Beat Crazy

[Edgy MD]

The thread that covers the folks who cover the Mets. New Bergen Record guy Mike Kerwick is a 4:32 miler.



Kerwick also writes a lot about music and co-authored Chico Resch's memoir (which, if only in title, seems to have disturbingly kicked his Islander legacy to the curb).

Kerwick's blog also does us the service of answering the burning question of what The E-Street Band will do to fill the void in their first tour after the death of Clarence Clemons. Will they bring in an interloper? A legacy? A full horn section? Turns out, all three.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Looks like a Matt Lauer wannabe.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ed Manion is an old Asbury Jukes guy iirc. I do like the idea of Springy touring with a full brass section but unless I win tickets on the radio I ain;t going to see him no time soon.

4:32 milers look like skeletons.

[G-Fafif]

Not Chico's memoir but one of the "Tales" series celebrating a given franchise, with player/announcer (or both, in Resch's case) attached to make it more authentic and appealing.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Anyone else left a little unfulfilled with the details of Megdal's make-up with Jay Horwitz?

The way it was worded seems suspect to me. Did Megdal and his editor misinterpret the Mets apparently "unchanged" policy or what?

[Edgy MD]

My get is that the Mets changed their minds under pressure and chose not to make a statement which would have been dissected and caused them more embarrassment no matter how carefully worded. Megdal and LoHud, whether out of thanks or graciousness, chose not to make a big deal out of pressing them for an explanation.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Eh. I don't think we deserve Howard's graciousness in this case. Tell us what happened.

[Gwreck]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: n but unless I win tickets on the radio I ain;t going to see him no time soon.

Philosophical objection or not wanting to spend the 100 bucks for a ticket?

Should be able to find some cheap seats in the parking lot to the Citi Field shows in August.

[ashie62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Looks like a Matt Lauer wannabe.

Brian Cashman also.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Gwreck wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: n but unless I win tickets on the radio I ain;t going to see him no time soon. Philosophical objection or not wanting to spend the 100 bucks for a ticket? Should be able to find some cheap seats in the parking lot to the Citi Field shows in August.

The hundred bucks thing.

[Edgy MD]

I don't care how cheap, I don't want to pay to sit in the parking lot.

[Edgy MD]

That's Right, My Name is Mike Fuckin' Puma (via Twitter) wrote: Collins told Mets, "�There�s 29 teams that think they are better than you are,� ... Are the Astros really thumbing their noses at Mets?

[Edgy MD]

Kerwick shares Martino's affections for the hipster hat.

[Edgy MD]

Ruby tweeting that the Mets have been trying to push the beatwriters to write negative stories about Beltran.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Ruby tweeting that the Mets have been trying to push the beatwriters to write negative stories about Beltran.

I thought he was saying this happened two years ago with the Walter Reed thing. Getting his panties in a bunch about people pointing out how media-driven that story was and claiming the Mets 'whispered' that they should write bad things about Beltran.

[Edgy MD]

Well, that's what happens when tweeting kills clarity. Sorry 'bout that.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Well, that's what happens when tweeting kills clarity. Sorry 'bout that.

I could have misunderstood too. I don't follow him so most of what I see is second-hand and it's not always easy to recreate timelines out of tweets looking at it afterwards.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ceetar wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Ruby tweeting that the Mets have been trying to push the beatwriters to write negative stories about Beltran. I thought he was saying this happened two years ago with the Walter Reed thing. Getting his panties in a bunch about people pointing out how media-driven that story was and claiming the Mets 'whispered' that they should write bad things about Beltran.

My interpretation of that exchange was more like Edgy's.

A fan said the media was too negative on the Reed thing because the trip was "optional" and Rubin replied "You're naiive."

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ken Davidoff leaving Snoozeday for the Post.

It'd be cool if Sherman left the Post for Snooze.

[Ceetar]

Beat Writers.

David Lennon promoted to 'columnist' with Newsday. What's that mean? That's not what he was already?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It sounds as though Lennon is getting Davidoff's beat as "national baseball writer." His beat would be all baseball, not just the Mets. I'd guess they slot a new beat guy in his place, but who knows with Newsday anymore.

[Frayed Knot]

It's Dolan's paper so maybe Isiah Thomas will get the job.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: It's Dolan's paper so maybe Isiah Thomas will get the job.

Isn't he coaching the Knicks next season?

[Edgy MD]

Two different beat men report getting on the wrong side of Frank Francisco today.

Mikey Puma wrote: Frank Francisco (who isn't headed to DL) just chastised me for laughing after he declared: "We will win a lot of ...

David Lennon wrote: Francisco asked how his bullpen looked. I replied, "Good." He stared at me and said, "It was great."

