Meet the Ex-Mets (Continuing Careers 2014)

[duan]

Mr KOO is currently pitching against the dodgers.
Looked pretty good so far vs Andr� Ethier.
No word on whether or not he's going to bat too.

[G-Fafif]

Luis Ayala is now an Oriole.

[G-Fafif]

Jorge Arenguere visits with veteran Jose Reyes for Sports On Earth ten years after first covering him for the Record.

Then:

That spring was a time of transition for Reyes. The Mets had moved him from shortstop to second base after signing Kazuo Matsui. Yet Reyes never complained, either on or off the record. If he was bitter, he never showed it. He happily went about his work, even though reporters -- and I suspect some in the front office and the coaching staff -- thought moving him out of his natural position was a silly move. Reyes clearly was the superior shortstop, but Mets ownership believed Matsui was pivotal toward building a contending team, so they did everything possible to accommodate him. Each day Reyes eagerly took the field and took grounders at second base, and he even developed a good rapport with Matsui. The two often joked with one another, as much as they could across the language barrier. Watching Reyes play was an even bigger pleasure. He was dynamic in every way. Anyone could see he was a remarkable player, and he made you believe that one day he would be considered one of the best in the game. He also seemed to be the type of player Major League Baseball could market to a young Latino audience: hip, gregarious and without controversy. Reyes had never been entangled in any steroid scandals, nor had he ever feuded with teammates or opponents. Most everyone seemed to like him. It seemed at the time that Reyes was destined to become one of the most important players of his generation.

Now:

So despite being 30, despite the fact that speed is one of the first things that abandons an older player, and despite coming off a year of injury, Reyes vows he can be the same dynamic player he was with the Mets. He's so emphatic that you want to believe him. But the odds aren't good. Speedy players don't age gracefully. Reyes was supposed to be better than the average athlete. He was supposed to be impervious to all the things that hindered the common player. He was supposed to be one of the best, and the best usually find a way to excel past their primes. So maybe, just maybe, it's not too late for Reyes to become one of those defining players of his era. "The goals for me?" Reyes says. "I have so many, since last year essentially was a lost season because of injuries. There were so many things I couldn't do, like steal bases or hit triples, things that are part of my game and my identity. I ask for health. If I'm healthy, I know I can put up numbers and do the things I've always done." As he dresses in front of his locker, Reyes puts on a Superman undershirt. The Man of Steel is Reyes' favorite superhero, and he owns several shirts with the iconic "S" insignia. Not coincidentally, Superman was someone whose powers were unaffected by age and time.

[Guest cooby]

I read this as 'meet the ex-wives'
I wondered what you all were talking about until I reread the thread title

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Indians Release David Aardsma, who shall forever remain ahead of Henry Aaron in the Baseball Encyclopedia.

Do they still publish the Baseball Encyclopedia?

[G-Fafif]

Henry Aaron worked so well for the Braves that they're signing Aaron Harang.

[G-Fafif]

Tribe released Frenchy, code for the Cleveland Indians did not retain the services of Jeff Francoeur.

[G-Fafif]

And just like that, Frenchy is a Friar! (Minor league deal w/SDP.)

[G-Fafif]

David Aardsma has drag his Aas(e) to the Cardinals on a minor league deal.

[Frayed Knot]

Chris Young (the tall, white pitcher, not the black OFer) got cut by the Nationals earlier in the week but lands on his feet in Seattle where a rash of pitching injuries not only landed Young a major league deal but probably, at least for the time being anyway, a slot in the rotation.

[G-Fafif]

Frayed Knot wrote: Chris Young (the tall, white pitcher, not the black OFer)

A.k.a. the other Young meat.

[Frayed Knot]

Pedro Beato designated for assignment by the Reds

[G-Fafif]

Royals release Jon Rauch, who hooks up with Pedro Beato and suggests they start their own bullpen.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

It would be a great-- if ultimately self-defeating-- little bit of who's-boss-now-Captain-Rehab brio if Alderson signed the big guy to a minor-league deal, wouldn't it?

[TransMonk]

Jose Reyes reinjures hamstring - Back on DL

[metirish]

Baxter optioned.

[G-Fafif]

White Sox sign Frank Francisco to Triple-A contract.

Chris Schwinden joins the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League.

[MFS62]

AAA Pitching prospect Jacob Degrom gave up one hit through the first five innings last night. The hit was by Mike Jacobs.

Later

[TransMonk]

More bat-flipping and hit-admiration from CarGo. He's not making many friends on other teams.

Gomez deserves suspension after brawl

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

TransMonk wrote: More bat-flipping and hit-admiration from CarGo. He's not making many friends on other teams. Gomez deserves suspension after brawl

Call me a sicko, but I think this calls for "baseball justice" -- fastballs in the ribs until it cools down or leads to murder charges on new Pittsburgh enforcer Ike Davis.

[Edgy MD]

I don't get this one. Gomez watches a fly, looking to admire his homerun handiwork, and ends up embarrassing himself and having to break out of his reverie and turn on the burners. His speed gets him to third, but he might have gotten an inside-the-parker.

So the universe has seemingly paid him back, penalizing him for his vanity. Why would the other team want to get in his face over that? Be thankful and encourage him in his foolishness.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: So the universe has seemingly paid him back, penalizing him for his vanity. Why would the other team want to get in his face over that? Be thankful and encourage him in his foolishness.

Right?

[Frayed Knot]

Collin McHugh (if you blinked as a Mets fans you missed him) just called up by the Astros.

[Vic Sage]

the Brewers shouldn't wait for the league to hand down suspensions; they should tell CarNoGo that his preening at home plate may have well cost his team a run, not to mention the continuing incitement of opposing teams at his showboating (which endangers his teammates, in this case resulting in a brawl), so they will fine and suspend him themselves. But of course they're 14-5, and CarNoGo is a big reason why, and so they will not do that.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Speaking of Mr. Gomez, this may be my favorite thing that I've ever heard about the guy, on-field greatness inclusive.

He says that recently Gomez informed him, while holding a plate full of kiwi, that the fruit had three times as much potassium as bananas. "I asked him how he heard it," Braun says. "He told me, now that he's wealthy, he's been Googling rich-people conversations, so he knows what to talk to wealthy people about, and he came across that data."

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Oh well

[Frayed Knot]

Playing & coaching, but nothing on managing (at least according to the sub-title).
Just as well, it would be a short chapter anyway.

[Benjamin Grimm]

But the only chapter I'd have any interest in at all.

Of course, there's no way in hell I would read that book!

[Edgy MD]

Mike Hessman slugs his 400th minor league homer, fifth on the all-time list.



He also has 14 homers in MLB play, and six more for NPB's Orix Buffalo in Japan.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Apparently Frenchy is pitching in Triple-A.