Benjamin Grimm

I found this one the most painful:

I think it is going to be on a four-year cycle. The three years between 2006 and 2009 is, for a reason I can't remember, a one-time anomaly. I remember scoffing at the WBC back in 2006, thinking it was another stupid Bud Selig idea, but then I ended up really enjoying watching the games. In fact, here's what baseball can do to get me to start watching post-season games again: Instead of starting the post-season in October, defer it to March. (Unless the Mets qualify.) By October I'm baseballed out and don't care to tune in to watch other teams play for the championship. But by the time March comes around, I'm all recovered and refreshed and ready to watch baseball. I'm looking forward to the WBC. And I'd be okay with it staying on a three-year cycle, although as I said, I don't think that's in the cards.

I haven't been watching at all, so somebody has to tell me: Are the Rays good enough to beat the Phillies? That's all I care about.

He can get a coaching job even though he's being paid by the Mets. (Didn't Art Howe coach somewhere in 2005?) I'm not sure if it reduces the Mets obligation to pay him, as it would with a player. I'm guessing not.

In 2006, the Mets bench had 330 AB, 67 H, 20 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 29 BB, 3 HBP and 2 SF. Their opponents had 413 AB, 90 H, 21 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 39 BB, 4 HBP, and 2 SF.

Another look at bench stats, using the box score data in the UMDB. I looked at production from players who were not in the starting lineup, both for the Mets and their opponents. Mets: 354 AB, 80 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 38 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SF. .226 Avg., .308 Slg., .302 OBP. Mets opponents: 416 AB, 104 H, 16 2B, 1 TR, 14 HR, 39 BB, 2 HBP, 3 SF, .250 Avg., .394 Slg., .315 OBP. The Mets clearly got out-benched in 2008.

Easley was a good role player and I'd be glad to have him back but I wouldn't be upset to see him go. A lot depends on how the rest of the team is structured. He's the kind of guy who might fit in well, or he might be a redundant part. Guys like Easley are the ones you would ideally make decisions about in February or March, not October or November.

I think I'd like to keep Ayala for 2009. (But I can also see the argument for letting him go.) They have to refurbish their pen next year, and I'd have them keep Stokes and Smith. But Ayala returning in a different role might be a good thing. I don't want to see him start 2009 as their "closer" especially with it being the first year at Citi Field.* * I know, that doesn't make any sense. But sportswriters keep saying things like that and I wanted to sound more "professional."

I remember Jim Thome, in like his second game with the Phillies, had a helmet that looked like it had a decade's worth of scuffs on it.

When you scatter ashes you have to figure they're gone. If you want a "permanent" resting place, get a cemetery plot or keep the ashes in an urn. Retrieving scattered ashes? How bizarre.

Smells wacky to me. I don't see it happening. It's just idle hot stove chatter from people who want something attention-grabbing to talk about.

Scarlett speaks with wisdom beyond her years.

You mean that sticker that's on the brim? That, along with the flat brim, looks ridiculous.

Buy it anyway. If you're like me (and I don't know if you are or not!) down the road you'll be glad you did.

Easley, Tatis, Ayala, Perez. Perez won't accept, of course, but you have to offer it in order to get the compensation of a draft pick if he signs elsewhere.

You can be forgiven for forgetting (especially since I myself had no memory of Spunky Lasorda) but we did discuss it here back in 2005.

I didn't see the part of the fence that said "THE STRENGTH TO BE THERE" anywhere for sale. They may be holding that for a future auction. (I have the spreadsheet of the fixed price items that are being sold outside the auction process.) I bet whoever ends up with that segment will start each morning by leaping against that wall and pretending to be Endy Chavez.

True. But if he joined a gay softball league, then he's not keeping it a secret either. We wouldn't be "outing" him. But I agree that there's no need for us to spread the story. Let him live his life.

We only know about it because of the UMDB post and the softball page mentioned above.

