Benjamin Grimm

We're seeing radio buttons, not checkboxes.

Yes! That game is worthy!

As I've said before, I think I'd be okay with Molina for 2010, but I don't want him blocking Thole in 2011; hopefully if they sign him he can backup Thole (if Josh is ready) or can be dealt. But would it be the worst thing if the Mets went with the best combination of Blanco/Coste/Santos/Thole in 2010? They wouldn't be likely to get too much offense out of the catcher slot if they do that, but if they can put that money towards landing Holliday and can get Delgado to sign an incentive-laden contract, maybe they'll have enough offense (with the hopefully healthy return of Beltran and Reyes) that they can cover for a weak-hitting catcher? I'm not sure how I feel about this, and I'm also not at all clear about what exactly the Mets budget is (who is?) but maybe this is something to think about.

Seems unlikely that he'll stick on the big league roster for the whole season. I guess the Mets are hoping the Phillies won't buy him back when they (almost inevitably) get the chance.

I'm sure I'm going to feel compelled, before too long, to do some SQLing to get some exact answers. Stay tuned for Mets birthday statistics...

I hope he gets to cash in on that MVP bonus.

This one is memorable as a curiosity: The only time the Mets ever faced Dwight Gooden. http://leaptoad.com/mets/gamedetail.php?gameno=6160

These are the games (from the 2000's) that have received the most comments on the UMDB: [list:p5n26jzj] 2000-10-26 27 (2000 World Series Game 5) 2006-10-19 18 (Endy Chavez, Yadier Molina, Beltran caught looking, nuff said.) 2000-10-07 14 (Benny Agbayani homer wins NLDS Game 3 in the 13th inning, my daughter is conceived immediately thereafter) 2007-09-30 13 (Miserable final game of the 2007 collapse) 2000-10-16 11 (Mets win NLCS) 2000-06-30 10 (Mets score 10 runs in the 8th to beat Atlanta 11-8) 2000-10-08 9 (Bobby Jones; almost perfect) 2000-07-08 8 (Clemens beans Piazza, split Shea-Yankee Stadium doubleheader) 2004-10-03 8 (last game ever played by Montreal Expos) 2000-10-05 8 (The comeback after the J.T. Snow homer) 2006-09-18 7 (Mets clinch NL East) 2006-10-04 7 (NLDS Game 1, two runners cut down at home on one play) 2001-09-21 7 (Piazza's post-9/11 homer) 2005-06-11 7 (Marlon Anderson's inside-the-park homer) 2006-08-22 7 (the Pujols/Delgado game mentioned in the previous post)[/list:u:p5n26jzj]

My nominee for the best game of 2009 is this one: http://www.leaptoad.com/mets/gamedetail.php?gameno=7598&tabno=B Omir Santos hits a disputed go-ahead homer at Fenway in the top of the ninth, and an angry Jonathan Papelbon leaps out of the dugout. Plus, a save by J.J. Putz!

This may be a record: Eight Mets were born on December 9. (I discovered this while looking up game dates for Irish's memorable games thread.) * Del Unser (1944) * Jerry Cram (1947) * Doc Medich (1948) * Bruce Boisclair (1952) * Juan Samuel (1960) * Mike Fyhrie (1969) * Tony Tarasco (1970) * Jeff Duncan (1978)

And of course, that home run by Piazza in the first baseball game played in New York after September 11.

Another game from the 2000 NLDS: J.T. Snow hits a demoralizing homer off Armando Benitez, but the Mets come back and win on a Darryl Hamilton RBI, with the game ending on John Franco's top moment as a Met, his strikeout of Barry Bonds.

Benny Agbayani's game-winning homer in the 2000 NLDS.

I don't think I'd eat any anuses over a two-year deal for Molina, although I'd prefer a one-year deal. I'd like to think that Thole will be totally ready to take over in 2011. And if that happens, and Molina is still under contract, then either Molina is an expensive backup, or he gets traded. (Of course, how tradeable his contact is will depend on what kind of 2010 he has.)

The article in the News today about Madden's selection includes a photo of Madden and George Steinbrenner getting all cuddly, and quotes from The Boss praising Madden. I'll read Madden's "definitive biography" right after I finish reading Sarah Palin's memoir. I do think that these "enshrinements" of reporters and broadcasters (and some players!) often have more to do with longevity than with quality.

I was thinking the same thing; Church could possibly have a role on the 2010 Mets. I got the sense, though, that they had kind of soured on him. Not really because of his skills, but something about his approach or attitude. I don't think he's a "Jerry Manuel guy" (which may actually speak well of him) so I'm not at all sure there would be interest in bringing Ryan back. But he's talented, available, and cheap. If only he was Latin, right Bill Madden?

It also seems like the Mets and Brewers are competing for Randy Wolf's signature. The above trade would be much more likely if Wolf ended up with the Mets.

Kevin Burkhardt asked Bob Ojeda this very question last night on Mets Hot Stove Report. Bobby O picked John Maine, because, he says, it's easier to recover from physical problems than from mental problems.

I guess. With Zito is was an expensive bullet. With this schnook it's more of a moronic bullet.

I did do this last year! And I even used the same subject! http://archives.cranepoolforum.net/11100/f1_t11152.shtml Of last year's group, Bruce Chen and Jason Vargas (and perhaps others) returned to the big leagues in 2009.

I think I do this just about every year, and here we go again. This is a list of former Mets who either played in the big leagues in 2008, or in the Mets farm system in 2008, and didn't do either in 2009. There are some that we're aware have retired. Others may be in some other teams farm system, while others may have just quietly faded away. My database provides me with 38 names. If anyone has any news that they want to share about any of these guys, please feel free... [list:ehkr0g3a]Jon Adkins Chris Aguila Moises Alou Tony Armas Armando Benitez Gary Bennett Ambiorix Burgos Raul Casanova Brady Clark Willie Collazo Mike DiFelice Damion Easley Shawn Estes Matt Ginter Tom Glavine Raul Gonzalez Ruben Gotay Orlando Hernandez Joe Hietpas Jeff Kent Paul Lo Duca Gustavo Molina David Newhan Trot Nixon Hideo Nomo Abraham Nu�ez Juan Padilla Jay Payton Andy Phillips Ricardo Rincon Royce Ring Kenny Rogers Jos� Santiago Steve Trachsel Jason Tyner Jos� Valentin Jorge Velandia Matt Wise[/list:u:ehkr0g3a]