Benjamin Grimm

Well, he was very solid before his concussion. Whether he would have sustained it over a full season remains to be seen. And so does whether or not he'll ever be healthy again. Church is certainly a question mark. He could be really good in 2009, or he could be really mediocre. If it's the latter, the rest of the lineup probably isn't deep enough to cover for him.

I knew he wouldn't be able to handle Seattle.

Hudson's the position player I'd most like to see them get. Add Hudson and Sheets and I'll be ready to get 2009 underway.

...who are dead at the present time?

If he's not telling the truth, doesn't that mean he's taking the piss?

Or at least, his stuff, since he's dead at the present time. A memory posted today to the UMDB tipped me off to this, from the Antiques Roadshow on PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200802A21.html

Gilkey?

Earliest documented use of that phrase, at least according to a rather weak Wikipedia entry: Richard Nixon! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shit_or_get_off_the_pot

Well, it's a little better... assuming that we get more out of Redding than we did from Pedro. (Not too hard to do, I wouldn't think.) But yeah, it's been a pretty unsatisfying winter. Since Rodriguez/Putz it's been a whole lot of nothing.

Amazing that it's taking so long. It sounds like Sheets is being courted most heavily by Texas. And that rumor from a week ago that Wolf was about to sign with the Dodgers seems to have fizzled, at least for now.

1983 is under appreciated. I was always, in the previous years, foolishly optimistic. But in 1983, the optimism started to feel real.

1985 was definitely my favorite. When the Mets contended when I was a kid (really, just in 1973) I was too young to appreciate the rarity. 1984 was fun, but the Mets faded fairly early. 1985 was my first experience as a seasoned fan with a nail-biting pennant race. 1999 had the same excitement, an equally likable cast of characters, and was very refreshing after a long drought. A terrific, solid year, but it can't top 1985 for me.

I really hope that there's a period in which it's called "Mets Field" or something like that, so that we can always call it by that name.

Yes, it depends on who is nude. Wait... The Stooges? Weren't Moe, Larry, and Curly past their prime by 1969?

I can't even bring myself to skim over the details. Yankee soap opera gossip? I think I'll pass.

They're all making nice now because they want their team's cap on his HOF plaque. My hunch is that he'll have an SF.

Now now. A woman doesn't have to be a supermodel to be attractive, you know.

I remember when the Mets got Roberto Alomar, he was considered as a sure-thing. One article I remember reading said he'd be in the "inner circle" of the all-time greats. Whoever said that must have been assuming that he'd maintain his level of production for a few more years. Instead he fizzled out earlier than expected, which will hurt his chances, as will flopping in New York when the spotlight was brightest. The most-homers thing will probably get Kent in. I'm not sure about Alomar, though.

Tim Corcoran and Tom Paciorek.

Are these Met wives? Or are they the Lady Mets Fan Club? (Does that club still exist?)

I haven't seen it since it was in the theaters. I remember liking it a lot more than the first movie, which was dreadful. I'm not big on Star Wars or Star Trek. I used to enjoy the original series in its reruns on Channel 11, but I've never even seen any of the subsequent series. I know who Captain Picard is, but I don't think I could name a single other character who wasn't in Captain Kirk's crew.

