Benjamin Grimm

I'd love it if Manny ended up as a Long Island Duck this year. Not that I give a rat's ass about the Ducks, but because of the big dose of humility that would come with it. I don't expect that to happen, of course, but I also have no idea what will happen. Probably some other team (other than the Dodgers or Mets, that is) will end up signing Manny to a one-year deal, perhaps for less than $20 million.

="Frayed Knot":3mhjvck2]The idea is to get the NYM doctors to look at them.[/quote:3mhjvck2] It would be nice if their doctors were in Florida when the Mets were, but I guess the docs aren't exclusive to the Mets. Edgy DC Mar 02 2009 06:29 AM I knew a guy who was the team's "consulting neurologist." Now, one imagines they wouldn't need a neurologist every day, but I knwo he followed them down to spring training. He was the doctor on the scene when Mookie's glasses shattered into his eye. Frayed Knot Mar 02 2009 07:02 AM Last radio reports I heard now say there will be no MRI at all - not just on account of the weather but also because there was no pain in Sunday's throwing session. metirish Mar 02 2009 07:25 AM Well that is good news.... SteveJRogers Mar 02 2009 08:38 AM ="metirish":oukyvq09]Well that is good news....[/quote:oukyvq09] I wouldn't be so sure. Given the Mets medical staff history, and the importance of that arm, I would go through the motions of an MRI just to be on the safe side. Better err on the side of caution than have Santana's arm fall blow out on Opening Day. Vic Sage Mar 02 2009 08:54 AM Apparently, Dr. Altcheck is going down to florida this week to check on Santana. The mountain is coming to Mohammed. Frayed Knot Mar 02 2009 09:05 AM ="SteveJRogers":1nac43oz]I wouldn't be so sure. Given the Mets medical staff history ... [/quote:1nac43oz] And what history is that? SteveJRogers Mar 02 2009 09:08 AM Mo Vaughn, Ryan Church, Billy Wagner, John Maine, etc. This crack staff would give someone a day-to-day diagnosis for a brain tumor! Frayed Knot Mar 02 2009 09:10 AM So it's the medical staff fault that those players got hurt? If so I think we should fire the entire medical team and hire the staff from one of the teams without injuries. Remind me who those are again? Benjamin Grimm Mar 02 2009 09:11 AM Ryan Church's concussion seems to be the one thing that's been truly botched in recent years. But saying someone is day-to-day doesn't mean the medical staff is a bunch of boobs; it could mean that they're not too hasty to make a panicky diagnosis. I'd want to pause and make sure too before consigning somebody to surgery or the 60-day DL. SteveJRogers Mar 02 2009 09:27 AM ="Frayed Knot":o41s9oyl]So it's the medical staff fault that those players got hurt? If so I think we should fire the entire medical team and hire the staff from one of the teams without injuries. Remind me who those are again?[/quote:o41s9oyl] So, how much does Fredo pay you? No, it is not the Mets training and medical staff's fault that injuries happen, it is the staff's fault for the misdiagnosises, the lack of desire to give proper care and treatment just to get the players back on the field and the general sense that they really are a bunch of quacks. SteveJRogers Mar 02 2009 09:30 AM ="Benjamin Grimm":7pulkn2q]Ryan Church's concussion seems to be the one thing that's been truly botched in recent years. But saying someone is day-to-day doesn't mean the medical staff is a bunch of boobs; it could mean that they're not too hasty to make a panicky diagnosis. I'd want to pause and make sure too before consigning somebody to surgery or the 60-day DL.[/quote:7pulkn2q] Considering this team goes from an 85-90 win team to a 75-80 win team without Santana, yeah I would understand a panicky diagnosis and getting him into an MRI. Again, better be safe than have him blow out his arm in April and losing him for more than just 2009. Edgy DC Mar 02 2009 09:35 AM And naturally, if he hurts himself, it'll be directly connected to his not getting an MRI this weekend. TransMonk Mar 02 2009 09:45 AM They call medicine a "practice" for a reason. I was walking to work a month ago and got a severe headache, tightness in my throat, dizziness and loss of balance. I got rushed to the hospital and they said my symptoms indicated I had a small stroke. But after a spinal tap, CT scan and