Life Goes On: Continuing Careers of Ex Mets - 2012

[G-Fafif]

Gary Sheffield, player agent.

He's also thinking of opening a cigar bar. During our interview, he brought me into Lit, a cigar lounge in a Channelside strip mall, next to a Hooters. "This is something I wanna do, but on a bigger scale," Sheffield says. Lit features one moderate-sized room and an adjoining humidor, with a few TVs turned to ESPN, monochrome posters of naked women, and 16 bottles of Grey Goose standing on a mantel. It is everything you'd ever dream a cigar bar in a Tampa strip mall would be. Sheffield lit up a Rocky Patel Freedom, a new cigar he got at a show. He had been carrying around a plastic bag full of sample cigars and cigar tools -- a hole-borer and a silver torch that shoots four prongs of blue flame. When he puffed through, the stogie produced the smoke of a small rubber fire. Sheffield thinks he might enter broadcasting soon. He did some radio for a sports-talk station in Tampa, and a few shows on the MLB Network, and he got good feedback. He says that ESPN wanted him to come to Bristol, but he said no -- too far. The local station wanted him to come work full-time for them, but they had moved the studios to St. Petersburg, across the bridge. Also too far, he said. He shot a television pilot in spring training with other ex-jocks for what he describes as a "Best Damn Sports Show-type deal," and he says some networks are interested. Sheffield says he'd move for work if he could land a gig like Charles Barkley's or Michael Strahan's. He has opinions, and he'd like to share them on television. He's not going to get on Twitter, though: "I don't like when people think I'm boisterous about everything. Most things I just don't care about." What else does he do? He owns a beach resort. His business partner, Xavier James, tells me that Sheffield also has a deal with "a Vitamin Water-type company." Sheffield says, "I'm thinking about buying -- well, I can't tell you -- it has to be approved with a big organization. I'm about to buy that." He skis, too. He has a house in Aspen, which he bought after a vacation there with his mentor, Dave Winfield. "Dave introduced me and my family to skiing," he says. "It's the best thing that's ever happened to us." And he does whatever there is to do in Tampa. He was curious, so he attended every night of the Republican National Convention in August. He liked the atmosphere of the convention, but didn't care for how few black faces were in the audience. He didn't like Clint Eastwood's speech, either. He sympathizes with Mitt Romney, though, because both men are oppressed by capital gains taxes on overseas profits. He says, "If you're smart enough to make money out of the country, you shouldn't have to pay taxes on it. Mitt Romney would have done more here, created jobs, if the government let him." Sheffield says his primary concern is with the plight of the working poor, and thinks the government should do more to help them. He's particularly troubled by what faces black men. Poor black men will never go to work, he explains, when the government lets women take half their income in child support payments. Then they get involved in crime, so the government doesn't see any income at all. "Change the laws, make the women responsible," he says. "Then they'll stop having all those kids." Sheffield, a veteran of several paternity suits and child-support battles, knows that his position isn't a popular one. But, as usual, he doesn't care. "The thing is, I'm not really pro-this, pro-that, no. I'm pro-right."

[Vic Sage]

he's pro-Gary, and always was.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

"If you're smart enough to make money out of the country, you shouldn't have to pay taxes on it. Mitt Romney would have done more here, created jobs, if the government let him."

See, I WOULD calm the brain itch this gives me by repeating, "This is just Gary Sheffield, this is just Gary Sheffield, this is just Gary Sheffield," only I hear thinly-veiled iterations of the same coming from people who haven't... well... been Gary F*cking Sheffield for the last decade and a half.

[Frayed Knot]

I remember when Sheffield fired his agent then negotiated his own contract with Steinbrenner after coming to the Yanquis.
He then spent the next three years complaining about being duped into a bad deal.

Yeah, I want that guy for my agent.

[G-Fafif]

Tim Bogar, not thrilled with Bobby V aftermath.

