Benjamin Grimm

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the cover that you prefer. Voting will run for seven days. BUCK STOPS HERE Newsday, October 2, 2023. Winner of https://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32889Round 1.21 http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20231002_NSD_02.jpg> BREAKING OPEN New York Daily News, April 8, 2023. Winner of https://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32839Round 1.06 http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20230408_NYDN_02.jpg>

That was in 2022. By "last year" I meant 2023.

He played in only 28 games last year, all with the Padres' AAA affiliate. Wasn't bad though: .317/.356/.537

There are conflicting reports about the Mets interest in Blake Snell. (Whose name rhymes with "Drake Bell". Where my Drake and Josh fans at?) Mets Hot Stove last night was dismissive of the idea, but other sources see Snell as the guy the Mets would turn to if Yamamoto falls through. I have a hunch that Jordan Montgomery is more likely (and the guys on the Stove feel the same way) but here's a thread anyway, in case this turns into something.

Reports say it could happen as soon as today, and that the deal would be about $10 million for two years.

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the cover that you prefer. Voting will run for seven days. HOUSE OF HORRORS Newsday, June 9, 2023. Winner of https://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32863Round 1.12 http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20230609_NSD_02.jpg> FORCE OF JULY New York Post, July 3, 2023. Winner of https://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32873Round 1.16 http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20230703_NYP_02.jpg>

I think McNeil is the most tradeable Met. By that I mean he best fits the balance between someone the Mets might be willing to deal but who would also be appealing to other teams.

MLB.com wrote: Lee posted a .340 average and a .407 on-base percentage over seven seasons in the KBO. He is considered a plus defensive player in center field. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Sunday that the Mets have "strong interest" in Lee, who will be posted for MLB clubs on Monday. That means he can begin negotiating with clubs on Tuesday morning.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/taylomi02.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/taylomi02.shtml Andy Martino says the Mets have talked with Michael A. Taylor, former Washington National who has since played for the Royals and Twins. MLB.com wrote: On Sunday, (Will) Sammon (of the Athletic) mentioned Michael A. Taylor and Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee as a couple of players who fit what the club is looking for, and SNY's Andy Martino reports that the Mets have spoken with Taylor. The 32-year-old won a Gold Glove in 2021 and has been one of the game's top defensive center fielders for the past handful of years. He clubbed 21 homers for the Twins this past season.

Edgy MD wrote: I went with the first cover as the second one features a dude not in a Met uniform who would ultimately never put one on. I thought COOKIE MONSTERS would run away with this thing for exactly that reason, but at the moment, we're tied at four votes each.

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/TCD.png> Vote for the cover that you prefer. Voting will run for seven days. COOKIE MONSTERS New York Daily News, May 26, 2023. Winner of https://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32859Round 1.10 http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2023/20230526_NYDN_02.jpg> REGIFTED! New York Daily News, December 22, 2022. Winner of https://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32829Round 1.02 http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2022/20221222_NYDN_02.jpg>

If it will get a deal done, Steve Cohen should get Albany to change its name to "Yamamoto".

Bartolo Colon?

Edgy MD wrote: Question that I'm embarrassed to ask, but do we have any Hall-of-Fame father/son combos? Larry and Lee MacPhail.

Former Yankee and Cardinal, finished 2023 with the Rangers. Turns 31 in a few weeks. Had a 3.20 ERA in 188.2 innings. One of the top American starting pitchers in the free agent market. Mets have reportedly "reached out" to him. As far as I know, not related to Elizabeth Montgomery of Bewitched, but it would be cool if he was.

Not looking so good for Beltran, huh?

If that's still the case on March 30, I'll be concerned. But there are definitely more moves that will be made.

Sandy Koufax got in based on ten years. If Koufax had followed 1966 with three or four mediocre years, would that have damaged his chances? Or (and this is what I'm thinking) is it that Koufax's ten years were a lot better than Wright's ten years?

