Benjamin Grimm

I think their biggest requirement is a guy who'll pitch about 200 innings for them. It doesn't have to be a former Cy Young winner. Another guy like Maine or Perez would be adequate.

Don't forget Todd Hundley in left field. We also have Mets stuff scattered around the house. Mostly it's promotional stuff that I got when I was a regular at Shea back in the 1980's. (The one most frequently used is a Kahn's Franks Mets oven mitt. There's also a Tropicana Mets pitcher that we turn to once in a while.) When we were on Long Island for my grandmother's funeral a couple of weeks ago we went to the Smith Haven Mall and my daughter saw a Mr. Met light switch plate that she just had to have. It's now installed on her bedroom wall.

None of those guys in the Newsday poll are untouchable. Some are more touchable than others, but I think they can all be touched. David Wright is untouchable. Reyes too, I think, but less so. Beltran won't be dealt either. Martinez, Hernandez, Delgado, and Alou are less desirable because of their health, age, and/or salaries. If I understand the rules right, Castillo and Castro can't be dealt until June 1 because they were recently signed as free agents. (Does that apply when the player is returning to his previous team?) Beyond the names I listed above, I'd have to think that everyone else is in the conversation. (And Delgado and Hernandez too if a team is interested.) Other than the kids in Newsday's poll, I'd think that Maine, Perez, Heilman, Feliciano, Chavez, Gotay, and Smith all would have some appeal to certain teams. Maybe Estrada too. From the big league roster, who else is left? Schoeneweis? Easley? I find it hard to envision the Mets putting together the best bid for Santana.

The surprising thing to me about Alou being best man isn't the age difference. I'm more surprised that they even know each other. If I remember correctly, they probably weren't on the active roster together for more than a week or two the entire season.

Me neither. I haven't been much of a radio-listener the last couple of years. Before I got Extra Innings I'd sometimes listen on my kitchen radio, but not all that often. Now I only listen when I'm in the car, and I'm rarely in the car for more than a few minutes when the Mets are playing. I therefore have no opinion at all about Tom McCarthy. In fact, I didn't even recognize the name when I saw the thread title.

I'd like him to stop exploring Laird. Haven't formed an opinion yet on the other guys. Dotel would be interesting from a trivia perspective. For every set of three consecutive decades, the Mets have had at least one player who has played in all three. 60's-70's-80's: Seaver and Jorgensen 70's-80's-90's: Alex Trevino 80's-90's-00's: David Cone If we're to have someone for 90's-00's-10's, our best bets would involve reacquiring either Jay Payton or Octavio Dotel.

I never did verify this, but I read something in The Philadelphia Inquirer a few weeks ago that said that Lenny Dykstra writes a financial column for TheStreet.com.

Really, this real name stuff should be taboo.

Poonaner-flypaper sounds almost like something metirish would say. We shouldn't be talking about non-famous people by their real names, by the way.

The other rule change that was put on the table involved both combatants working with the same subject.

I like that Shea logo. If they put it on a coffee mug, I just might buy one.

I agree with Namor that there's no backlog. When it comes to the Hall of Fame, less is more. I'd rather see them raise the percentage to 85 than reduce it to 65.

I voted Pelfrey for the unscientific reason that I've seen him pitch a few really good innings here and there in the big leagues. Few good starts, but there have been times where he seemed to shine. That gives me at least some hope that he'll one day figure it all out, as guys like Craig Swan and Mike Scott eventually did.

So, not Maine/Perez and Milledge? I wonder if Endy Chavez might be appealing to the Twins as the "major league position player" they're looking for. It's possible that they'd have an inflated opinion of Endy and if so, that could be to the Mets advantage. I don't think the Mets have enough young but established talent (beyond Reyes and Wright, of course) to bring Santana to Flushing. I guess they might also like Heilman or Feliciano or maybe even Smith.

I think I'd vote for Raines. Maybe. I don't remember what my position was on Lee Smith. I'd have to reexamine that, but I think he might also get my vote. And that would probably be about it.

I like it.

He's also missing a few Senators, a Padre, a Royal, and maybe a few others. I figure he's either intentionally omitting Scorpios or something, or he accidentally overlooked a few players.

Well, last year I was an early exit, but the previous year when I did five songs I found that my muse came and went. I was most happy with my second ("I Think It's Don Grant Now") and third ("Pedro is the Guy Dwarves Climb On") efforts, and my fifth ("I've Looked at Maz From Both Sides Now") was pretty good too, but my first ("Mookie") was somewhat weak and I was lucky to win with my fourth song. ("Don't Know Much About Ed Bressoud")

Perhaps it also includes the first season of relocated teams, like the Texas Rangers and the Milwaukee Brewers: Texas Rangers Tom Grieve, Elliott Maddox, Lenny Randle Milwaukee Brewers Greg Goossen, Skip Lockwood, Ken Sanders, Wayne Twitchell

No. But the list of Mets players who played in a team's debut season looks similar to, but not exactly like, the group that Steve posted: Washington Senators Joe Hicks, Bob Johnson, Tom Sturdivant, Gene Woodling Los Angeles Angels Dean Chance, Jim Fregosi Houston Colt .45's Bob Aspromonte Montreal Expos Don Bosch, Donn Clendenon, Kevin Collins, Don Hahn, Don Shaw, Rusty Staub San Diego Padres Chris Cannizzaro, Jerry Morales, Dave Roberts, Dick Selma, Larry Stahl Seattle Pilots Jack Aker, Tommy Davis, Greg Goossen, Jim Gosger, Skip Lockwood, Mike Marshall Kansas City Royals Galen Cisco, Jerry Cram, Joe Foy, Hawk Taylor Toronto Blue Jays Bob Bailor, Rick Cerone Seattle Mariners Doc Medich, Tommy Moore, Leroy Stanton Colorado Rockies Willie Blair, Daryl Boston, Chris Jones, Steve Reed, Armando Reynoso, Jim Tatum Florida Marlins Chuck Carr, Jeff Conine, Carl Everett, Dave Magadan, Bob McClure, Rich Rodriguez, Dave Weathers Arizona Diamondbacks Jay Bell, Willie Blair, Jorge Fabregas, Karim Garcia, Bernard Gilkey, Chris Jones, Barry Manuel, Kelly Stinnett Tampa Bay Devil Rays Miguel Cairo, Mike DiFelice, Roberto Hernandez, Aaron Ledesma, Dennis Springer, Bubba Trammell, Rick White

My biggest concern with the Mets farm system is the lack of any strong catching prospects. It would be nice if they could get a catcher by Rule 5ing somebody, like the Nationals did with Jesus Flores. But the Mets don't really have the luxury of carrying a little-used third-string catcher on their roster.

Players who played for expansion teams in the team's first season.

I was also thinking it may have run its course. If it's on, I may or may not participate.

I think I'd yield Maine before I would Perez. But if that's what it takes to get Santana, I think I'd prefer to set my sights on one of the Oakland guys instead.

Edgardo Alfonzo?