"I'm not upset about him or anything he says, but what bothers me is the perception of me and the other coaches is completely wrong," he told ESPNBoston.com. "That bothers me because of what the coaches went through this year and what we dealt with. I did exactly what (general manager) Ben (Cherington) asked me to do. I'm not saying I did everything perfect because I didn't and I know that." Valentine has not been shy about criticizing his coaches. In the final week of the season, Valentine said during a radio interview that he felt his coaching staff was not loyal to him. On Tuesday, the same day the Red Sox introduced John Farrell as their next manager, Valentine appeared on the "Costas Tonight" program on NBC Sports Network and was again critical of the coaching staff, saying, "I should have made sure the coaches were my guys." Bogar's comments Wednesday were the first from any of his former coaching staff since Valentine's latest remarks. Bogar was a holdover from ex-manager Terry Francona's staff, serving as first-base coach in 2009 and third-base coach in 2010-11. He was promoted to Sox bench coach under Valentine, who approved the move. "The coaching staff was prepared to do everything that we were supposed to do to help Bobby succeed," Bogar said, "but not once did he portray what he wanted us to do to help him and eventually he shut some of us out completely."

[G-Fafif]

Jose Reyes, Knicks fan, Mets kibitzer.

The New York Mets let Jose Reyes leave in free agency last offseason. Reyes hopes the same thing doesn't happen to former teammate David Wright. "They should sign David (long term). He's been the face of the franchise for a long time," the Miami Marlins shortstop told ESPNNewYork.com at halftime of the Brooklyn Nets-New York Knicks preseason game Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum. "If they let him go, that's gonna be difficult to see the New York Mets without David Wright. I can't imagine that. You never know in this game what's gonna happen, but I wish all the best to David. He's a good friend of mine." The Mets hold a $16 million option for Wright in 2013. A CBSSports.com report suggested the Mets' first offer to Wright will be in the $100 million range. Wright has said he wants to stay with the Mets, but would be open to testing the market and playing elsewhere if a deal can't be consummated. Reyes wanted to stay a Met, too, but the cash-strapped franchise elected to move in another direction, so he signed a six-year, $106 million contract with the Marlins. Miami's season -- its first in a new ballpark -- ended a complete disaster, culminating with manager Ozzie Guillen being fired. "It's surprising to me, of course," Reyes said when asked about Guillen. "Like I said, it wasn't his fault the way we were playing. We are the ones who are playing on the field. I had a great relationship with him. We had a lot of good communication. To see him go is kind of sad for me, like I said, because I got along very good with him. But I don't make those decisions; I just play baseball." Asked if he regretted going to Miami given what transpired, Reyes replied, "It's tough to think about that (now) because you never know what's gonna happen. But like I said, I'm really happy where I am now in Miami. The people there treat me good. I have my family there in Miami. They like the way I play. I feel now like I'm home." Reyes lives 10 minutes from Nassau Coliseum, and will work out this offseason in the New York Metropolitan area with Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. Reyes is a Knicks fan and is friends with Carmelo Anthony. When he was shown on the JumboTron on Wednesday night, the crowd booed him. "It's OK," Reyes said, laughing. "Every time I came to Citi Field this year, they booed me. They still feel bad because I left the Mets, but it wasn't my fault. I wanted to stay. I said that so many times, but it is what it is. I'm happy with where I am now." New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who had a horrendous postseason, has been linked to a possible deal to the Marlins, as well. "Those are just rumors, but if he went to Miami, it would be an honor for me to play with Alex," Reyes said. "He's a future Hall of Famer."

[seawolf17]

If the Marlins really are having a fire sale, and you're Fred Wilpon...

Jason Bay and his contract for Jose Reyes and his contract.

[metirish]

seawolf17 wrote: If the Marlins really are having a fire sale, and you're Fred Wilpon... Jason Bay and his contract for Jose Reyes and his contract.

key words : and you're Fred Wilpon..

[Ceetar]

seawolf17 wrote: If the Marlins really are having a fire sale, and you're Fred Wilpon... Jason Bay and his contract for Jose Reyes and his contract.

You'd have to throw in Ruben Tejada.


and I would.

[MFS62]

Ceetar wrote: seawolf17 wrote: If the Marlins really are having a fire sale, and you're Fred Wilpon... Jason Bay and his contract for Jose Reyes and his contract. You'd have to throw in Ruben Tejada. and I would.

