Benjamin Grimm

I still think the luxury tax is a fake line. A negotiating tactic sort of line. I agree. I can't believe that someone as wealthy as Steve Cohen would be so concerned about a $75 charge. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d2/66/dd/d266dd4788fbd6076dfec3974844f90e.jpg>

His first name is... problematic.

I was thinking Sam Cooke and "Chain Gang"

https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/71/71-400Fr.jpg>https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/72/72-299Fr.jpg>https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/72/72-300Fr.jpg>https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/73/73-100Fr.jpg>https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/73/73-473Fr.jpg>https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/77/77-19708RepFr.jpg>

Yeah, I think the San Diego Chicken and the Phillie Phanatic probably go in before Mr. Met. They're more performance oriented. Mr. Met is just an affable figure, except when he's giving the finger to someone.

That was apparently his final text to her. It might have been sent as a hostile act instead of as "courtship"

It definitely sounds more like a showbiz name than a sports name.

I don't really have a feel for how the Mets outfield will look this year. Let's say there's no DH, and no more moves. Does that mean (left to right) Smith, Nimmo, Conforto? And if there is a DH? Maybe McNeil, Nimmo, Conforto, with Guillorme at second base? Am I overlooking anyone?

I think I might have sent photos of Dick Tidrow. Does that count?

I think you may be able to adapt one of the shower curtains.

Yes. They had better lock up Conforto.

He's the wealthy VIP donor.

I was a little amused by how Sandy's wife (I assume) kept photobombing the session. She sure opens and closes the refrigerator a lot. But I really liked when Sandy's dog (unseen) entered the room with a squeaky toy.

Hall of Famers are dying in droves lately.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2020/12/23/zack-scott-3-things-know-ny-mets-new-assistant-gm/4032902001/Who is the NY Mets' assistant GM? Here are 3 things to know about Zack Scott Scott, 43, worked for the Red Sox for the last 17 years (one of Porter's former employ, including as an assistant general manager for the past two). In that role, he oversaw Boston's analytics, baseball systems and advance and professional scouting departments. “I've known Zack for over 15 years, and worked with him daily for 10 of those years. He's a strong leader who is a very creative and dynamic thinker,” Porter said in a release at the time of the hiring. “Zack is well rounded in all areas of baseball operations, and will promote synergy and collaboration among all of our departments with an emphasis on research and development.”

A few thoughts: 1. Yeah, you gotta get rid of him. The good news is that one of the runners up for the position, Zach Scott, is already in the organization and promoting him seems the easy and logical choice. 2. If "it was somebody else's penis" is supposed to make this less bad, it doesn't. 3. Even if he had stopped just short of the dick pic, he still behaved abominably. 62 consecutive texts (and many of them pretty pathetic) without a response? That's also harassment, and probably worth being fired over. 4. Beyond that, is he unable to take a hint? Does he have any pride? If I was trying to "woo" a woman through texts, if I went a few days and a few texts without a response, I'd probably send a message saying, "Hey, it seems like you're not interested. If I'm wrong, and you've just been busy, let me know. Otherwise, I won't bother you anymore. Thanks." But 62 texts over a period of weeks or months? Had the planet run out of women or something? 5. Thanks for you part in getting us Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco and, most importantly, Joey Lucchesi. Now don't let the door hit you in someone else's ass as you leave. Sheesh.

Any relation to Frank Lucchesi, the Rangers manager who was assaulted by Lenny Randle?

They can still release Matz by some point in spring training and they won't be responsible for his salary, I think.

It's the ghost of a cardboard cutout!

It is certainly fitting that an unusual year like 2020 be represented by an out-of-the-ordinary cover, and that's exactly what happened this year. As a stroke of what might be called serendipity, news of Tom Seaver's death was released the day before Newsday was due to commemorate its 80th anniversary with a turn-back-the-clock style cover. The result is a second consecutive Tabloid Cover Derby championship for the Long Island tabloid, after the first four years of the competition were swept by the Daily News. 2020 CHAMPION COVER METS GREAT SEAVER DIES Newsday, September 3, 2020 http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/MetsGreatSeaverDies.png> After arriving on an overseas flight from the United States to Stockholm Arlanda International Airport, METS GREAT SEAVER DIES had to be thoroughly decontaminated before it was allowed to officially enter Sweden. As has been widely reported, the CPF has been serving as a third-party administrator for The Wooden Ducks With Silly Boots Forum. We see their Best in Class winners, Annabelle and Quacky, awaiting their turn at decontamination. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/decontamination.jpg> Now squeaky-clean and virus-free, our cover was then transported, in a contact-free manner, by drone to downtown Stockholm for the unveiling ceremony. Wide-eyed children and world weary adults alike all gazed in astonishment at the spectacle unfolding in the sky above them. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/droneflight.jpg> This year's ceremony took place near Stockholm's iconic blue gate, the entrance to the Royal Djurgården. On hand were the cardboard cutouts of Sweden's King Gustav, CPF receptionist and reality show star Maja, Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, and the ghost of the cardboard cutout of legendary Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/Ceremony2020.jpg> As is customary, the winning cover is now on display in the lobby of the Kran Pool Forum Internationella Huvudkontoret, the CPF's International Headquarters. Due to the ongoing pandemic, most CPF employees are working remotely, so the lobby is lacking its usual hustle and bustle. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/Lobby2020.jpg> The winning cover is once again available as a shower curtain! You can get a METS GREAT SEAVER DIES shower curtain of your own at the CPF Gift Shop. Show your membership card for a 15 per cent discount! http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/ShowerCurtain2020.jpg> Last year's winner, STREAKERS!, has joined its predecessors on display at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, where the five covers are protected around the clock by an armed member of the Swedish Royal Guard. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the museum is not currently open to visits from the general public, but tours can be arranged for wealthy VIP donors. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/ArtMuseum2020.jpg> As a result of his appearance on the winning cover, Tom Seaver's wife and daughters will receive a gigantic box of Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco Treat. To honor his second-place finish, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso will receive a copy of the Tabloid Cover Derby Home Game, available for sale wherever deeply unpopular toys and games are sold. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/gigantic_rice.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/home_version.png> Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Tabloid Cover Derby! We'll return for a seventh year of voting in November 2021! http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/brackets_2020_005.png> A special thanks to our various CPF spokesmodels (Shelby, Marissa, Joyce, Bob, and Jerry) who braved desert climates around the world to showcase our winning covers. We appreciate their service as tireless promoters of the Tabloid Cover Derby. http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/2_01.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/2_02.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/2_03.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/2_04.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/2_05.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/2_06.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/2_07.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/2_08.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/3_01.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/3_02.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/3_03.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/3_04.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/4_01.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/4_02.png> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/5_01.png> Thank you also to the ghost of Bill Gallo, for his contribution to this year's ceremony.

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2020/5_01.png>

Be here tomorrow for the big announcement, as this year's winner will be unveiled, live from Stockholm, Sweden! You don't want to miss it!

Bauer signed with the Yankees?

The number of possibilities narrows further with LeMahieu signing with the Yankees.

Frayed Knot wrote: 9 -- SECOND-HAND NEWS If it was Brad's sister, instead of brother, it could have been SECOND-HAND ROSE.