The three options (Perez, Wolf, and Sheets) may be soon reduced to two: ="MLB.com":2t16pb69]The deep freeze that's been the Major League free-agent market this winter has shown indications a thaw is coming -- at least for starting pitchers. On the heels of the Mets reaching an apparent agreement on a Minor League deal with right-hander Freddy Garcia, it looks like the Dodgers have taken the inside track in the competition for lefty starter Randy Wolf's services. According to sources for FoxSports.com, Wolf could most likely be signed to a one or two-year deal. Wolf previously pitched for Los Angeles in 2007 and was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA in a combined 33 starts last season for the Padres and Astros. FoxSports.com said Wolf would get less than the three-year, $28 million offer the pitcher turned down from Houston earlier this winter. [/quote:2t16pb69] metsguyinmichigan Jan 23 2009 08:57 AM Supposedly, Sheets is meeting with the Rangers. metirish Jan 23 2009 08:58 AM Wolf turned down an offer for that much? , and I was thinking he could be had for a song on a one year deal. sharpie Jan 23 2009 08:58 AM Fine. I actually saw Wolf pitch twice last year, at the only game I attended at MFY Stadium and at the game I attended at Petco. Both time he got shellacked. smg58 Jan 23 2009 09:34 AM There are a number of available starters who can give you at least a league average ERA, several of whom have the upside to do significantly better. Randy Wolf is not one of them. I see no point in pursuing a demonstrably inferior pitcher just because he's a lefty. Edgy DC Jan 23 2009 09:59 AM I don't think anybody but Wally Matthews is arguing that his leftiness is important, and Wally is only throwing that pitch to drum up "Mets Gotta Steal Pettitte" angles. Who do you have your eye on? metirish Jan 23 2009 08:11 PM Just turned over to MLB Network after watching "What Not To Wear" and heard Tom Verducci say that Perez is moving closer to signing with the Mets. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 23 2009 08:59 PM Here's the source: Jon "Boras Boy" Heyman ]Mets extend offer to Perez, their top target The Mets have placed an offer on the table for free-agent lefthander Oliver Perez, SI.com has learned, and are hopeful to have an answer in coming days regarding their prime pitching target. The Mets are believed to have improved their original thought, which was for about $30 million over three years. But it isn't certain what their latest offer is. Perez remains the Mets' top choice for the final spot in their rotation, though the team has remained in contact with three other free-agent pitchers -- Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Ben Sheets. They know they'd have competition for Wolf (Dodgers), Garland (Diamondbacks) and Sheets (Rangers, possibly Yankees) but aren't sure what other teams are competing for Perez. The Mets had been hopeful to land free agent Derek Lowe earlier but were surprised when the rival Braves outbid them by $24 million, landing Lowe with a $60-million, four-year contract. Perez, 27, is eight years younger than Lowe, though not quite as consistent. Mets GM Omar Minaya would love to import Perez, so the Mets are not likely to take one of the other pitchers unless he feels his chances for Perez are gone. Nymr83 Jan 24 2009 12:14 PM I hope "the mystery team" comes and raises perez's price too high so we can sign Sheets. Then Boras and Perez can admit there was no mystery team and we get both at a reduced rate! MFS62 Jan 24 2009 01:21 PM If money is the issue, I'd like to see the Mets sign Sheets and with any Ollie Perez money left over, go out and sign Odalis Perez. His ERA was only .10 worse than Ollie's last year, is still only 32 years old, and probably be signed for far less money than any of the other names that have been in the press lately. Later MFS62 Jan 24 2009 01:21 PM Oops. Dupe Sorry Later seawolf17 Jan 30 2009 01:00 PM Varitek back to Boston for one year, $5 million. Frayed Knot Jan 30 2009 02:36 PM Varitek's (read: Boras's) threat to sit out the season and/or retire didn't get the Sox to budge I see. Tek is one of several who turned down arbitration offers this winter only to wind up not only with a much smaller deal than arb would have snagged him but didn't get the multi-year deal either. Now it's hope you play well and the economy improves when you can do the same dance next year. Ashie62 Feb 02 2009 03:56 PM Anyone for Varitek via trade and a pay raise? Fman99 Feb 02 2009 07:27 PM ="Ashie62":2t5ssjz6]Anyone for Varitek via trade and a pay raise?[/quote:2t5ssjz6] .220 metirish Feb 02 2009 07:43 PM Is that his weight or his average? , sucks either way though. metirish Feb 04 2009 11:35 AM ]Left-hander Chase Wright was traded by the New York Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday for outfielder-catcher Eric Fryer. metirish Feb 07 2009 02:23 PM Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's. Rockin' Doc Feb 07 2009 05:10 PM metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's." Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones. MFS62 Feb 08 2009 07:35 AM ="Rockin' Doc":2e2xwbch]metirish - "Andruw Jones turns down non-roster spring training invite from the MFY's." Good to see that Jones has his pride. Better to go unsigned than sell one's soul by possibly donning a Yankee uniform. I suddenly have a new sense of respect for Jones.[/quote:2e2xwbch] B'sides, they couldn't have the signing photo op soon anyhow. They'd first have to send out Cecil Fielder's uni to have the seams let out to fit Jones. Later Frayed Knot Feb 08 2009 08:45 PM Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives. 15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do. Fman99 Feb 09 2009 06:44 AM ="Frayed Knot":1zv55w66]Andruw to the Rangers - apparently gets a ML deal for low-end money (500K) plus incentives. 15mil to practically minimum wage in one year is tough to do.[/quote:1zv55w66] Yeah, poor guy. My heart breaks for him. /sarcasm Edgy DC Feb 09 2009 07:07 AM It's not like he doesn't get to keep the 15 miills. Vic Sage Feb 09 2009 09:08 AM yeah, i mean basically he just got a raise! Frayed Knot Feb 09 2009 09:26 AM Sure, it just shows a helluva difference between what someone thought he was worth last year vs what they think he's worth barely a year later. How the mighty (and fat) have fallen.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting today that the Phillies are aggressively trying to sign Moises Alou.

I'd rather see a random game from 20 or 30 years ago than one from last season, but maybe that's just me.