Reyes Appreciation Day IGT, 9/28

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Howie the other night mentioned benching Lee Mazzilli to preserve a .250 batting average in 1977. Anyone remember this?

He was removed after a leadoff double in the last game of the year and finished at 250 even. http://ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=2607&tabno=A

[metirish]

.250 was some sort of benchmark or what the fuck was that about?

I really shouldn't feel as disgusted as I am right now, stupid me.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't recall that. Removing a player to preserve a .250 batting average?!? That strikes me as really pathetic.

[Guest Edgy DC]

He and Joe Torre had a thing going on.

[Gwreck]

Missed this going down real-time due to a work phone call but this is stupid AND is messing with the baseball gods. This is just asking for a 4-for-4 day for Braun to pass Reyes and Reyes' wimpy manager.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's now David Wright plus eight first-year or rookie-eligible Mets, seven of whom started the season in the minors.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It's a shame they went about it this way, but the I'm not gonna buy into the rage that would suggest that winning a "batting title" legitimately or not was important to begin with.

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: I wonder if any pressure to remove Jose came from 'upstairs' (meaning Wilpons more than Sandy). We've accused this ownership/team of over-caring so to speak about pr moments, round numbers, and the like - which leads one to wonder about whether the quick hook was ordered or at least strongly encouraged on account of having 'a batting champion' being so darn important to someone with some pull. Certainly goes against Terry's recent stretch of bunty, relievey, desperate baseball. I really don't care all that much anymore but always a disappointment when fans can openly debate the motives of the management.

It would also fit their usual pattern of doing something for pr reasons only to get hit with a pr shit-storm right back in their face.

[Gwreck]

I don't think Tejada or Evans are rookies.

[metirish]

Frayed Knot wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: I wonder if any pressure to remove Jose came from 'upstairs' (meaning Wilpons more than Sandy). We've accused this ownership/team of over-caring so to speak about pr moments, round numbers, and the like - which leads one to wonder about whether the quick hook was ordered or at least strongly encouraged on account of having 'a batting champion' being so darn important to someone with some pull. Certainly goes against Terry's recent stretch of bunty, relievey, desperate baseball. I really don't care all that much anymore but always a disappointment when fans can openly debate the motives of the management. It would also fit their usual pattern of doing something for pr reasons only to get hit with a pr shit-storm right back in their face.

This , the Mets are spectacularly good at it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't think Tejada or Evans are rookies.

Oh, well, I think I'll go with "First year Mets and guys who started the season in the minors."

Meanwhile, this guy could use some correspondence: DNewman@nymets.com

[TransMonk]

David done after a hit, too.

Goddammit, I need a win to beat Vic in the Prediction contest.

[metirish]

TransMonk wrote: David done after a hit, too.

gotta preserve that .254 average.

[Guest Edgy DC]

metirish wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: It would also fit their usual pattern of doing something for pr reasons only to get hit with a pr shit-storm right back in their face. This , the Mets are spectacularly good at it.

Which is strange. It suggests that they're not over-concerned with the fan's perception, nor under-concerned. They're just tremendously tone-deaf. (Or they have a fickle fan base, which is probably true enough also.) You'd figure it should be easy enough to fix with a some professional development in the PR department. A retreat or something.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Hi, I'm Val Pascucci. How can I not crack this stink-ass lineup?

[TransMonk]

Francesa says he's now rooting for Braun.

[Benjamin Grimm]

TransMonk wrote: Francesa says he's now rooting for Braun.

Talk about rat's ass territory.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Listening to Francesa pontificate between innings here. What a maroon.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Will he stop talking about the Yankees?

[soupcan]

Will he stop talking about the Yankees?

Exactly what I was thinking. every other sentence: "...just look at the Yankees..."

[TransMonk]

By and by...Batista is tossing a pretty good game.

[soupcan]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Howie the other night mentioned benching Lee Mazzilli to preserve a .250 batting average in 1977. Anyone remember this? He was removed after a leadoff double in the last game of the year and finished at 250 even. http://ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=2607&tabno=A

I remember it. And as a result of that - to this day when I see a .250 average I think -'well, it's respectable'.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I want this guy as far away from the Mets as possible.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I really am feeling really ugly feelings toward this blowhard. How does anybody listen to this guy without going mad?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Mike F. Baxter with a KABOOM!

Quick, pinch-run for him!

[TransMonk]

KABOOM!

Mike Baxter...1st ML HR!

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Frayed Knot wrote: I wonder if any pressure to remove Jose came from 'upstairs' (meaning Wilpons more than Sandy). We've accused this ownership/team of over-caring so to speak about pr moments, round numbers, and the like - which leads one to wonder about whether the quick hook was ordered or at least strongly encouraged on account of having 'a batting champion' being so darn important to someone with some pull.

True! But it's hard for it to be a big PR move if he's not on the team, no?

I think it sucks, but I'm not sure I wouldn't do the same thing in Jose's shoes. If the game meant something, he's probably be in there. If he stayed in and went 0-4 and blew the thing on the last day of the year, it would suck.

[metirish]

Edgy DC wrote: I really am feeling really ugly feelings toward this blowhard. How does anybody listen to this guy without going mad?

wtf have we fans done to get this bollox on the last day?

[Guest Edgy DC]

First of all, he had a hit, so he wasn't going to go 0-4.

Second of all, there is no victory without honor. And there's nothing honorable about winning a batting title on your ass.

Third of all, you're suggesting this is Jose's initiative, which it may be, but it's Terry's move.

[Guest Edgy DC]

metirish wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I really am feeling really ugly feelings toward this blowhard. How does anybody listen to this guy without going mad? wtf have we fans done to get this bollox on the last day?

Ugh, every half inning he's still there!

I'm killing it.