DING!And the start of the watp season begins. Time to start the thread.


And I will.

Later

[MFS62]

John Holdzcom - once a Mets pitching prospect.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/10/new-zealand-announces-wbc-roster/

Later

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Are we posting ex-Mets in this thread and civilians in the 'Winter Signings' thread? In any case, Nick Evans to the Dodgers on a minor-league-with-spring-invite deal.

[Edgy MD]

Samoan dreams die hard as Matt Tuiasosopo signs a minor league dealio with the Tigers.

Adam Rubin reports interestingly that Wally Backman lobbied for a September call for Tooey, but found himself rebuffed.

In my Out-of-the-Park replay of the 2012 season, Matt is barely hanging on at Binghamton.

[G-Fafif]

Daryl Boston is Robin Ventura's new first base coach on the South Side of Chicago, which may be the baddest part of town, but it won't be so perfect anymore now that Phil Humber has been claimed off White Sox waivers by the American League West's Houston Astros.

The Mets now have a no-hitter. Always fun to mention that.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Doug F. Meintkeivich or whatever named manager of the Ft. Meyers Miracle (Twins Class A) "I've always considered myself a Twin." You sure as heck weren't a Met. Geez. Jim F. Dwyer is his hitting coach.

[MFS62]

G-Fafif wrote: Daryl Boston is Robin Ventura's new first base coach on the South Side of Chicago, which may be the baddest part of town,

Then they should have hired Leroy Brown.

Later

[G-Fafif]

glEiPXAYE-U

Wiggy, Wiggy, Wiggy
Can't you see?
Sometimes the Redbirds
Will hyptonize thee

Which is to say Ken Rosenthal reports Ty Wigginton to the Cards for two years at $5 mil total.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Pedro Beato DFA'ed by the Sawx to make room for Ryan "30-Yard" Dempster.

[smg58]

I'd claim him back, but I still think he must have worn his welcome out with somebody to get traded in the first place.

[G-Fafif]

To get a Kelly Shoppach, sometimes you have to give up a Pedro Beato.

[smg58]

I don't think he ever pitched for us at the major league level, but Jason Vargas just got shipped to Anaheim; Kendrys Morales takes Interstate 5 all the way up to Seattle in return.

[smg58]

G-Fafif wrote: To get a Kelly Shoppach, sometimes you have to give up a Pedro Beato.

Well it just seemed odd at the time (and still does) for a non-contending team to ship somebody they had control over for at least five years in exchange for a two-month rental.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think Kelly Shoppach and his gigantic midsection served to demonstrate we needed to pick apples directly off the tree if at all possible. I can barely remember an "athlete" who looked more out of shape than he did here.

[G-Fafif]

smg58 wrote: I don't think he ever pitched for us at the major league level, but Jason Vargas just got shipped to Anaheim; Kendrys Morales takes Interstate 5 all the way up to Seattle in return.

Jason started what turned into one of the best games of the Willie Randolph era, though his participation in it only ensured there'd be a great deficit to overcome. Per Warner Wolf, if you had the Mets coming out on top with Jason Vargas and Ambiorix Burgos as your pitchers after spotting the Cubs a four-run lead AND not starting most of your regulars...you win!

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: smg58 wrote: I don't think he ever pitched for us at the major league level, but Jason Vargas just got shipped to Anaheim; Kendrys Morales takes Interstate 5 all the way up to Seattle in return. Jason started what turned into one of the best games of the Willie Randolph era, though his participation in it only ensured there'd be a great deficit to overcome. Per Warner Wolf, if you had the Mets coming out on top with Jason Vargas and Ambiorix Burgos as your pitchers after spotting the Cubs a four-run lead AND not starting most of your regulars...you win!

I was at that one. good times. hell, you might even argue that was one of the last moments the Mets were come from behind pros that had any magic left in them.

[smg58]

John Maine signs a minor-league deal with the Marlins. Bookies in Vegas give him a 50% chance of being their Opening Day starter.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Hisanori Takahashi signed a minor-league-spring-invite deal with the Cubs.