Huh. I'm sure I must have been aware of it at the time, but it's completely slipped my memory. I looked Lasorda up on Wikipedia, and according to his entry, the gay son business occurred in 1991: ]In 1991, Lasorda's son Tommy Lasorda, Jr. (commonly known to friends and family as "Spunky") died of complications related to AIDS. Lasorda was estranged from his son at the time of his death, and refuses to acknowledge his son's homosexuality and the nature of his illness. According to sportswriter Bill Plaschke, when asked about the cause of death Lasorda insists that it was cancer. And here's a post from baseballthinkfactory.org: ] 23. Repoz Posted: December 26, 2004 at 01:44 PM (#1041314) From Billy Bean's book, on "Spunky" Lasorda... Having spent most of his adult life in the world of gladiators, Tommy must have found it difficult to deal with the truth about his son. It must have been equally hard for Spunky -- having spent his youth in this same world -- to accept himself. and more from an old East Bay Express... Glenn Burke soon found a particularly effective way to get Lasorda's goat. He befriended Tommy's effeminate son, Tommy Jr., who would eventually die of AIDS in 1991. Rail-thin with wispy blond hair that fell over one eye like Veronica Lake's, Tommy Jr. was known in the gay world of Los Angeles as Tomasina. His straight nick-name was Spunky. Burke and Spunky became running buddies, frequenting the gay bars of Los Angeles. Lasorda, a Christian Bigot, was embarrassed by his gay son. As a practical joke, Burke and Spunky planned to show up at Lasorda's house for dinner in drag with their hair in pigtails but backed out at the last minute. "Tommy first would have shot us both in the head. Then he would have had a heart attack and died." Burke writes.

="AG/DC"]It's relevant, though, isn't it? Lasorda marching through the streets of San Francisco, after having been reviled by the gay community? I'm not at all aware of this. Why is he reviled? Was it something he said? Was he palling around with Anita Bryant back in the day? ="AG/DC"] The Berenyi thing is relevant also. Isn't it amazing that almost nobody in the baseball world seems to know that Bruce is out except those on our site. I did a Google search on "bruce berenyi" +gay and didn't come up with much that seemed solid. We're getting this from a single UMDB post from three years ago: http://leaptoad.com/mets/profile.php?PlayerCode=0361&tabno=7 (Scroll down to Bob Schwartz, 9/21/2005.) There's also a link from around the same time from 2001. the original page at gaysoftball.homestead.com is now disabled, but Google has a cached version that says, simply: "Among the Stingers' roster is a gay ex-major leaguer who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1980 - 84) and the New York Mets (1984 - 86) - Bruce Berenyi - now 47." I'm also surprised that Berenyi hasn't gotten more attention for being out. It's possible that whoever wrote that page about the Stingers got his story wrong, and it spread, four years later, to somebody who posted on the UMDB. Johnny Lunchbucket seems to be able to track down and talk to former Mets. Maybe he can talk to Bruce himself to get the straight (or not-so-straight) scoop. If he really is gay, and nobody cares, then that's a nice sign of progress, isn't it?

Who's the homophobe? Lasorda?

Willets Point wrote: Go Phillies. You're seriously outnumbered with that sentiment: http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=10364

I think this is just the start of the Manny-to-the-Mets rumors we'll be hearing this winter.

I tried filling out the chart, but I couldn't come up with any meaningful predictions, other than the guys who are already there. I don't know of any up and coming coaches in the organization, and I don't know who Jerry, if it's his choice, trusts and respects. So instead of a full chart, I'll just toss in a few guesses/preferences: I'd like to see Frank Robinson as the bench coach, Ken Oberkfell at third base, and John Stearns at first. Dan Warthen can remain as the pitching coach. I guess I'll keep HoJo too. The Mets certainly did plenty of hitting this past year. I don't know how much you can blame the coach for the timing of the hits being a bit off. I'd also make room on my coaching staff for Edgardo Alfonzo if I could. Bullpen coach? I have no idea.