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Mets asst, GM Jonah Hill chatting NOW

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=915

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I hope he takes a question from Johnny from Queens:

Rauch? WTF?

[Fman99]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: 4:32 milers look like skeletons.

I run with a guy (figuratively) who runs six minute miles. He's 53 years old. And wafer thin.

[Edgy MD]

Hey, PdP likes my handle.

[Ceetar]

Lucas Duda is a funny guy BY ANDY MARTINO Beginning to think that Lucas Duda is messing with us. From last night: Kevin Burkhardt: Lucas, just confidence-wise, especially because it�s against two lefthanders, what did that mean to you? Lucas Duda: Yeah, I mean. I kind of struggled through the first part of the season agianst lefties. Luckily the ball found some space, and I got a hit. Burkhardt: (laughter). You say that matter-of-factly. Both of them were pretty big. Duda: Yeah, you know. Guys got on, I swung the bat, hit the ball, and it was a base hit. Me: That�s true. That�s what happened. Duda: That�s what happened. You�re right.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2012/05/lucas-duda-is-a-funny-guy

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I forgot to buy my daily Tracksuit today but this freewheeling penetration of Ike Davis is on the net:

�Hey." It is Ike Davis, appearing in the hallway outside the Mets� clubhouse at Citi Field. He holds a coffee cup, and curls the corners of his mouth into the usual grin. �When are you going to write a story that says I suck?� There is more to this request, delivered with that Ike Davis blend of humor, perspective and accountability. �Actually, write that they should send me to Buffalo,� he says, still grinning as he vanishes into the indoor batting cage. �Then I�ll get fired up. Yeah, write that I suck.� All right, man. You got it. This is several days later, a rainy afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The tack-on, three-run homer in Wednesday�s 10-6, sweep-completing win over the Phillies, after which Davis� on-base plus slugging is still .548, 22nd among 24 qualifying major league first basemen, has not happened yet. Davis leans back in the chair in front of his locker. Daily News: �Why do you want a story written that says you suck?� Ike Davis: �Wait. It�s not like I really wanted a story written that says I suck.� DN: �You asked for it. So do you suck or not?� ID: �I wouldn�t say I suck, but I�m bad this year so far.� The interview begins bouncily like that. There is a blend of traits converging inside this 25-year-old. There is the belief that he is really good at baseball, and also the perspective � crucial for sanity over the past 12 months, when an ankle injury and case of Valley Fever, both mostly resolved, threatened his life�s trajectory � that baseball is not everything. Flash back to March of 2011, a Mets off day in Port St. Lucie. Davis decides to see �The Adjustment Bureau,� a movie about career vs. happiness. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are in love, but a shadowy organization tries to keep them apart, because their important careers will be spoiled by a relationship. On the way out of the theater, Davis and then-third base coach Chip Hale run into one another, and discuss whether they would rather find true love, or hit 800 home runs. �Gotta go with the home runs,� Hale says. �I would take the true love,� Davis argues. But that does not mean he is not serious about this job. At his locker in Philly, Davis cannot maintain the jaunty interview, not when forced to relive a season that has his batting average at .179 after 30 games. He is now making unwavering eye contact. His voice is firm and defiant. ID: �I am going to get better. I am going to be better. I�m going to get back to where I normally am. That might take a little time, but I�m going to be there.� DN: �What makes you so sure?� ID: �I�m a good baseball player. I know I am. If I thought this was the best I could do, then I would tell you that: �This is the best I can do.� And then this wouldn�t be as frustrating.� DN: �Frustrating?� ID: �It was hard, like �When am I going to get my first hit?� You start thinking that, and you work, and you end up getting exhausted mentally, trying to find it, find it, find it. It can be detrimental.� DN: �In what sense?� ID: �That you just drain yourself, mentally and physically. And it�s hard to play the game when you�re drained.� DN: �Is that how you feel now?� ID: �No, I�m in a better place. I thought about the situation, and put life in perspective. People go through trials in their life. I know I can be here, and I know I can stay here. I just know it.� This has been more difficult on Davis than on his teammates. The upside of knowing that, if you had to, you would choose love over baseball is that you don�t become an ornery beast while slumping. �He is tough on himself, but as a teammate he has been better than you could ask for,� says David Wright. �He understands that probably pretty soon, he�s going to carry us.� Could that have begun with Wednesday�s homer and double? Or were those simply bad pitches from bad relievers? On this job, you can�t predict anything. That is why it helps to see it like this: ID: �This is obviously not the way I wanted the year to go, but you have to have perspective: I�m alive. I�m healthy. I�m here.� Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-mets-davis-likes-ike-article-1.1076148#ixzz1uZqo9hk4