multiple MRIs they could not find anything showing any blockage...in other words, no stroke. I've now visited different doctors (pulminologist, neurologist, physical therapist, opthomologist) 2-3 times per week for the past month and they're still not sure what's wrong. The initial diagnosis was an inner-ear virus, then I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, which is a problem, but seemingly unrealated. After a month, I'm still only at about 80% with my balance and I have abnormal sensation ability on the left half of my body. I really have no idea if it will start to get better tomorrow or if I'll be this way the rest of my life. I'm well enough to perform daily activities, but I'm not running or exercising at all. I have another MRI scheduled for Wednesday (but I don't have to travel to New York). I feel like I'm guessing Church did last year. I could not even play catch with a buddy right now, but I'm not giving up hope that I couldn't at this time next week. I'd call my self day-to-day, and would not want to be put on the 60 day DL. I don't know if these or any doctors could be called quacks, it's just that the body is a very complex thing that differs greatly from person to person. Edgy DC Mar 02 2009 09:47 AM Perspective. Get well, Monk. Benjamin Grimm Mar 02 2009 09:48 AM Geez, Monk, I hope you feel better soon. Your account reads like an episode of House. TransMonk Mar 02 2009 09:56 AM Thanks guys. I've never watched House, but I've had many, many people say that. I was hoping to at least get a rare disease named after me. Kong76 Mar 02 2009 10:36 AM Speedy health, Tmonk. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 02 2009 10:38 AM Yeah, hope you're feeling better soon. Gotta be tough to be troubled by unexplainable stuff. Rockin' Doc Mar 02 2009 10:40 AM I hope you get feeling better soon. themetfairy Mar 02 2009 10:47 AM Feel better TMonk! Benjamin Grimm Mar 02 2009 10:52 AM Kind of selfish, though, how TransMonk has hijacked Johan Santana's thread. Have some respect for the guy with the $137 million contract! Gwreck Mar 02 2009 10:53 AM Best wishes for speedy recovery. TransMonk Mar 02 2009 11:02 AM ="Benjamin Grimm":10s8n325]Kind of selfish, though, how TransMonk has hijacked Johan Santana's thread. Have some respect for the guy with the $137 million contract![/quote:10s8n325] HA! The jist was really the first and last sentences of the post. And that I recently have a little more respect for Church and his health problems last year...and for any injured athlete for that matter. My job doesn't depend on me being fully-functional physically. I can't imagine being in my condition and being a pro-athlete with money, passion and fan opinion on the line. MFS62 Mar 02 2009 11:05 AM Hope they find out what it is and cure it soon, Monk. And we hope its something they've seen before, not something new that they have to name after you. Later Centerfield Mar 02 2009 11:10 AM Whatever. Pop a couple of Advil and walk it off. Like you ever use your lower left-side anyway. I'm kidding. Perhaps in bad taste. Feel better soon. It is incredibly frustrating when all the doctors in the world seem unable to pinpoint a problem. Here's to hoping they figure it out (and cure it) soon. metirish Mar 02 2009 11:20 AM Rub some dirt on it for fecks sake Monk..... Seriously it made for somber reading..I thought at first you were taking the piss then I was hoping you were...get well .. themetfairy Mar 02 2009 11:23 AM D-Dad had a bad case of vertigo about five years ago. Not as debilitating or long-lasting as TMonk's, but frustrating as hell. These things can be weird - sometimes they just run their course without explanation. Hopefully this will be out of your system soon. Frayed Knot Mar 02 2009 02:04 PM ="SteveJRogers"]So, how much does Fredo pay you? OK, I give up. Who the hell is Fredo? ]No, it is not the Mets training and medical staff's fault that injuries happen, it is the staff's fault for the misdiagnosises, the lack of desire to give proper care and treatment just to get the players back on the field and the general sense that they really are a bunch of quacks. If you're going to label "quacks" whenever an exact diagnosis and return date isn't nailed down within 24 hours of an injury then you're never going to be happy with any medical staff and instead are going to sound like one of those idiot fans who wonders why only his closer blows games. And I'm not even going to ask you where you came up with "lack of desire to give proper care and treatment". LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 02 2009 02:12 PM ="Frayed Knot":dd6jvwzq]="SteveJRogers":dd6jvwzq]So, how much does Fredo pay you?