Benjamin Grimm

It really could be a difference maker. If the Mets and Nationals essentially split their season series, but the Mets dominate the Marlins but the Nationals don't, it could tilt the division. (Assuming, of course, that the Mets manage to contend this year.)

I'm officially rooting for the Marlins to lose 121 games this year. And 18 or 19 to the Mets.

Frazier signing is official (as per an e-mail I just got from the Mets). I was wondering if they'd stall until February 14. I guess since they didn't (or couldn't) that means that someone else has to come off the 40-man roster?

Jake Arrieta is only 31?

If the Mets don't go "second tier" with a starter, there are certainly some "third tier" and "fourth tier" starters available. And no, I'm not advocating for that, but it might be better than nothing. Maybe. I can't remember the last time I thought of Mike Pelfrey. I didn't know he was still around.

Mrs. Brandon Nimmo:

Edgy MD wrote: I like Nimmo. He seems cute. His wife is something of a vampire, but that's neither here nor there.

I'm glad he's working hard and hope he's not too discouraged by the Adrian Gonzalez thing. Perhaps I should hold my predictions until "Expectations of Eighteen" comes around, but my hunch is that he'll spend more time in [crossout:xdg694jx]Tidewater[/crossout:xdg694jx] Las Vegas than in Queens this year.

I also like Nimmo, but I suddenly find him much more intriguing now that I know he married a vampire!

Do you really think Nimmo will get anywhere near the playing time that Granderson got? I mean, he might, but I don't think it's the most likely scenario.

I too am a Mets forum poster with a bobblehead:

Assocated Press wrote: NEW YORK (AP) — A long-planned redevelopment project for a neighborhood of run-down car-repair shops next to the New York Mets' stadium is back on the drawing board, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. Under the revamped version of the Willets Point project adjacent to Citi Field, all of the 1,100 apartments will be affordable to low- and moderate-income New Yorkers, the Democratic mayor said. "This project delivers big on the No. 1 priority for people in Queens: finding an affordable place to live," de Blasio said. The project also will include a public elementary school, open space and retail shops. The redevelopment was first proposed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who vowed to transform Willets Point's grimy auto body shops and potholed streets into "New York's next great neighborhood." The original Bloomberg plan called for 5,500 apartments, a hotel, convention center and retail stores. The plan appeared dead in 2015 when a court ruled the city could not take a piece of Flushing Meadows Corona Park for a 1.4 million-square-foot shopping mall. The latest version of the plan will not include the mall. The New York Times reports the city has spent $287 million on land in the Willets Point area, cleaning it of the remains of hazardous chemicals and paying for the relocation of businesses. City officials said the latest redevelopment plan will make good use of the site. "After years of false starts and controversies, this is a thoughtful way to get shovels in the ground, keep our promises to this community, and begin building an affordable neighborhood for seniors and working families," Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen said. I'm glad the mall is still off the table, but I'm a little disappointed about the loss of the hotel. It would have been potentially convenient for me. But the idea of an elementary school is pretty cool. I would have loved it if my elementary school was across the street from a major league stadium instead of across from a fire house.

It seems like this is going to be another Mets team with a lot of solo homers. 41Forever wrote: If our offense can make it so our stud pitchers don't feel like they have to throw a shutout every time out, we're good! I would hate to have any of our several 6.00 ERA pitchers feel like they have to throw a shutout.

I'd be willing to give up a second-round draft pick for three years of Lynn or Cobb.

From MLB.com: Any team that signs a player who has rejected a qualifying offer is subject to the loss of one or more Draft picks. While a team's highest first-round pick is exempt from forfeiture, any additional first-round picks as well as Competitive Balance picks are eligible. Under the previous CBA, only the top 10 overall picks were exempt from forfeiture, so this is a big change. Three tiers of Draft-pick forfeiture -- which are based on the financial status of the signing team -- are in place to serve as a penalty for signing a player who rejected a qualifying offer: • A team that exceeded the luxury tax in the preceding season will lose its second- and fifth-highest selections in the following year's Draft, as well as $1 million from its international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period. If such a team signs multiple qualifying-offer free agents, it will forfeit its third- and sixth-highest remaining picks as well. Examples: A team with one pick in each round of the 2018 Draft would lose its second- and fifth-round picks. A team with two first-round picks and one pick in each subsequent round would lose its second-highest first-round pick and its fourth-round pick. • A team that receives revenue sharing will lose its third-highest selection in the following year's Draft. If it signs two such players, it will also forfeit its fourth-highest remaining pick. Examples: A team with one pick in each round of the 2018 Rule Draft would lose its third-round pick. A team with two first-round picks and one pick in each subsequent round would lose its second-round pick. • A team that neither exceeded the luxury tax in the preceding season nor receives revenue sharing will lose its second-highest selection in the following year's Draft, as well as $500,000 from its international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period. If it signs two such players, it will also forfeit its third-highest remaining pick. Examples: A team with one pick in each round of the 2018 Draft would lose its second-round pick. A team with two first-round picks would lose its second-highest first-round pick. So if the Mets signed Cobb or Lynn, they would lose their second-round pick in June.

That's true. Lynn and Cobb both received Qualifying Offers back in November. [list:1qu1vt31]Jake Arrieta, SP, Cubs Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals Alex Cobb, SP, Rays Wade Davis, RP, Cubs Greg Holland, RP, Rockies Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals Lance Lynn, SP, Cardinals Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals Carlos Santana, 1B, Indians [/list:u:1qu1vt31] But... because of the Mets' poor record in 2017, doesn't that mean that the draft-pick penalty for the Mets would be lower than it would be for a first-division team? I'm not sure I recall what the current rules are.

It appears that the bobblehead effect is rather slimming.

Todd Frazier hit a home run at Citi Field during that game when the Tampa Bay Rays were the home team. "Thumbs Down Guy" was a Mets fan in the stands who was photographed glumly giving the "thumbs down" gesture after the homer. The image went viral. The guy even got a bobblehead and was recently photographed with Frazier at some event or another.

No, the Post doesn't wait for News covers! They're simply referring to the same event, in their own way. The "thumbs down" thing is public knowledge. The Post doesn't need to get it from the Daily News.

"Thumb on Down" rhymes with "Come on Down" and is also a reference to the "Thumbs Down" guy on the Daily News cover.

I don't know much about Todd Frazier, but lately I've been hearing a lotta good things. (He's much like Frederick Douglass in that regard.) I know we're not supposed to care about batting average anymore, but jeez, .213? The 27 homers and 83 walks helps make that look not so bad. But yeah, the wrighting has to be on the wall for David. It's a shame about him, but this move does appear to make the team better, and that's what we all want. This also means that we can stop talking about Neil Walker and Josh Harrison and Eduardo Nunez.

Will he have to change his name to "Chowder"?

Paste the headline. Highlight it and click the URL button. In the tags that appear, after URL, add an = and then the hyperlink. The Free Agent Market is Frozen Because the Players Bargained for Luxury, not Labor

I had to look that up. VBCB stands for "Vinyl Bullnose Corner Bead". Used to create elegant, contemporary, rounded 90° drywall corners Vinyl bullnose corner bead is used to create a smooth, rounded look to standard drywall corners. Vinyl bullnose adds contemporary styling and a sense of openness to any room. Available in choice of 3/4" or more dramatic 1-1/2" radius. I guess this means that the 2018 Mets will have smooth rounded corners! FINALLY!