Benjamin Grimm

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2025/countdown2025_7.jpg>

That one's easy. Ed Norton! What's the Tom Seaver of apples?

Or we can spin this off into a thread called "Who is the Dracula of..."

My first thought was The Towering Inferno, but I think it really has to be The Poseidon Adventure. The Tom Seaver of the Seattle Pilots?

And who knows, maybe one of those 2015 players will go into the Hall of Fame as a manager. (Would that count?)

He had been the 10th oldest living Met. Now, Tim Harkness moves into the Top Ten, Amado Samuel into the Top Twenty, and debuting in the Top Forty this week is none other than Cleon Jones.

Games mentioned above but not yet represented by newspaper covers:

Best Mets game of the 21st Century? Maybe! That's an interesting question. A strict definition of when the century began would rule out two great games from the 2000 NLDS against the Giants: The Benny Agbayani homer and the game that ended with John Franco striking out Barry Bonds. The only real competition, therefore, would be two games from 2024: And of course... Honorable mention to: And there's also this: Any other suggestions?

I do too. Everyone else sees the same things we see.

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2025/2025preview.jpg> The first round of the eleventh annual Tabloid Cover Derby will open on Saturday, November 1. We currently have 266 covers in the competition: 100 from Newsday, 81 from the Daily News, and 85 from the New York Post. These numbers are expected to climb a bit, with the inclusion of any offseason covers that may accumulate before the final poll of the first round is posted. There will be at least 27 polls in the first round. Last year, there were 256 covers and 26 first-round polls. (87 from the Daily News, 74 from the Post, and 95 from Newsday.) The main reason that there are more covers this year than in 2024, a year when the Mets generated a lot of October covers, is that this year was heavily front-loaded with a lot of Juan Soto covers. As always, the winning cover will be displayed proudly in the lobby of the CPF's international headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden.

I think this is only the second time that there has been a postseason series featuring two teams that were expansion partners. (Mets and Astros in 1986 is the other time.) Other sets of expansion partners are Angels/Rangers, Brewers/Royals, Padres/Nationals, Rockies/Marlins, and Diamondbacks/Rays.

I don't think number of at bats in multiples of 20 affect how a player will age as much as diet and genetics, among many other things.

Our 54 Schaefer models would like to take a final encore. Our thanks to Art Carney, Henry VIII, the Lost in Space robot, Maja, Backpack Girl, Paul Shaffer, Cleon Jones, Lillian Gish, the Octopus Fighter, Casey Stengel, the girl who found the button, Toulouse-Lautrec, Boris Karloff, Botticelli's Venus, the woman being attacked by monkeys, Lindsey Nelson, Felix the Cat, the emu, the orangutan, the millionaire's wife, and the rest. We hope you all enjoy your retirements! http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer1.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer3.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer4.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer5.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer6.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer7.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer8.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer9.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer10.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer11.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer12.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer13.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer14.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer15.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer16.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer17.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer18.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer19.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer20.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer21.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer22.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer23.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer24.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer25.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer26.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer27.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer28.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer29.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer30.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer31.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer32.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer33.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer34.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer35.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer36.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer37.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer38.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer39.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer40.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer41.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer42.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer43.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer44.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer45.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer46.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer47.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer48.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer49.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer50.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer51.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer52.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer53.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer54.jpg>

I see it that way too. They're saying, we don't want to use these stupid rules in games that matter. And also saying that regular season games don't matter.

I really think that if this didn't happen, the Mets would have clinched a playoff berth two weeks before the season ended.

Well, then if he leaves we'll know who to blame!