[/quote:dd6jvwzq] OK, I give up. Who the hell is Fredo?[/quote:dd6jvwzq] Fred? Jeff? (As in, the incompetent son?) Special Medical Adviser to the New York Mets, Zombie John Cazale? Edgy DC Mar 02 2009 02:14 PM ="SteveJRogers":3ed1rmeg]="Frayed Knot":3ed1rmeg]So it's the medical staff fault that those players got hurt? If so I think we should fire the entire medical team and hire the staff from one of the teams without injuries. Remind me who those are again?[/quote:3ed1rmeg] So, how much does Fredo pay you? No, it is not the Mets training and medical staff's fault that injuries happen, it is the staff's fault for the misdiagnosises, the lack of desire to give proper care and treatment just to get the players back on the field and the general sense that they really are a bunch of quacks.[/quote:3ed1rmeg] And all these guys were misdiagnoses (or "misdiagnosises")? You know that the medical staff has been turned over since Mo Vaughn's day, right? Twice, I think. Steve, are you gunning for Davidoff's job or something. Kong76 Mar 02 2009 02:16 PM SJR: No, it is not the Mets training and medical staff's fault that injuries happen, it is the staff's fault for the misdiagnosises, the lack of desire to give proper care and treatment just to get the players back on the field and the general sense that they really are a bunch of quacks <<< You've out done yourself. Again. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 02 2009 02:59 PM Relatively new here. Is it silly to ask what SJR's "deal" is, generally speaking? Edgy DC Mar 02 2009 03:02 PM No. It may be silly to expect to understand the answer, however. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 02 2009 03:07 PM ="Edgy DC"]No. It may be silly to expect to understand the answer, however. All those times there was one set of footprints... SJR was carrying me? TransMonk Mar 02 2009 03:08 PM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"] All those times there was one set of footprints... SJR was carrying me? Bullet of cool! SteveJRogers Mar 02 2009 03:56 PM ="Frayed Knot"] OK, I give up. Who the hell is Fredo? Wilpon. ] If you're going to label "quacks" whenever an exact diagnosis and return date isn't nailed down within 24 hours of an injury then you're never going to be happy with any medical staff and instead are going to sound like one of those idiot fans who wonders why only his closer blows games. And I'm not even going to ask you where you came up with "lack of desire to give proper care and treatment". Okay, fine I'll give you that point. But at the end of the day, this staff is still very cloak and dagger on just about every single medical issue. Is player A okay to play? He's day-to-day. Okay, but he's been out for a week, shouldn't someone look at him? Nah, he is day-to-day, we are going with his word. And it especially looks worse right now when Dan Warthen apparently was under the impression that Santana WAS gearing up for the WBC, when it was decided about a month ago that Santana was NOT going to be pitching in the WBC. metirish Mar 02 2009 04:11 PM Really though are the Mets any different that any other organization in regards to medical reports? I would say NHL teams are the most notorious of the "day to day" injury reports. SteveJRogers Mar 02 2009 04:30 PM ="metirish":dalf2wz3]Really though are the Mets any different that any other organization in regards to medical reports? I would say NHL teams are the most notorious of the "day to day" injury reports.