Dylan Cease is a name that's been getting a lot of attention. He's about to turn 28 and has two seasons before he can become a free agent. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/ceasedy01.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/ceasedy01.shtml He had an ERA of 4.58 last year in 177 innings over 33 starts with the White Sox. He eats a lot of innings. (It's a sign of the times that 177 innings seems like "a lot".) He's been linked to the Mets, but I don't see it happening. A number of teams appear to be interested, and I doubt that the Mets would want to part with the (presumably younger) players it would take to get him. But that doesn't mean we can't talk about him, if we're so inclined.

Lefty Specialist wrote: Ugh. Hope I'm wrong about him, but I'm not optimistic. Well, there's little risk to this, other than the $13 million, of course. I'd be more upset about this if they had given up a worthwhile player to get him, but they didn't. Potential upside and little downside. The Mets need a lot of depth in their rotation, and this is one of many steps they're going to be taking.

Andre Dawson wrote: “It was an eye-opening experience for me,” Dawson said about playing in Chicago. “The adoration of the fan base, the welcoming from the city itself and the joy of being able to experience that feeling in the second half of my career. … I was one of the more popular players in Montreal, but I wouldn't consider myself an organizational icon or the most popular. … When push came to shove and I became a free agent, I think it was handled poorly and in a sense I was really forced out. The change of scenery in Chicago rejuvenated me because of how warmly I was received.” Does he think he's an "organizational icon" in Chicago? Or the "most popular"? He definitely had some really good years with the Cubs, but only six, compared to eleven with the Expos (and two each with the Red Sox and Marlins at the end of his career.)

Didn't the Hall make it their official policy that players can no longer choose which cap is depicted on the plaque? If that's the case going forward, it should certainly be the case for any retroactive changes.

Holy crap! They should just go ahead and sign his sister.

What's the scouting report on Yuka?

The final poll of the first round has closed, and we are down to 22 remaining contenders. The top ten ranked covers (based on percentage of votes received) will get a bye and will advance directly to the third round. The remaining twelve covers will compete in six head-to-head rounds starting on Monday, December 4. 1 STOP THE MUSIC (Daily News) 2 FUNDING NIMMO (Newsday) 3 PUT-EM IN THE BOOKS (Daily News) 4 WOETOWN (Newsday) 5 EVERYTHING MUST GO SALE (Newsday) 6 THIS MUCH! (Newsday) 7 REDEMPTION (Newsday) 8 FARM AID (Newsday) 9 THEY DON'T GOT IT (Daily News) 10 THE FRIENDLY "GHOST" (Daily News) 11 REGIFTED! (Daily News) 12 FORCE OF JULY (New York Post) 13 BUCK STOPS HERE (Newsday) 14 DIDDLY SQUAT! (Daily News) 15 RE-PETE OFFENSE (Newsday) 16 MEET THE Mess (New York Post) 17 CLUELESS (Newsday) 18 IT COULD BE YOU! (Daily News) 19 LIKE WE NEVER MET (Daily News) 20 BREAKING OPEN (Daily News) 21 HOUSE OF HORRORS (Newsday) 22 COOKIE MONSTERS (Daily News) December 4: REGIFTED (Daily News) vs COOKIE MONSTERS (Daily News) December 5: FORCE OF JULY (New York Post) vs HOUSE OF HORRORS (Newsday) December 6: BUCK STOPS HERE (Newsday) vs BREAKING OPEN (Daily News) December 11: DIDDLY SQUAT (Daily News) vs LIKE WE NEVER MET (Daily News) December 12: RE-PETE OFFENSE (Newsday) vs IT COULD BE YOU! (Daily News) December 13: MEET THE Mess (New York Post) vs CLUELESS (Newsday) FIRST-ROUND WINS [TABLE] [th]Year[/th][th]Daily News[/th][th]New York Post[/th][th]Newsday[/th][th]Total[/th] 20151312732 2016177832 201764616 2018142622 2019152825 202067316 20211211124 2022182626 20231021022 [th]Totals[/th]1113965215