THE SCHAEFER METS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR, 2025 http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2025.jpg> PLAYER OF THE YEAR https://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/JuanSoto1970.jpg> The Schaefer Mets Player of the Year for 2025 is JUAN SOTO, taking advantage of his one and only opportunity to win this award. His 114.54 points gave him a narrow lead over Pete Alonso and his 114.19. This was an exceptionally close race. PREVIOUS WINNERS: 2005 - David Wright, 140.17 points*; 2006 - David Wright, 121.16; 2007 - David Wright, 124.77; 2008 - Johan Santana, 121.37; 2009 - David Wright, 91.72; 2010 - David Wright, 117.56; 2011 - Jose Reyes, 104.96; 2012 - David Wright, 113.06; 2013 - Daniel Murphy, 107.30; 2014 - Lucas Duda, 95.62; 2015 - Jacob deGrom, 97.08; 2016 - Yoenis Cespedes, 90.62; 2017 - Jacob deGrom, 92.11; 2018 - Jacob deGrom, 126.99; 2019 - Pete Alonso, 124.86; 2020 - Michael Conforto, 36.56; 2021 - Pete Alonso, 110.35; 2022 - Pete Alonso 121.33; 2023 - Pete Alonso, 106.21; 2024 - Francisco Lindor, 112.85. * Totals were higher in 2005 because of a rule specifying that ten points were to be awarded for each game. http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/all_winners_2025.png> PITCHER OF THE YEAR http://www.leaptoad.com/mets/cards/DavidPeterson1974.jpg> The Schaefer Mets Pitcher of the Year is also a first-time winner, DAVID PETERSON with 56.83 points, the lowest total in Schaefer history, with the exception of the shortened 2020 season. Even with his low point total, Peterson finished 19.55 points ahead of runner-up Kodai Senga. That's the kind of year it was. PREVIOUS WINNERS: 2005 - Pedro Martinez, 120.68 points*; 2006 - Tom Glavine, 80.26; 2007 - Tom Glavine, 75.97; 2008 - Johan Santana, 121.37; 2009 - Johan Santana, 84.61; 2010 - Johan Santana, 90.42; 2011 - R.A. Dickey, 69.40; 2012 - R.A. Dickey, 110.12; 2013 - Matt Harvey, 86.68; 2014 - Bartolo Colon, 74.77; 2015 - Jacob deGrom, 97.08; 2016 - Noah Syndergaard, 89.81; 2017 - Jacob deGrom, 92.11; 2018 - Jacob deGrom, 126.99; 2019 - Jacob deGrom, 106.29; 2020 - Jacob deGrom, 34.82; 2021 - Marcus Stroman, 77.55; 2022 - Chris Bassitt, 75.01; 2023 - Kodai Senga, 67.85; 2024 - Sean Manaea, 69.43. * Totals were higher in 2005 because of a rule specifying that ten points were to be awarded for each game. RELIEF PITCHER OF THE YEAR http://www.leaptoad.com/mets/cards/EdwinDiaz1972.jpg> The reliever of the year, for the fifth and final time, is EDWIN DIAZ, who earned 39.45 points out of the bullpen. PREVIOUS WINNERS: 2006 - Billy Wagner, 40.39 points; 2007 - Aaron Heilman, 34.86; 2008 - Aaron Heilman, 34.50; 2009 - Francisco Rodriguez, 38.58; 2010 - Hisanori Takahashi 28.69; 2011 - Pedro Beato, 25.93; 2012 - Bobby Parnell, 29.01; 2013 - LaTroy Hawkins, 32.30; 2014 - Carlos Torres, 35.75; 2015 - Jeurys Familia, 35.85; 2016 - Jeurys Familia, 36.70; 2017 - Paul Sewald, 22.41; 2018 - Seth Lugo, 36.26; 2019 - Seth Lugo: 39.38; 2020 - Edwin Diaz, 12.96; 2021 - Edwin Diaz, 39.54; 2022 - Edwin Diaz, 41.44; 2023 - Brooks Raley, 26.88; 2024 - Edwin Diaz, 27.66. BENCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR http://www.leaptoad.com/mets/cards/JeffMcNeil1976.jpg> The Bench Player of the Year is JEFF McNEIL, who, although primarily a starting player, earned 2.58 points in games in which he was not in the starting lineup. PREVIOUS WINNERS: 2006 - Julio Franco, 7.16 points; 2007 - Marlon Anderson, 10.39; 2008 - Damion Easley, 5.06; 2009 - Fernando Tatis, 8.37; 2010 - Chris Carter, 9.28; 2011 - Scott Hairston, 8.77; 2012 - Jordany Valdespin, 13.84; 2013 - Jordany Valdespin, 8.70; 2014 - Eric Campbell, 5.89; 2015 - Michael Cuddyer, 3.49; 2016 - Kelly Johnson, 8.29; 2017 - Wilmer Flores, 4.89; 2018 - Wilmer Flores, 9.99; 2019 - J.D. Davis, 10.98; 2020 - Amed Rosario, 2.83; 2021 - Brandon Drury, 11.97; 2022 - Darin Ruf, 3.65; 2023 - Mark Canha, 3.95; 2024 - Brandon Nimmo, 4.45. SEASON TOTALS FOR RELIEF PITCHERS IN 2025 1 Edwin Diaz 39.45 2 Huascar Brazoban 25.12 3 Reed Garrett 24.20 4 Ryne Stanek 21.81 5 Jose Butto 16.82 6 Max Kranick 12.95 7 Brooks Raley 11.66 8 Tyler Rogers 10.22 9 Gregory Soto 8.54 10 Brandon Waddell 7.81 11 Ryan Helsley 5.68 12 Justin Hagenman 5.59 13 A.J. Minter 5.58 14 Rico Garcia 5.56 15 Jose Castillo 4.99 16 Dedniel Nunez 4.51 17 Chris Devenski 4.48 18 Austin Warren 4.11 19 Sean Manaea 3.66 20 Danny Young 3.40 21 Kevin Herget 3.28 22 Genesis Cabrera 3.05 23 Justin Garza 2.65 24 Clay Holmes 1.82 25 Richard Lovelady 1.58 26 Paul Blackburn 1.30 27 Ty Adcock 0.95 28 Luis Torrens 0.91 29 Blade Tidwell 0.71 30 Frankie Montas 0.49 31 Jared Young 0.38 32 Alex Carrillo 0.36 33 Dom Hamel 0.32 34 Tyler Zuber 0.19 35 Colin Poche 0.04 35 Travis Jankowski 0.04 SEASON TOTALS FOR BENCH PLAYERS IN 2025 1 Jeff McNeil 2.58 2 Luisangel Acuna 2.35 3 Mark Vientos 2.18 4 Starling Marte 2.04 5 Jared Young 1.89 6 Luis Torrens 1.57 7 Brett Baty 1.56 8 Francisco Lindor 1.34 9 Ronny Mauricio 1.15 10 Tyrone Taylor 1.03 11 Jesse Winker 0.53 12 Francisco Alvarez 0.32 13 Jose Siri 0.23 14 Hayden Senger 0.14 15 Travis Jankowski 0.13 16 Jose Azocar 0.11 16 Cedric Mullins 0.11 http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2025> SCHAEFER METS PLAYER OF THE WEEK, 2025 Week ending March 29, 2025: Juan Soto, 3.46 points. Week ending April 5, 2025: Pete Alonso, 8.62 points. Week ending April 12, 2025: Pete Alonso, 8.02 points. Week ending April 19, 2025: Pete Alonso, 7.13 points. Week ending April 26, 2025: Francisco Lindor, 9.34 points. Week ending May 3, 2025: Brandon Nimmo, 7.66 points. Week ending May 10, 2025: Francisco Lindor, 8.23 points. Week ending May 17, 2025: Griffin Canning, 5.27 points. Week ending May 24, 2025: David Peterson, 6.37 points. Week ending May 31, 2025: Francisco Lindor, 6.17 points. Week ending June 7, 2025: Pete Alonso, 12.14 points. Week ending June 14, 2025: Juan Soto, 6.85 points. Week ending June 21, 2025: Juan Soto, 4.73 points. Week ending June 28, 2025: Juan Soto, 7.31 points. Week ending July 5, 2025: Brandon Nimmo, 7.66 points. Week ending July 12, 2025: Francisco Lindor, 5.64 points. Week ending July 19, 2025: Sean Manaea, 3.45 points. Week ending July 26, 2025: David Peterson, 5.71 points. Week ending August 2, 2025: Ronny Mauricio, 5.03 points. Week ending August 9, 2025: Pete Alonso, 5.09 points. Week ending August 16, 2025: Francisco Lindor, 7.29 points. Week ending August 23, 2025: Jeff McNeil, 6.33 points. Week ending August 30, 2025: Mark Vientos, 8.30 points. Week ending September 6, 2025: Juan Soto, 8.78 points. Week ending September 13, 2025: Brandon Sproat, 5.79 points. Week ending September 20, 2025: Pete Alonso, 7.28 points. Week ending September 27, 2025: Francisco Lindor, 6.01 points. Week ending October 4, 2025: Edwin Diaz, 1.34 points. Thanks to those who participated! We had six voters this year who had a perfect voting record. They will each receive a vacuum cleaner bag left over from last year and a chance to dance with Maja at the CPF Christmas party. Methead Metirish Benjamin Grimm MFS62 G-Fafif Cowtipper https://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/2024VacuumCleanerBag.png> Since this is the final year of Schaefer, we're going to take a stroll down memory lane. 2010 http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2010.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2011.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2012.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2013.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2014.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2015.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2016.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2017.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2018.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2019.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2020.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2021.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2022.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2023.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/images/schaefer2024.jpg> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2005> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2006> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2007> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2008> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2009> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2010> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2011> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2012> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2013> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2014> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2015> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2016> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2017> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2018> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2019> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2020> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2022> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2022> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2023> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/poty_results.php?year=2024> And... coming soon: http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/images/2025/2025preview.jpg>