[/quote:dalf2wz3] NFL is worse though. Because they have to list the injury list every week. Great example, every week for a couple of years the Pats listed Tom Brady on the injury list, probably at the least severe level, with an arm situation. This was done as to not "tip" off the opposition or some nonsense. I hear you though, it is just that the Mets, and other teams do seem to treat the fans and the media like idiots with the way they handle injury situations. Maybe I'm being too harsh on the medical staff here, fine, then maybe it is the PR staff, maybe it's Omar, I don't know then, but there is something rather infuriating with the way the Mets handle injury situations. Kong76 Mar 02 2009 04:36 PM SJR: But at the end of the day, this staff is still very cloak and dagger on just about every single medical issue <<< Keep diggin Stevers, name one team in Major League Baseball that does better when it comes to reporting actual news on what's going on with high profile franchise players. Name one team that does it 20% better and provide insight into how you ac- tually know what you're talking about. Name one team that does it 10% better if you can't do that. Cloak and dagger??? Sheesh. Frayed Knot Mar 02 2009 04:47 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 02 2009 05:32 PM ="SteveJRogers"]Wilpon. So if I don't trash the medical staff I must be some kind of Wilpon suck-up? I think you want to re-think that one. "Okay, fine I'll give you that point." You mean the point about the medical staff not wanting injuries to linger and hurt the club? -- Very big of you. " But at the end of the day, this staff is still very cloak and dagger on just about every single medical issue." 'Cloak and Dagger'? You mean if a player gets hurt during a game it's some kind of conspiracy of silence unless they have the complete diagnosis and exact return date by the morning papers? Medicine doesn't work that way Steve-O and things like waiting for swelling to go down of seeing if a problem will heal on its own are often proper procedures not examples of malpractice. "Is player A okay to play? -- He's day-to-day. Okay, but he's been out for a week, shouldn't someone look at him? Nah, he is day-to-day, we are going with his word." As Vince Scully says, 'Aren't we all?' (day-to-day) Again, see the point above about medical science not running on the same schedule as beat reporters or stupid fans who are too pissed off to think straight and therefore spout off on topics they know nothing about because they think it makes them sound superior. The only thing worse is listening to those idiots and the repeating what they say as if gospel. "And it especially looks worse right now when Dan Warthen apparently was under the impression that Santana WAS gearing up for the WBC, when it was decided about a month ago that Santana was NOT going to be pitching in the WBC." Something which has nothing to do with the medical staff. Rockin' Doc Mar 02 2009 05:16 PM LWFS - "Relatively new here. Is it silly to ask what SJR's "deal" is, generally speaking? I have a theory that Steve may be a distant relative of King Nebuchednezzar. Of course, I could be wrong. SteveJRogers Mar 02 2009 05:25 PM ="Frayed Knot"]="SteveJRogers"]Wilpon.] So if I don't trash the medical staff I must be some kind of Wilpon suck-up? I think you want to re-think that one. No, you seem to stick up for the Met organization and players quite often, to the point where yeah, you do sound like a Kool Aid drinking Met fan. metirish Mar 02 2009 05:31 PM Steve you are really scraping the bottom of the barrel with that jibe at FK. A thread about one of the games best pictures has turned into a SJR thread , happens far too often. Frayed Knot Mar 02 2009 05:38 PM Do you really think I stick up for the Wilpons irrationally or have you gotten to the point where you're simply labeling anyone who doesn't trash them incessantly as a suck-up because you think that puts you in with the in crowd? Either way, if you want to find examples where you think I did so we can debate the specific topic(s) individually, but don't make blanket statements about my opinions that you can't back up -- like the one that started this discussion for instance. Edgy DC Mar 02 2009 06:09 PM Does Wilpon even serve Kool-Aid anymore? Because I'm really thirsty and I think I'm entitled to some. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 02 2009 06:55 PM If said Kool-Aid is cherry- and/or mango-flavored, and it will knock me unconscious for the last two weeks of October, I will drink this Kool-Aid. Benjamin Grimm Mar 02 2009 06:56 PM ="metirish":1tgpntg3]happens far too often.[/quote:1tgpntg3] Yep. It's tiresome. Clueless Koolaid Guzzler Mar 02 2009 07:15 PM ="SteveJRogers":1qlt4bm3] No, you seem to stick up for the Met organization and players quite often, to the point where yeah, you do sound like a Kool Aid drinking Met fan.