. He's as patient as he is powerful, which is a rare combination of blessings. Indeed, with the exception of Carlos Beltran, no Met hitter lengthens at-bats the way Wright does; he averaged 3.94 pitches per plate appearance last year, second only to Beltran's 4.20. Wright says he's "comfortable hitting with two strikes, comfortable hitting behind in the count," which makes him fearless enough to wait until Reyes is standing on second base to begin working the pitcher. The flip side to that argument is that Reyes can steal second with anyone batting behind him. And he doesn't need a gap hitter like Wright to drive him in. With his speed, Reyes can score from second on any hit, bolstering Paul Lo Duca's credentials as the No. 2 hitter. But Ramon Castro could start as often as three times a week, in which case the Mets would need someone to bat second. And that brought Randolph to Monday's experiment against Cleveland, batting Wright second with the possibility of doing so again in the future. "I'm not sure where I'm going to hit David this year," Randolph said cautiously. "I'll make my decision based on a number of things: who's pitching against us, whether we need more speed at the top of the lineup, whether we need that left-right look, which is actually overrated. And sometimes it's just on my feeling, my instinct." Wright is far too easygoing to have a strong opinion on this issue. He said, "It doesn't matter to me where I hit," and clearly meant it. For one day, the experiment seemed to work, even as the Mets' offense sputtered in a 2-1 loss. Reyes was 2-for-4, stealing a base in the third inning as � you guessed it � Wright worked a long at-bat against Paul Byrd. The third baseman finished the day 0-for-2, but drew a walk, thanks to that characteristic patience, and drove home the Mets' only run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. The Mets obviously have bigger plans for their run-scoring machinery this summer. They're assuming Moises Alou, who's hitless in 10 at-bats this spring, hasn't aged beyond his 40 years. And general manager Omar Minaya keeps telling people that Shawn Green is headed for a monster summer. That's probably a stretch, but even if it's not, the Mets' universe will revolve around Reyes and Wright, regardless of how they're aligned in the order, and Beltran and Carlos Delgado. More than anyone, it's Wright who'll eventually carry this team. So maybe there's a second layer of genius in Randolph's calculus. The manager obviously knows what happened to Wright in the second half of the season (he stopped hitting home runs) and in the NL Championship Series against the Cardinals (he stopped hitting, period). Randolph appears to be drawing on the education he got from Joe Torre, who taught him that a good manager insulates his players from self-doubt. By batting Wright second, Randolph is telling the kid not to worry about last year's home run drought during this season, because No. 2 hitters don't carry that burden. Of course, Randolph would never admit to playing Dr. Phil. It's not in his nature to be so nurturing. But confidence boosting comes in many forms. A change in the lineup is as good as a pat on the back from a manager as stern as Randolph. It's his way of telling Wright, "relax" without ever having to say a word. Genius, indeed. E-mail: klapisch@northjersey.com

[MFS62]

I agree. David was successful in the first half of last year by hitting the ball to right/ right center field. In the second half of the season, he got pull happy, and his numbers declined. He went back to his usual style late in the season and his numbers improved slightly. Maybe Willie has noticed that David has been trying to pull the ball again this spring, and has inserted him in the slot where hitting to right/ behind the runner is a key part of batting in that position. Hopefully, that will let him get back in the groove.

Later

[Vic Sage]

i've been advocating Wright as a #2 hitter since he came up. Mostly on the principle that you give your best hitters more ABs. Why Wright and Alou should hit 5th and 6th, while Loduca hits 2nd (stealing ABs from good hitters), is beyond me. That being said, i've also seen too much data, indicating line-up order (especially as to whether a guy hits 5th or 2nd) has very little significance in offensive production, for me to make a big fuss about it.

[metsmarathon]

the mets are starving for runs...?

[Guest Edgy DC]

They're pitching-rich?

[G-Fafif]

Klapisch is a moron.

]PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Hand on his heart, David Wright swears he wasn't trying to steal Alex Rodriguez away from the Yankees, or tell the Mets' front office how to build a dynasty to last through the next decade. All Wright was doing when he offered to surrender third base to A-Rod was make it politically easier for the Yankees slugger to cross enemy lines in 2008, should he decide to opt out of his current contract. Nice guy, David Wright. "Maybe too nice," one Mets veteran said. "He's the guy we need to be the leader here, not A-Rod." That sentiment resounded throughout the organization on Monday, a day after Wright made his surprising, public offer to Rodriguez. Even if the future Hall of Famer were to consider leaving the Bronx, the Mets have no plans, now or ever, to move Wright off third base. Instead, they're counting on Wright to be the hitting machine who had 20 HRs and 74 RBIs in the first half of the 2006 season. An All-Star at the age of 23, Wright had the can't-miss credentials of someone preparing for a long, uninterrupted run of stardom in New York. But then came the All-Star break -- and, specifically, the Home Run Derby -- and Wright was evicted from Olympus. He hit just six HRs in his final 243 at-bats, and was uncharacteristically vulnerable in October, too, batting just .160 in the NL Championship Series against the Cardinals. In fact, while it appeared the Mets were doomed when they lost Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez in the postseason, it was Wright's untimely slump that sabotaged them. What exactly went wrong? Scouts say Wright became vulnerable to sliders down and away, chasing pitches out of the strike zone. There's a fine line between an aggressive swing and one that's fueled by panic; Wright crossed the line as October's pressure mounted. One bird dog who watched Wright during the Cardinals series described him as "tight as a drum." Wright didn't disagree. "Next time, I'll know how to control my emotions better and relax," Wright said. "Everything is under a microscope in the postseason, and it's easy to get carried away. I definitely got too excited." That's hardly a sin for a player who debuted at the age of 21 and became a bona fide star in just two summers. Sometimes it's hard to believe Wright is still so young; he looks and acts like a veteran who understands the challenges of being a big city superstar. In some ways, though, Wright looks like an easy target for the professional parasites: He's open and honest and approachable, which is the first mistake in the celebrity instruction manual. None other than Derek Jeter says Wright has to be careful about choosing his friends as his star quotient grows. "Not many people can understand what David is going through," Jeter said recently. "I don't know him that well, I've met him only a few times, but he seems to have a good head on his shoulders. But he has to ask himself every time someone wants to get close to him, 'How did this person get here?' and, 'Is this person telling me the truth, or just telling me what he thinks I want to hear?' "David has to be really careful, if he isn't already." For his part, Wright says Jeter is "a role model for younger players like myself. He knows how to conduct himself on and off the field. He's the best there is at that kind of stuff." In many respects, Wright has it easier than Jeter, simply because the Yankees shortstop has such a larger footprint in the celebrity culture. While Wright says he mostly hangs out with his high school buddies from Virginia, Jeter told Newsday that he spent his last vacation in Europe with Michael Jordan. But the professional gap between Wright and Jose Reyes and Jeter and A-Rod is closing. The left side of the Yankees' infield obviously has a longer, more impressive resume, but the Mets have the younger, more athletic profile. So why would Wright offer to vacate third base? Partly because he's truly a nice guy with an ordinary, you-and-me ego. And partly because Wright knows a superstar when he sees one. "You're talking about one of the game's greats, and at the end of his career, he could be the greatest of all time," Wright said of Rodriguez. "He does everything in the game exceptionally well. He's a huge addition to any team." When informed of Wright's comments, A-Rod told the Bergen Record, "Did he really say that? Wow. Tell him I'm flattered." Where, exactly, would Wright play in this fantasy crossover? He smiled and said "anywhere," but the two most realistic choices would be left field or second base. Then again, it's probably A-Rod who'd have to be willing to switch, assuming he wanted the Mets to take him seriously as a free agent. After signing Wright to a six-year, $55 million deal last summer, it's clear the Mets are banking their future on him -- at third base. The Mets think they have their money parked in the right place. Who'd dare to disagree?

Can we stop this lazy Jeter-Wright nonsense? They're two different people. And if the subject is A-Rod, the last guy I'd go to for any kind of perspective would be the guy who has sent one of the best players of this or any generation simpering to the media to publicly decompose on the subject of sleepovers.

David was giving a perfectly reasonable gee-whiz answer to the hypothetical surrounding A-Rod opting for the Mets if given the chance. Doesn't mean it's going to happen. Doesn't mean David's building his life around it. If the Mets have no plans of signing Alex Rodriguez, then it doesn't really matter anyway.

