I've Been Everywhere: Continuing Careers in 2016

[Edgy MD]

Ike Davis spurns the Yankees, elects to continue his career on a minor league deal with Texas, where he certainly could flourish, even if Mitch Moreland and Prince Fielder currently block his path.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Frankly, though, for a guy looking to hook himself up to the Rejuvenation Machine for a year, the Yankees-- short porch, creaky Teixeira, no Bird-- seem like the better fit.

[Frayed Knot]

Plus, Prince Fielder doesn't merely block Ike's path, he blocks out the sun if he's standing anywhere near you!

[Edgy MD]

Prince is big, but not particularly tall.

Anyhow, I thought it was funny that they had three firstbaseman and all were legacies, but I'm checking and I don't think Moreland is particularly related to Keith.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Detroit News wrote: Lakeland, Fla. — A one-time Mets reliever whose 100-mph fastball became a trademark, as well as a torment for many big-league batters, has joined the Tigers, sources close to the negotiations have confirmed. Bobby Parnell, 31, signed a minor-league free-agent deal Thursday, which includes an invitation to big-league camp, and was to be at Lakeland Thursday following eight seasons with the Mets.

[Edgy MD]

Deserves a memories thread, man.

[G-Fafif]

Jon Niese blames sucking in second half last year on everybody and everything but himself (though this could be from any thread in any recent year).

[Edgy MD]

Last year, with Niese being joined by Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Sydergaard, Steven Matz and Bartolo Colon, there weren't always enough starts to go around. When the playoffs arrived and chances to pitch became even scarcer — and the stakes got higher — Niese was left off the roster.

Not quite, Daily News. He made the roster and got some big outs out of the pen, putting aside the eighth inning of game two when he and Reed didn't get it done.

[TransMonk]

Looks like they have corrected the mistake.

[MFS62]

G-Fafif wrote: Jon Niese blames sucking in second half last year on everybody and everything but himself (though this could be from any thread in any recent year).

Hey, Jon.
Maybe if you hadn't given up so many screaming line drives, the defense wouldn't have had so many hot shots to handle.

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

Niese was always a whiner. I'm not sorry to see him gone. Let's see how the Pirates like it when one of their infielders boots a ball and Jon stomps around the mound and lets it snowball into a four-run inning.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Niese really needs to move on. He's a Pirate now, he should be focused on being a Pirate and not about gripes from his previous team. I'm sure Pirates fans don't want to hear him yammering about his time with the Mets. I'm sure he gets asked questions about the Mets, but he should deflect them and say he's all about being a Pittsburgh Pirate now.

[Edgy MD]

I'm sure he's trying to place these comments in a way that flatters the fans and the organization there.

"This is a great place to be" isn't that hard to say without suggesting the last place sucked, but some folks can't hack that. I understand.

Pitching during your kid's birth is on him, but I guess he thought that, the Mets' pitching depth being what it is, dropping out of the rotation for one start might become permanent really fast.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm sure he's not saying a lot.

But what he does say hardly comes off to me as ripping" or "whining" so much as typical self-serving jocktalk. I guess the complaint is it's not more innocuous.

[G-Fafif]

Starting pitchers, particularly of the left-handed variety (Leiter, Hampton, Gl@v!ne, Niese), seem to have a knack for not so subtly letting it be known it wasn't their fault when things don't go well. Even if Niese absolutely believes taking that start in July and intermittently getting extra rest is what brought him down -- even if he's absolutely correct in his assessment -- it's rarely a good look to say it out loud.

He said his piece the same day Duda said "my bad" for the lousy throw home in Game Five. Nothing about the noise of the crowd or the blur of shirts in the stands or the demands on his time in the postseason or the wear and tear from having to play several extra weeks. I appreciated the accountability.

I'd have appreciated a better throw, of course, but you can't have everything.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Last night with the Cardinals losing 9-2 at home vs. Arizona, Ruben Tejada pitched the 9th inning and gave up back to back solo HRs and 3 OF flies. Cards came back and scored 5 in the bottom of the 9th but lost 11-7.

[Lefty Specialist]

That 18.00 ERA certainly dampens Ruben's Hall of Fame chances. Well, that and his .179 BA this year.

[TransMonk]

Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez says he battled Zika in offseason

[TransMonk]

Juan Uribe injured after taking 106 mph grounder in the groin

[Fman99]

TransMonk wrote: Juan Uribe injured after taking 106 mph grounder in the groin

Some of the teaser lines read that it was "painful" to watch, but as per my coworkers, it was actually quite humorous to watch.

Wear your cups, kids.

[G-Fafif]

Edgy MD wrote: Ike Davis spurns the Yankees, elects to continue his career on a minor league deal with Texas, where he certainly could flourish, even if Mitch Moreland and Prince Fielder currently block his path.

Speaking of grounders to the groin, Ike has at last decided to go the MFY way. His first MLB AB will coincide with the removal of my WE LIKE IKE shirt from rotation.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Darrell Ceciliani recalled to the Blue Jays when Joey bats goes on the DL.

Defensive replacement for Michael Saunders who had 3 HR and 8 RBI last nite.

[Edgy MD]

First Canadian player to home three times for a Canadian team.

How do you like them apples, Larry Walker?

[Frayed Knot]

G-Fafif wrote: Ike Davis spurns the Yankees, elects to continue his career on a minor league deal with Texas, where he certainly could flourish, even if Mitch Moreland and Prince Fielder currently block his path. Speaking of grounders to the groin, Ike has at last decided to go the MFY way. His first MLB AB will coincide with the removal of my WE LIKE IKE shirt from rotation.

I see where Ike opted for (or was militarily assigned) pinstriped uni #24, spurning not only his NYM number of 29 (not available but only because Dustin Freaking Ackley has it so they could have thumb-wrestled for it) but also both of the numbers his father wore during his stay in the Bronx: 39 (also not available - something named Kirby Yates currently squatting on it) or #53 which is available. Ron apparently switched from 39 to 53 mid-way through his second year as a Yanqui although I don't know why.

Ron/Ike Davis become the second father/son combo to play for the evil empire, the first being Yogi & Dale B.

Two singles plus a walk and an RBI in 10 Yank-Me ABs for Ike so far.

[Frayed Knot]

Teixeira returns from the DL so Ike gets DFA'd by the Yanx after 14 ABs (3 singles)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Braves swap Dario Alvarez to the Rangers.

[Edgy MD]

I bet the Rangers scout the hell out of the Mets.

[Guest themetfairy]

Brief 1987 Met Al Pedrique has been named the International League Manager of the Year.

[Edgy MD]

Recidivist Met Eric Young, Jr. prepares to begin a third tenure in New York, acquired at the deadline by the Yankees.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't get that. Are they trying to make the playoffs?

They also traded a middling-but-close OF prospect Ben Gamel (brother of Mat) to Seattle for an 18 and 19 yo pitchers