[/quote:1qlt4bm3] hey! you say that like it's a bad thing. metirish Mar 03 2009 07:28 PM ] Mets' Santana won't be ready for Opening Day BY DAVID LENNON | david.lennon@newsday.com 4:50 PM EST, March 3, 2009 The Mets finally came to terms Tuesday with the reality that Johan Santana is not going to be their Opening Day starter for April 6 in Cincinnati. Santana will have another bullpen session tomorrow morning, but the delay caused by the tightness in his left elbow is going to push him back to the fifth turn of that first week, which is Saturday, April 11, in Florida. Pitching coach Dan Warthen explained that Santana is not likely to get into a Grapefruit League game until March 18. That pretty much wipes out any chance of him being ready for Opening Day. Benjamin Grimm Mar 03 2009 08:28 PM April 11 is no tragedy. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 03 2009 08:37 PM May 1 is no tragedy neither. Edgy DC Mar 03 2009 08:50 PM Tomorrow's scapegoating articles can just write themselves. That's a little tragic. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 03 2009 10:57 PM How is this at 20/20 update status on the 'FAN? (He asks rhetorically... since it is.) 86-Dreamer Mar 04 2009 01:11 PM Johan had a strong bullpen today and now says he is still shooting for Opening Day: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=3950758 MFS62 Mar 04 2009 01:21 PM ="86-Dreamer":2c4tjkyk]Johan had a strong bullpen today and now says he is still shooting for Opening Day: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=3950758[/quote:2c4tjkyk] I don't like it when my emotions are toyed with. Later Frayed Knot Mar 10 2009 06:43 AM Well they're about to be toyed with again because Johan says he's feeling good and aiming for Opening Day (a phrase that should always be capitalized, btw). He used all his pitches in yesterday's throwing session and is scheduled for a Thursday start. So the thousands of trees and E-trees that were killed in order to make room for the multitude of columns and blogs detailing the dire consequences and medical malpractice in connection with Santana's left wing turned out to have given their lives in vain all over a soreness which required that miracle of modern medicine ... a 3-day break. themetfairy Mar 10 2009 06:45 AM Either that, or that liniment really works! metirish Mar 17 2009 12:18 PM Great news. ] Mets' Santana throws four innings without incident BY DAVID LENNON | david.lennon@newsday.com 1:41 PM EDT, March 17, 2009 PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - More than any one pitch, the best indication of Johan Santana's mindset as he prepares for Opening Day came during the second inning of Tuesday's minor-league game on Field 7. Santana was so sure he had Scott Grimes struck out on a changeup in the dirt that he stormed off the back of the mound to argue with the umpire behind him. That's right. Scott Grimes, who was playing for the Worcester Tornadoes last season. Santana buried a changeup, and Grimes -- not used to that kind of pitch in the Can-Am League -- clearly did not check his swing. Which is why Santana was annoyed. "Oh yeah, this is a game," Santana said. "You have to do whatever it takes to even win that game and get ready. Because that's the thing, when Opening Day comes, there's not going to be any practice. You've got to be ready. "So that's what we're trying to do now, focus on throwing all of the pitches, on controlling the strike zone and throwing changeups and sliders. I think we're pretty good. We're on the right track." The irritated Santana finished off Grimes with a fastball that he missed for strike three -- no discussion there -- and completed his four-inning stint without incident. Overall, Santana allowed six hits and two earned runs, with five strikeouts and no walks. He threw 56 pitches, 40 for strikes, and his fastball stayed in the 87-89 mph range. With three more starts to go, Santana figures to build up more arm strength and the velocity should increase as well over the next three weeks. "We're still working," Santana said. "I don't work by percentages or anything, but I think we still have some room to improve and to get better and that's what we're focused on right now."