I know it's spring and pots have to be stirred, but Klapisch is useless. The blind quote (Wagner's, I'm guessing) proves what? That somebody else doesn't feel so charitable toward Rodriguez? It's a free country.

As for that "he sucked the second half and in the postseason...but that's no sin" line of reasoning? Translation: I want to make a big deal out of David Wright's slump but I don't really have enough ammo to do so. So go ask Jeter what he thinks. Jeter's the fucking authority figure on every fucking thing these horrible, lazy hacks who infest our baseball dialogue can manage to scrape together until we have actual, real games to talk about. Jeez, these guys get under my skin.

[Guest iramets]

REYES BRAWLS WITH WRIGHT OVER A-ROD WELCOMING

Mets' shortstop Jose Reyes' eyeballs were focused like weapons at his erstwhile pal David Wright when he learned that Wright had publicly yearned for A-Rod to join the Mets.

"A-Rod's a Gold Glove shortstop, right?" Reyes said in a tight but quiet tone of voice. "So, he comes here, where am I going to play? They think I move to second base again, they're just nuts."

Reyes, who had been moved out of his shortstop position in 2005 to accomodate newcomer Kaz Matsui, was informed that Wright had offered to play "anywhere" if the Mets acquired A-Rod, ceding his own position to A-Rod, who has been the Yankee thirdbaseman for the past two years. Reyes muttered a barnyard epithet upon hearing this information. "That's just [b.S.], dirty [b.S.] from that [obscenity] Wright. He ain't going nowhere, they're going to try to move me, like they did before, those stupid [obscenity] Mets, the lying [obscenity] B.S.ing [obscenities]. I'm going to quit before I let them disrespect me like that again, the [obscenity] team or that filthy [obscenity] Wright. I bust his ass. I [obscenity] his greasy [obscenity] mother."

Wright listened to this tirade for a few moments quietly, seated on his three-legged stool, wrapped in a towel, then suddenly jumped up and called, "You want a piece of me, Jose? Let's go!"

The two star infielders rushed at each other, but teammates stood between them and restrained them, shoving Wright out of the locker room, still clad in his towel. Outfielder Carlos Beltran suffered a leg muscle strain during the altercation, and preliminary X-rays were taken at a local hospital.

[G-Fafif]

Wow, there's more of a story there than I thought. All apologies to Klap.

[metsmarathon]

that doesnt make any sense. why would thy take x-rays for a leg strain...?

[Guest iramets]

Read my subject line, guys. It's a joke.

Sorry to scare you out of three years' growth. I just wanna be a sportswriter in 2007 so bad, you see....

[metirish]

Ira,I'm sure these guys are in on the joke,...Klap is on a roll this week ,isn't he?

