Rico Forever: The Afterlife of Mets, 2011

[Edgy MD]

Bobby Freakin' Valentine, Stamford Citizen of the Year.



Not to make too much of it, but what a photo, huh? I'm a good-looking guy --- in some ways moreso than him --- but if you point a camera at me, good luck in catching that kind of charm. He may have been a marginal big leaguer, but he bats 1.000 with photographers.

The guy is freaking radiant. It's a talent and it's a little scary, and I think he may be an alien.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Whew! When I saw this thread name, I initially thought a prominent former Met had died. Glad to see that wasn't the case. Congratulations to Bobby V.

[Guest themetfairy]

Edgy DC wrote: Bobby Freakin' Valentine, I'm a good-looking guy --- in some ways moreso than him -

I've met you. I've met Bobby V. You, my friend, are no Bobby V!

And congrats to Bobby on the honor

[Edgy MD]

Jon Adkins is scouting for the Red Sox.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/kris-benson-to-retire-011011
Kris Benson hangs 'em up.

A marketing major at Clemson, Benson also is working to form his own business management company. �The beauty of my Mets contract was that I got some of that money deferred, so I�m getting paid for the next eight years,� Benson said. �I have the security to relax, take the time to develop this company, and do it right. �This is a chance for me to be at home with my kids and enjoy the family life, which I�m not used to. It�s something a lot of guys welcome once their career is over.�

[batmagadanleadoff]

Kris Benson made $38 million through 2010 from MLB. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bensokr01.shtml

What kind of business is he starting that he needs whatever deferred money is owed him from his Mets contract? Today's athletes might as well be from another planet compared to the rest of us.

[G-Fafif]

I guess Kris Benson goes into the theoretical Hall of Fame wearing a Pirates cap.

[batmagadanleadoff]

From the Department of Days of Future Passed:

Kris Benson's first career CG win came against the Mercury Mets.

[Edgy MD]

It was the year without a Santa Claus.

[G-Fafif]

In the offseason he was signed to that deferred payment contract of which he crows, I recall Michael Kay on ESPN howling that the Mets were ruining baseball's salary structure -- three years at $21 million for KRIS BENSON?

Three weeks later, the MFYs went and cut the ribbon on the First National Bank of Carl Pavano. Clearly, that was the Mets' doing.

[metirish]

Prosecutors won�t file charges against Dykstra

Published: January 12, 2011 12:21 PM By The Associated Press Prosecutors in Los Angeles have declined to file criminal charges against retired center fielder Lenny Dykstra after his housekeeper accused him of sexual assault. Court documents filed last week indicate an apparent lack of evidence that the 41-year-old woman was forced to give Dykstra oral sex on Saturdays as she claims. Prosecutors say the woman, who worked for Dykstra for several weeks, didn�t report the accusations until after he failed to pay her $2,000 he owed her. The woman told investigators that she complied with Dykstra because she didn�t want to lose her job. Dykstra denied the allegations in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, claiming the woman attempted extortion to purchase drugs.

[Edgy MD]

Richest part of the story was this comment from Lenny about why he shouldn't bother commenting.

�If she was assaulted on Saturdays, then I�m a ... ballerina dancer on Sundays,� Dykstra said. �This is a maid. That�s not even worth commenting on, are you kidding me?�

In other words, "Talk to me when I coerse a CPA into sex. They have some value to society."

[MFS62]

Pictures of two ex-Mets in this article. Another one mentioned, for whom one of the pictured was traded.
http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/good-sports/201101/mlb-scouts-commiserate-about-loneliness-road-help-brethren-need
There may be others, but its late and I'm tired.
Later

[Edgy MD]

Sing for your Seaver.

[Edgy MD]

If you can't afford to buy a piece of the Mets, maybe you can put up the scratch to live the elusive Shawn Green Lifestyle.

[Ceetar]

Section 518 notes Kurt Abbott is now a cop in Florida.

[Edgy MD]

Go, Officer Kurt.

Meanwhiles, Nolan Ryan has hired his old catcher Jerry Grote as the color analyst for the Round Rock Express.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Bobby Malek (x Met prospect) named hitting coach of the Cyclones.

[metirish]

From Twatter

"Darryl Strawberry, who agreed to run up the Empire State Building today for cancer research called in sick"

[Guest themetfairy]

metirish wrote: From Twatter "Darryl Strawberry, who agreed to run up the Empire State Building today for cancer research called in sick"

He was afraid to race against me!

[G-Fafif]

Nobody I know gets sick 25 times a year.

[Edgy MD]

I'm going to clip and present that coupon for the free front-end alignment.

[metirish]

Edgy DC wrote: I'm going to clip and present that coupon for the free front-end alignment.

Going on your idea I called the Chemical Financial Services 800 # and guess what it is now?....."this service costs between 69c and 2.99 a minute, if you are under 18 hang up now...... SULTRY VOICE....welcome to intimate connections......"....I hung up


Great link btw Greg......where was the Vindicator newspaper?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Youngstown, Ohio.

I remember when Darryl made that crack about Wally being a "little redneck." The followup was that Backman didn't know what the word "redneck" meant. (This was in the pre-Jeff Foxworthy era, I suppose.)

[metirish]

Strawberry was always mouthy?...

why would Youngstown Ohio have a big write up om the Mets?

[Edgy MD]

I just found out Ray F. Searage is the pitching coach for the Pirates.

One more reason to go to Pittsburgh.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Got our tixx for 6/10 already. Section 115!

[Edgy MD]

Which games again?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Mets in Pitts June 10, 11 & 12. We have tixx for the 10th and I might also go on Saturday.

[Edgy MD]

Pittsboig, I knew. I just wanted to know which games you were gonna be at.