Sturdivant was the tenth oldest living Met player. His death moves Bob Friend into the top ten. 1. Yogi Berra 1925-05-12 2. Duke Snider 1926-09-19 3. Joe Ginsberg 1926-10-11 4. Dave Hillman 1927-09-14 5. Frank Thomas 1929-06-11 6. Joe Pignatano 1929-08-04 7. Jimmy Piersall 1929-11-14 8. Hobie Landrith 1930-03-16 9. Frank Lary 1930-04-10 10. Bob Friend 1930-11-24

Yes?

The Kielty switch-hitting thing is curious. I remember when Wally Backman was an unbalanced switch-hitter: he did well batting left-handed against righties but not hitting right-handed against lefties. He briefly toyed with becoming a strictly left-handed hitter, but didn't stick with it. But Kielty has the opposite problem: he struggles (sorry, "scuffles") as a left-handed hitter. Since most pitchers are right-handed, he should have abandoned switch-hitting a long time ago. Why do something that puts you at a disadvantage against about two-thirds of the opposing pitchers? I don't have the numbers in front of me, but typically I don't think right-handed batters have as much trouble against righty pitchers as lefty hitters do against lefty pitchers.

="batmagadanleadoff":srmd9d3o]="Fman99":srmd9d3o]Someone should punch him in the you know where and kick him in the you know what.[/quote:srmd9d3o] **** and cock.[/quote:srmd9d3o] You punch him in the neck and tell him is sister is a ****. As for Mike and the Mad Dog, they're both idiots, but only Mike is contemptible. dgwphotography Feb 28 2009 05:56 AM I'm hardly a prude, but that's one word that should be censored. I consider it to be the ugliest word in the English language.... Kong76 Feb 28 2009 06:22 AM No, not a prude, but you're historically a bit of a good boy scout here. I find Derek or Jeter much more offensive and Fman is just funny. Fman99 Feb 28 2009 06:48 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":101fav9d]Something about the image of him going down to friggin' Mets camp and chatting with players only via phone from a confined booth, fiddling his Diet Coke-filled gunt, seems very fitting.[/quote:101fav9d] I like it, it's worthy of a cartoon. Alas I have no artistic talents, aside from spinning a tapestry of profanity and juvenile laughs. Now is the "gunt" refer to his gut or his ****? Or is it that fat roll above the nethers that some heftier folks have? I've also heard that referred to as the FUPA (Fat Upper Pubic Area), pronounced "foo-pah", and the AIF (Ass-in-front) which rhymes with "chafe." (ironically) Nymr83 Feb 28 2009 05:21 PM ="Iubitul":lk7phxbo]I'm hardly a prude, but that's one word that should be censored. I consider it to be the ugliest word in the English language....[/quote:lk7phxbo] Nigger? Benjamin Grimm Feb 28 2009 08:32 PM Yes? dgwphotography Mar 02 2009 11:28 AM ok - two words. The fact that that word is even in your vocabulary and not in mine says something...

I guess the Dodgers figured they could get Manny for "only" $25 million now that spring training has started and Manny is still out of work. I guess they were wrong. What team does Boras figure will give him a better offer than that?

The best reason for not talking to him is that he's an idiot.

I used to wonder the same thing about Dale Murphy. (He finally did get that mole removed from his cheek by the time he became a Phillie. Maybe the Phils had a better dermatology plan?)

I'd have to pay to replace all three TiVo's. Each has a lifetime service plan, so I'm not paying any monthly fees.

I've had a big-screen HD-compatible TV for over a year now, and we still haven't made the switch to HD reception. We have three TiVo boxes and none of them are HD-compatible, and since just about everything I watch (other than Mets games) are on TiVo (at Medium quality, no less) it just doesn't make sense to me.

