IGT 10/1/10 - October baseball at Citi Field!!! WAS at NYM

[Willets Point]

Can you tell I'm stoked?

[Frayed Knot]

Thole Shit !!!!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Dear, hasn't the neighborhood has been so much nicer since the Kaboomawiczes moved next door?

[Fman99]

I watched this entire game -- Fwife and Fkids were off visiting inlaws. I would've posted in the IGT but I was re-OS'ing my netbook. Enjoyed watching Misch deal and Davis/Thole mash.

[Gwreck]

Tyler Clippard...couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Between Tuesday and tonight, two solid walk-offs at the end of the season at least makes these meaningless games very enjoyable.

[MFS62]

I'm open to the prospect of him starting.[/quote:65r7h53u]

He's can be a free agent after this season because of an "out" clause in his contract. IIRC, the out option he has is that he wants to be a starter. If the Mets can't promise that, I fear he'll walk.
I hope his success as a reliever has changed his mind.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

I've heard of this out, but I've never known a team to sign away their entitlements under the reserve clause, and I'm kind of surprised the league would let them.

[MFS62]

I've heard of this out, but I've never known a team to sign away their entitlements under the reserve clause, and I'm kind of surprised the league would let them.[/quote:2t59io8n]
I haven't either. Maybe it was part of special clauses put into his contract when he was acquired from a Japanese team/league.
We'll find out when the lists of eligible free agents are relased.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Can we call it Thole's Corner yet?

[G-Fafif]

Unusual night at Citi to the point of being surreal, but as I'm sure Fman can confirm, nothing beats a happy ending.

[G-Fafif]

That fellow in the shiny blue Mets jacket, far left, three rows behind home? That's me.

Toldja it was surreal.




Fuller context here.




Here I chat in support of Pat.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Mets had been 3 and 12 in walkoff games this year, but they've now won five in a row bringing their record to a much less pathetic 8 and 12.

[Frayed Knot]

I've heard of this out, but I've never known a team to sign away their entitlements under the reserve clause, and I'm kind of surprised the league would let them.[/quote:2k6pxx57]
I haven't either. Maybe it was part of special clauses put into his contract when he was acquired from a Japanese team/league.
We'll find out when the lists of eligible free agents are relased.[/quote:2k6pxx57]

Takahashi, unlike most 1st year MLBers who come out of the minors, was essentially a FA and therefore was able to get a clause in his contract that he would not be offered arbitration after his deal was up. Hence HE has the option to choose to re-up with the Mets, or become a FA, or return to Japan.
Several other Japanese players have negotiated this same option - both Matsuis for instance - although he's the first I can think of who had it kick in after just a one year contract. Being a good deal older than HMat, KMat, or Ichiro when they first came ashore he probably didn't want to spend the rest of his career locked into a situation he couldn't get out of.

Theoretically an amateur player or pre-FA pro could get the same clause but none have the leverage to make it happen - at least not yet.