] By BOB KLAPISCH RECORD COLUMNIST KISSIMMEE, Fla. � His delivery is so simple and pure, as unaffected as the man himself. Even now, just 10 wins shy of 300, there's nothing about Tom Glavine that suggests he's on his way to the Hall of Fame � not his ego (surprisingly ordinary), his fastball (less than that) or even his physique (closer to a blogger's than an athlete's). But something happens to Glavine the moment he steps on the mound. Just ask the Astros, who were held scoreless over three innings Tuesday, learning for the one millionth time that squaring up on Glavine's change-up is like trying to catch a dollar bill from a helicopter. You can say Mariano Rivera's cutter is the single greatest pitching phenomenon of our generation, but Glavine's ability to control hitters' bat speed is a close second. In some ways, the Met lefty is pulling off an even greater miracle than Rivera's, given that he's older and has no velocity to speak of. Whether he admits it or even wants it, Glavine has become the Mets' captain, as steadying as Pedro Martinez was electric. It's irrelevant whether Willie Randolph officially anoints Glavine; it's all about how the Mets react to him and how they're a better team when he pitches. Glavine was at Osceola County Stadium, working the formula that'll help the Mets forget about Pedro, at least for now. Fastballs and sliders in, the soft change-up floating down and away to Houston's right-handed hitters. Glavine did it to Morgan Ensberg, striking him out in the first inning, doing likewise to Adam Everett in the second. Both times, the change-up did its magic at the last moment, dropping just below the hitting zone after Ensberg and Everett had begun their swings. So what is it that keeps Glavine so ageless? It's partly his innate skill. Throwing a change-up with precisely the same arm speed as a fastball is something that can't be taught; you either have a loose, whip-like arm or you don't. But Glavine's career has been equally bolstered by his low-anxiety approach to the game. Glavine never, ever exudes fear, although his wall of calm will be tested this summer, now that Pedro is gone. Is Glavine tough enough to carry the Mets through the 2007 season? Better question: does he have any choice? Besides Glavine, the Mets are counting on a 40-something pitcher who's already in pain (Orlando Hernandez, arthritic neck), a No. 3 starter who's totaled just eight wins in the majors (John Maine), a No. 4 starter who ranked 286th in the National League in ERA last year (Oliver Perez) and a No. 5 starter, Chan Ho Park, who'll be a Met only until Mike Pelfrey or Philip Humber is ready for prime time. To say the Mets need Glavine to keep throwing that perfect change-up is like saying they need Jose Reyes to keep stealing bases. But it's one thing to live comfortably as a No. 2 starter, protected by the likes of Pedro or John Smoltz or Greg Maddux. Suddenly, Glavine is alone at the front of the Mets' rotation, where everything he does and says will be scrutinized. "Believe me, I want nothing more than guys looking forward to the day I'm pitching because they know I'm going to pitch deep into the game and we're going to win," Glavine said after the game. "That's the feeling you're always trying to establish with your teammates. We'll see how it goes." That can't-miss feeling is what Pedro gave the Mets for the first 1� seasons he was healthy. Whether he ever regains it remains to be seen. Now, other than Glavine, there's no one who can make the Mets feel bulletproof. It's a lot to ask of a soft tosser beginning his 21st year in the majors. But Glavine has never worried that the National League might crack the code on his change-up, even when it seems they're so close to doing so. Glavine isn't perfect, of course. He left a third-inning change-up over the middle of the plate to left fielder Hunter Pence, who promptly nuked a line drive to the wall in left-center. Pence turned into a blur around the bases and cruised to a triple. Glavine, who'd been backing up the play behind third, suddenly looked his age as he trudged back to the mound -- every last second of those 40 years. And his vulnerability extended to the at-bat with Lance Berkman, who drew a walk on four pitches. But here is where Glavine transformed. He took a deep breath, the kind that stretched the lining of his lungs and busted a fastball in on Carlos Lee. The Astros' $100 million slugger had been waiting for that change-up, and found himself unable to catch up to a heater that couldn't have been faster than 86-mph. Lee swung -- late -- and watched in disgust as a benign pop-up landed in first baseman Mike Carp's glove. Lee lowered his head, marching back to the dugout in defeat. Glavine? He walked off the mound, proving that nothing is impossible, even in the most meaningless spring training moments. Once again, Glavine had won the war with time. How many pitchers can say that? E-mail: klapisch@northjersey.com

[Guest Edgy DC]

Dissin' the bloggers?!

[metirish]

Edgy DC wrote: Dissin' the bloggers?!

Yeah take that G-Fafif......

[G-Fafif]

Meanwhile, back in Klap Land...

]Whether he admits it or even wants it, Glavine has become the Mets' captain, as steadying as Pedro Martinez was electric.

Somebody tell all those everyday players who look up to Delgado and Franco to divert their eyes toward the guy who pitches every fifth day.

Funny that after all these years of being told pitchers aren't really players in the eyes of their teammates that Glavine has emerged, in Klapisch's mind, as their leader. He's steadying. Pedro was electric. Pedro going out and pitching seven great innings time after time before his injury wasn't steadying, huh? He just had the fielders dancing happy jigs, apparently. But Glavine's a calm, reassuring presence. Captain material! At least until he hands it off to Wright, another calm, reassuring presence on a team of otherwise electric players.

[metirish]

Maybe the heat is getting to Bob the bollox,no worries though,he'll be off to Tampa soon to wax lyrical about Jetes.

[Guest Edgy DC]

White = steady.

Black or Latino = electric.

Isn't this clear by now?