="metirish":2lr2tv6s]Have fun.....I'm particularly interested in Putz's wife as she is about to drop a baby...would be mad impressed if you got a picture of her. [/quote:2lr2tv6s] I read in the Daily News this morning that Mrs. Putz (her name is Kelsey) is going to have a boy, and that she hasn't yet told J.J. what name she's chosen! You'd think a father would want to have some say in what his kid is named. Although maybe this is his punishment for giving the kid the last name of "Putz." metirish Feb 25 2009 11:19 AM Yeah I thought that was a bit odd , names for her to consider. Sum , Dat, bmfc1 Feb 25 2009 11:23 AM Adam Rubin writes: Joseph Ethan Putz was born at 12:40 p.m. ET. soupcan Feb 25 2009 11:27 AM ="bmfc1":ip7q5hj1]Enjoy! Just don't try and keep score of early ST games.[/quote:ip7q5hj1] As a kid I used to try and score the All-Star game. Very frustrating, mainly because on TV they wouldn't announce all the defensive changes quickly enough. ="metirish":ip7q5hj1]FYI - the spring training game Thursday will be repeated on SNY that evening at 7PM....then at 9:30 Kevin Burkhardt hosts a Citifield progress special. It's billed as Citi Field Special II , never did see the first one.[/quote:ip7q5hj1] Maybe this should be in Fman's HDTV thread but ever since I started watching games in HD I have a hard time watching non-HD broadcasts. As I recall the ST games are not HD. Maybe this year they will be though... ="bmfc1":ip7q5hj1]Adam Rubin writes: Joseph Ethan Putz was born at 12:40 p.m. ET.[/quote:ip7q5hj1] Joe Putz - good baseball name. metirish Feb 25 2009 11:29 AM I'm the same way in regards to watching baseball in HD or not . soupcan Feb 25 2009 11:29 AM ="metirish":27k4zrtl]I'm the same way in regards to watching baseball in HD or not .[/quote:27k4zrtl] Sad isn't it? metirish Feb 25 2009 11:36 AM Yeah it's sad but the difference is telling, even from station to station HD can differ. I hate the way they box up the sides when it's not HD but it's on the HD channel. soupcan Feb 25 2009 11:42 AM ="metirish":kxywmudg]I hate the way they box up the sides when it's not HD but it's on the HD channel.[/quote:kxywmudg] That drives me crazy. Benjamin Grimm Feb 25 2009 11:47 AM I've had a big-screen HD-compatible TV for over a year now, and we still haven't made the switch to HD reception. We have three TiVo boxes and none of them are HD-compatible, and since just about everything I watch (other than Mets games) are on TiVo (at Medium quality, no less) it just doesn't make sense to me. metirish Feb 25 2009 12:05 PM Would you have to pay more Grim from HD?. Cablevision to their credit does not charge extra for HD channels and they add new ones every week it seems. Benjamin Grimm Feb 25 2009 12:13 PM I'd have to pay to replace all three TiVo's. Each has a lifetime service plan, so I'm not paying any monthly fees. metsguyinmichigan Feb 25 2009 07:39 PM I ALWAYS keep score! Wasn't too bad, they only turned over the lineup once. Didn't see any wives, but I did have a nice chat with Jerry Manuel's nephew Marcellus.

Really, though, was there anything about the old ballparks that prevented them from serving a higher quality of food?

Having two O. Perezes would really complicate Schaefer voting.

Too soon to say if he'll really be "the catcher of the future" but it's nice to at least have a candidate for that position. It seems the Mets have been light on catching prospects (other than Jesus Flores) for a long time. Here's hoping Thole is the NL Rookie of the Year in 2011.

Maybe I should have included the adjective "affordable If the only available seats are for $100 or more, I'm not going to be interested. With two kids, I'd have to multiply the ticket price by three.

One theory I read is that Murphy will stay in the outfield for a year or two, and then possibly be groomed to be Delgado's successor at first base. (I think that plan will only work if you get first-base-style production from his bat. Otherwise, having him replace Castillo a little further down the road makes more sense. If, of course, he can play the position.)

I have a feeling that all three of them will get plenty of playing time. In many seasons you see four outfielders with a lot of plate appearances, especially when, like this year, there may not be a lot of difference in the production of the second, third, and fourth guys. My prediction, in order of number of plate appearances in 2009: Beltran, Murphy, Church, Tatis. (Also, Tatis may get some additional time in the infield, backing up Delgado and/or Wright at times.)

The biggest thing I'm wondering about is if I'll be able to purchase halfway decent seats on a Wednesday or Thursday for a game to be played on the upcoming weekend. That's how I've been doing my Shea visits the last few years. It's so much trouble to get there from where I live I don't want to buy tickets until I see that the weather forecast isn't likely to be a problem. My original thought was that I might not be able to get to Citi Field in 2009, because advance sales might be so high that I wouldn't be able to do my three-days notice thing. But now with the economy in such bad shape, maybe more tickets will be available, even in "Inaugural Season." I guess we'll know soon enough.