Thanks. I can almost see the puzzle piece on the reverse side.

SCHAEFER METS PLAYERS OF THE MONTH, SEPTEMBER 2025 http://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/JuanSoto1973.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/NolanMcLean1972_InAction.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/EdwinDiaz1979.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/MarkVientos1973.jpg> SEPTEMBER 2025 Player of the Month: JUAN SOTO Pitcher of the Month: NOLAN McLEAN Reliever of the Month: EDWIN DIAZ Bench Player of the Month: MARK VIENTOS http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potm_results.php?month=09&year=2025>

http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10228> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10229> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10230> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10231> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10232> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10233> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10234> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10235> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10236> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10237> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10238> http://potg.leaptoad.com/mets/potg_results.php?game=10239>

Another factor is that there's no QO this time. But the general consensus seems to be that his defense has declined noticeably. That will work against him.

I saw a new story, probably not from a real source, that says the Mets are considering Manny Ramirez as the hitting coach. Make of it what you will.

I'd be really surprised if he got six or seven years. Four or five is most likely. For that, I'd bring him back. He won't be easily replaced.

It's nice that Gibbons became a Met again all these years later. I don't think he was part of the problem, but maybe he was. Maybe every bad move Mendoza made was because of something that John Gibbons whispered in his ear. So Richardson kept his job but most of the others are gone.

This is a very surprising revelation. But it doesn't really ring true. I'm... confused.