="Fman99":2buelb92]If this was on TV I would go home and watch it.[/quote:2buelb92] Hang in there for just a few more days. SNY is televising an afternoon game on Thursday. Fman99 Feb 23 2009 09:56 AM ="Benjamin Grimm":16upy3mj]="Fman99":16upy3mj]If this was on TV I would go home and watch it.[/quote:16upy3mj] Hang in there for just a few more days. SNY is televising an afternoon game on Thursday.[/quote:16upy3mj] Ooooooooooo Edgy DC Feb 23 2009 10:19 AM Tatis was a late scratch after waking up with a sore palm. Looks liek Ramon Martinez is his replacement. Adam Rubin tracks the game. First inning: Jon Niese pitching. Alex Cora grounded out back to pitcher. Marlon Anderson grounds out to shortstop Jose Reyes. Daniel Murphy strikes out. Prospect Dillon Gee pitching. He's likely ticketed for Double-A rotation to start the season. Luis Castillo, leading off, broken-bat groundout to Nick Evans at first base. Reyes flies out to Ryan Church in right-center. David Wright lines out to center. End of inning. Second inning: Niese back on the mound. Carlos Beltran grounds out to shortstop. Ramon Martinez grounds out to shortstop. Church strikes out swinging on a big curveball from Niese. Gee on mound for second inning of work. Carlos Delgado grounds out to second base on the outfield grass. Yes, the Mets played a shift aganist Delgado as well. Bobby Kielty grounds out to third base. Jeremy Reed flies out to center. End of 2. Third inning: Nelson Figueroa pitching. Nick Evans gets game's first hit. Single to center. Brian Schneider broken-bat groundout to shortstop. Evans to second. Fernando Martinez infield single to second base, on a slow roller to Luis Castillo's backhand. Evans to third. Scorekeeper is harsh on Castillo, actually. Error for Castillo, not hit for Martinez. Cora walks to load bases. Half-inning called because Figueroa reached pitch count. Ahh, intrasquad games. Loose rules. Brandon Knight pitching. Ramon Castro flies out to Evans in foul territory. Scorekeeper overruled, apparently. No error on Castillo. Probably part of Jerry Manuel's plan to build up his confidence. (I kid. It would have been a tough error to score.) Cory Sullivan flies out to center field. Rene Rivera grounds out to third base. End of third. Fourth inning: Figueroa's second inning of work. Jerry Manuel, by the way, has been watching the game from shallow center field. Guess he likes the view. Anderson grounds to out third base. Strong throw from Wright after backhanding the grounder. Murphy grounds out to second base. Edgy DC Feb 23 2009 10:23 AM Beltran called out on strikes looking. Knight takes the mound for his second inning of work. Castillo walks. Reyes fielder's choice groundout to Marlon Anderson at second base. Edgy DC Feb 23 2009 10:37 AM Wild pitch. Reyes to second. Wright walks. Delgado strikes out on changeup. Kielty flies out to shortstop in shallow center. End of four. Fifth inning: Kyle Snyder pitching. Ramon Martinez called out looking on strikes. Church grounds out to second base. Evans strikes out swinging on offspeed pitch. Bobby Parnell pitching. Fman99 Feb 23 2009 10:46 AM ="Edgy DC":2or6yx9s]Beltran called out on strikes looking. [/quote:2or6yx9s] Still hurts. Edgy DC Feb 23 2009 11:02 AM Reed strikes out swinging, chasing a pitch up and away, out of the strike zone. Castro grounds out. Sullivan flies out. End of 5. Rubin pulls out there. MFS62 Feb 23 2009 11:29 AM OK. I'll be the first to say it this year. The pitchers are ahead of the hitters. Later Frayed Knot Feb 23 2009 12:36 PM ]Tatis was a late scratch after waking up with a sore palm Well if he hadn't a been .... Nah, too easy. metirish Feb 23 2009 02:07 PM Video of the game with Matt Cerrone Dodgy camera angles[/url:17hv02s1]

Well, if Citi Field proves to be unaffordable for the remainder of my life, then I'll just have to cope with that reality. I have no interest in going through the effort to get to Queens (at a minimum it's three hours each way) to sit through a college baseball game in March.

If I lived in Queens I might be tempted to spend the five bucks just to get a look at the inside of the ballpark.

I hate the black uniforms, but the black t-shirts look pretty good.

I said okay for kids. Both of mine have the black t-shirts: My son has WRIGHT and my daughter has REYES. Me, I'm too old to wear somebody else's name on my back. The only Mets stuff I currently have are caps. If I were to wear a Mets shirt it certainly wouldn't look anything like a jersey.

I tuned in too and was surprised to see Seaver of the White Sox. I didn't bother watching. Strange, though, that one game I attended in 1985 got bumped by a different game that I also attended in the same year.